Tune Up in Action with Jeff Kail & Mary Bowker
Every week during the school year, GTMF’s Tune Up program brings professional musicians directly into local classrooms—creating space for focused, one-on-one or small group instruction that helps students grow in ways that aren’t always possible in a full ensemble setting. In this short feature, instructors Mary Bowker (saxophone) and Jeff Kail (bass) share how these personalized sessions are shaping student confidence, musicianship, and long-term engagement with music. Mary, a retired Spanish teacher, has been an active saxophonist with the Community Band of Jackson Hole and the Jazz Foundation of Jackson Hole for many years. Jeff joined the Kansas City Symphony in 2006 and served as principal bass from 2008 to 2023. He also spent a decade teaching at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and now performs as a substitute with major regional orchestras, including the Utah Symphony.
Jeff Kail on Building Sound and Curiosity
GTMF: What do you enjoy most about working with students through this program?
Jeff: The best part about being involved with Tune Up is the level of excitement in the high school orchestra program. You can sense a genuine desire from the students to raise the bar. The best moments are when I can make a suggestion that elevates the sound coming from a student’s instrument to meet the expectation of what they want to hear.
GTMF: How do you adapt your teaching approach when working with both middle and high school students?
Jeff: The biggest difference from my experience teaching at the university level is that, with middle and high school students, fostering a genuine love of music is fundamental. Whether we’re exploring the meaning of a piece, developing a specific technique, or working through a passage with a stand partner, the goal is to find a thread that leads to a deeper appreciation of music. Pull on that thread, and students begin to understand that there’s no final point where you can say, “I’ve learned the violin.” Questions of context, execution, and ensemble become the foundation for a musical curiosity that can last a lifetime.
GTMF: What foundational skills do you focus on most when working with developing players?
Jeff: It all starts with the bow. Flashy fingers almost universally draw the attention of developing players but what I focus on most is the bow as your voice. By concentrating on bow speed, placement, and technique, students realize the sound they’re making is not something static, it’s a choice. Learning there’s a palette of sound at your disposal makes for compelling musicianship no matter your level.
GTMF: How does the pull-out model of Tune Up allow you to address students’ individual needs more effectively?
Jeff: I’m continually impressed with how well both the middle and high school programs prepare a full orchestra, but there’s a limit to the attention any one student can get individually. Working one-on-one means I can meet them where they are, whether that’s building fundamentals or putting finishing touches on an all-state audition. It’s the immediate feedback loop between teacher and student in an individual lesson that builds a connection between your ears and the instrument.
GTMF: Anything else you’d love to share?
Jeff: I’d like to thank the Grand Teton Music Festival for sponsoring the Tune Up program and for recognizing that, above all, music is a tradition. If we want it to survive and ultimately thrive, music education is essential. I’ve dedicated much of my life to orchestral playing, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to pass on what I’ve learned. I hope the next generation finds as much joy in it as I have.
Mary Bowker on Growth, Connection and Confidence
GTMF: What do you enjoy most about working with students through this program?
Mary: I love to see the friendships that are formed through their love of playing music. From my experience, I know that these can be the most meaningful and enduring relationships in life and I love that. I also enjoy hearing how the pieces come together over time, from the first sight reading to the polished performance piece. It feels like magic. I also love seeing how much they love being in the band and playing for Mr. Binko. He’s great!
GTMF: How do you tailor your approach for different skill levels?
Mary: Working with individuals and small groups allows for some real personal feedback. We can focus on the details that you can’t always tackle when working with the whole band, like articulation and phrasing, the skills that make it sound more sophisticated.
GTMF: What are some of the most common challenges you see in high school players, and how do you address them?
Mary: I think that students don’t always find the time to break down the more technical passages that they might struggle with. Working with smaller groups on just a few measures at a time, slowing it down and getting the notes into the fingers is what I can do to support the band.
GTMF: In what ways do you see students grow over the course of the school year through Tune Up?
Mary: I’ve seen kids become leaders in their sections and help other kids improve. I’ve also seen kids push themselves to practice and improve on their own and even learn how to play different instruments. They’re having fun experimenting with music, and it’s not only exciting but also infectious. Some of them show up outside of class time to practice together, which is really cool to see.
GTMF: What do you hope students take away from this experience as they prepare for more advanced playing opportunities?
Mary: I hope they keep their passion for music going, that they push themselves to improve, that they take chances, go to auditions, and learn as many instruments as they can. I hope they know that music can be a lifelong endeavor and not just for people who want to major in music at university. There are many opportunities to be involved in music and the joy and enrichment that it brings is an amazing gift. Life is just better when you’re playing music.
Tune Up offers students focused, individualized support that helps them grow as musicians throughout the school year. As Jeff Kail and Mary Bowker shared, these weekly sessions create meaningful moments of progress and confidence. Together, they highlighted the lasting impact of meeting students where they are and helping them take the next step.
GTMF is proud to connect young musicians in our community with opportunities to deepen their lifelong relationship with music.