IQALUIT - Jazz music is defined as music with flexible rhythms and sophisticated improvisations. Inuksuk high school's jazz band provided all this and more at a performance last week in Iqaluit.

The jazz band performed at Iqaluit's Parish Hall, where they raised $900 for the rebuilding of St Jude's Cathedral.

"The audience was generous in donations and generous listeners," said music teacher Adrian Fernandes, who directs the jazz band.

Fernandes said the students did exceptionally well.

"To play the quality of music they showcased after only two years of playing an instrument is amazing," he said.

This is Fernandes' third and final year of teaching music in Iqaluit. This was also the first performance where the students improvised.

"It's high-level stuff," he said.

In order to teach proper musical improvisation, Fernandes started the students off with one note from a blues scale, and progressively let them add notes to create solos.

"The main focus was to be rhythmically innovative, then to focus on melodics," Fernandes said.

After 80 hours of practice outside the classroom, the jazz band kept audience members' toes tapping. Grade 10 student Ellen McCarville said the jazz band was a "neat, interesting" experience.

"I've learned a lot from Adrian," said McCarville, who plays alto saxophone. "He teaches us more than just music."

As for improvisation, McCarville had the chance to attempt it at a school in the south, but feels she had better teaching and learning of it through Inuskuk high's jazz band.

"This whole experience really broadened my mind," McCarville said.

Percussionist Emmanuel Morakinyo said the same.

"The improvisation opened my eyes to several things," he said, adding it boosted his self-confidence.

"When you're a young drummer, being able to improvise reassured me that I could play outside the musical score."