Education News

School of Jazz: Volume 7 Available

Source: Groove Notes
June 8, 2011

Only available online—purchase here Several of Western Washington's finest high school jazz bands and jazz professionals are showcased on KPLU School of Jazz—Volume 7, the station's latest CD release which is the culmination of this year's mentoring project. In 2005, as part of its continuing support of music education in the schools, KPLU developed a mentoring program involving bands from 10 high schools and one middle school, and the participation of 11 local jazz professionals. The fruits of this partnership ...

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Yoga for Piano? "New Age" Piano Lessons Soothe Stressed-Out Students

Source: Edward Weiss
June 4, 2011

Twisting, stretching, and holding a pose ... that's what yoga students do to tone and relax the body at the same time. But piano teacher Edward Weiss doesn't want all those benefits to go just to yoga students. Weiss, a pianist, composer, and teacher has developed an online piano course where students can learn how to play something called 'new age' piano. The 'new age' genre has been around since the early 1980's and remains a legitimate style of music. ...

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Keeping jazz music alive with the Young Sounds of Arizona

Source: Michael Ricci
June 1, 2011

PHOENIX—Over the years, studies have shown that kids involved in music programs overwhelmingly do better in school overall. Eric Rasmussen, Music Director of the Young Sounds of Arizona says with music education programs being cut statewide, Young Sounds give talented students an outlet to pursue their musical goals, even if their high school music program is struggling.

Young Sounds is all-city jazz ensemble comprised of the best young jazz talent in the Valley, started in 1971. ...

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Letters to Naras: The Jazz Education Network Writes About the Latin Jazz Grammy

Source: The Latin Jazz Corner by Chip Boaz
May 21, 2011

On Wednesday April 6th, The National Academy Of Recording Arts And Sciences announced a “restructuring" of The Grammy Awards, a move that included the elimination of the Latin Jazz Grammy. This unfortunate decision undermines the integrity of Latin Jazz and disregards its importance as a major piece of the cultural landscape in the United States. I would encourage all LJC readers to protest this decision and demand that NARAS reinstate the Latin Jazz Grammy immediately—you can do this by sending ...

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Diatonic Interval Ear Training

Source: Bill Rinehart
May 16, 2011

Updated Lesson Just Released: Diatonic Interval Ear Training In this lesson, learn to identify the seven diatonic intervals by associating each one with the first two notes of a jazz standard. Test yourself with five randomized quizzes to gain speed and accuracy in hearing these most basic intervals. Updated with lots of new under-the-hood improvements: new streaming video, more music examples, table of contents (new feature!), searchable closed captioning (new feature!), five new quizzes built on a completely revamped quiz ...

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Berklee Team Build Homes in New Orleans Musicians' Village

Source: Berklee Public Relations
May 11, 2011

Continuing Berklee College of Music's commitment of giving back to the birthplace of jazz, the college's Gracenotes Volunteer Committee is sponsoring its fifth annual trip to New Orleans. A group of eight staff and faculty members will travel to Louisiana to work (May 10-14) in the New Orleans Musicians' Village, an ongoing Habitat for Humanity project to create new and affordable homes in the city's Upper Ninth Ward for musicians and other residents displaced by 2005 hurricanes Katrina and Rita. ...

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Tranquility for Teachers: Quiescence Music Celebrates Teacher Appreciation Week

Source: Edward Weiss
May 10, 2011

Teachers ... they do so much for us. And many of them are stressed out. Long days and draining schedules make it difficult for many instructors to simply relax. But help is on the way. The online course 'Piano Lessons by Quiescence Music' by pianist/composer Edward Weiss is helping teachers find a way to relax and get creative at the same time. Here's what course creator Edward Weiss has to say about the lessons: “I created an online course where ...

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Local Jazz History at the Boston Public Library for Jazz Week from JazzBoston

Source: Chris Rich
May 5, 2011

A sense of place and history always attends Jazz Week. Booker Ervin was a mail man not far from where I live in the 60s. Johnny Hodges was born over in Cambridgeport. This year focuses on a region and two pianists. Both Events will be at the Main Branch Library in Copley Square. “North Shore Jazz, Then and Now," will occur on Thursday, May 5 at 6pm in the Rabb Room at Boston Public Library. Henry Ferrini and Jenny Chava ...

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