Jazz Ed
There’s a strong and growing mentorship culture at the college level that’s become something of a phenomenon. Jazz bands, orchestras and smaller ensembles in higher ed are more frequently visited by established musicians than ever before. These pros often sit shoulder-to-shoulder with students in their rehearsals, and offer insights into what it’s like to play professionally; how to grow their repertoire; and how to get gigs in a very difficult market. “Jazz Goes To College” explores these surprising pockets of pro jazz at the college level throughout the U.S.
A Conversation with Quentin Walston on His Jazz Pedagogy Text: How to Teach Jazz and Improvisation
by Kurt Ellenberger
Quentin Walston, a distinguished jazz pianist and educator based in the Washington, D.C. area, has crafted an exceptional contribution to jazz pedagogy with his new text, How to Teach Jazz & Improvisation (This is Jazz, 2025). This concise yet effective 80-page text fills a gap in the jazz education landscape, offering an accessible, hands-on guide tailored specifically for young musicians and educators of private lessons and leading middle or high school jazz bands. Walston's work is helpful for those who ...
Continue ReadingFive Killer Comping Strategies
by Phillip A. Haynes
A fabulous 'ole collegiate chum, with whom I've produced & drummed with for 40+ years now, recently urged me to share some approaches of accompaniment creativity I'd recently suggested to him. Indeed, these following conceptions can expand most any serious musician's resources significantly: Accompany in the way(s) you always do, yet now insert much more intentional quiet space until re-entering only at critical harmonic turnarounds, key changes, and/or bridges, as experienced performers generally don't need or want to be spoon-fed changes ...
Continue ReadingSteve Roach from California State University in Sacramento
by Debbie Burke
For the first installment of Jazz Ed, program director and trumpet player Dr. Steve Roach talks about the program at CSUS. Steve is the co-founder of the Sacramento Jazz Orchestra, performs in university musicals, reproduced the Beatles' White Album as a fundraiser, and is an active member of the 4 Thought Trio. At CSUS there are 13 jazz ensembles: two big bands; a Latin jazz band; four vocal jazz groups and six combos. The university serves ...
Continue ReadingGary Bartz: Students Are Learning But They Are Learning Backwards!
by Joan Gaylord
"This is folk music. It is good that we have it in the schools, but we need to get it back more into the street--that's where it came from." When saxophonist Gary Bartz is not headlining his own band or touring with McCoy Tyner, he is a professor in the Jazz Studies department of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. His students are among the most talented and best prepared musicians of their generation. However, Bartz is convinced ...
Continue ReadingSteve Wilson: Music Education Is In Crisis
by Joan Gaylord
"I think jazz education, frankly, is in crisis." Saxophonist Steve Wilson voiced this strong opinion in response to a recent article about the effects that budget cuts have had on many American school music programs. Sitting in a practice room at Juilliard, he shared his concerns about the current state of music education and how he has watched things change over the last 20 years. An accomplished musician, Wilson is also an educator who has served ...
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