WASHINGTON -- Jeff Antoniuk is a critically acclaimed saxophonist who jams at Blues Alley and plays at the Kennedy Center, but this school year, he traded in some of his stage time for class time.

Antoniuk and his band, Jazz Update, are teaching students at Hart Middle School in Southeast about the joys of jazz and love of music.

The class was made possible by the Washington Performing Arts Society's Capitol Jazz Project, a partnership with D.C. Public Schools to reintroduce music studies into classrooms.

"I learned more about Duke Ellington and Wynton Marsalis and more about jazz and blues," said sixth-grader Quentin Hugee.

Hardy Middle School in Northwest and Merritt Middle School in Northeast also are part of the pilot program.

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Some of the best musicians in Washington have been teaching 261 students from a curriculum written by famed jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis.

"With jazz, it's an oral tradition, so it's about listening and repeating, so actually it's a lot like a child learning a language," Antoniuk said.

"We're really honored to have this opportunity," said music teacher Ovetta Lewis. "The children actually have worked really hard through the years, and they really deserve an opportunity like this."

Some of the students knew nothing about jazz when they started the lessons, but the music has emboldened them.

"What I enjoy about this class is being able to learn how to improvise, a new vocabulary," said seventh-grader Tiffany Adams.

Students in the program had the chance to see Wynton Marsalis perform at the Kennedy Center.

The Capitol Jazz Program includes a summer camp that will help students extend their music lessons. The program plans to expand to another school nest year.