Hi all!

I've had a quick browse and thought I'd dive in and join you! I was brought up the standard way 'through the grades' on piano but got absolutely hooked on jazz in my teens. I then went on to do a music degree, so I hope i have a perspective on the classical/jazz angst.

The first and last rule I teach to my jazz students is listen. Find a style or artist you love and immerse yourself. Get to know the oeuvre, history, biography, recordings (above all, the recordings) of your beloved's legacy. Then, transcribe some favourite solos. Either on paper or from memory on your instrument, if you can. All the while this is going on, learn a simple chord sequence (like the 12-bar blues) and practise improvising on it.

This is a very condensed precis of the process (-like it? ) but I hope it will provide an opening into the world of jazz performance.

Kev.

Welcome to the forum.
There seems to be a shortage of jazz teachers. Are you a piano specialist?

QUOTE

Are you a piano specialist?

Yes I am; I also offer trumpet and drums.

Sorry, but I am just a classical player so I can't contribute much to your thread, but my son has a great jazz piano teacher and he is getting on really well and is doing great in a swing band which he loves. Although, I find it very hard to get young people to actually listen to jazz music, as you suggest. They enjoy playing it but don't get totally immersed in it. Maybe that's where a good teacher comes in - to really sell their enthusiasm for an artist or style. He is much happier spending hours and hours listening to Muse and the like.

It's a shame. What most youngsters dont realise (and you cant blame them) is that the music of today is based on Jazz. Its just the most lame, pathetic attempt at it. Its easy to listen to, and they have no complicated turn-arounds or changes (chord sequences) to worry about. So givem a break I say.

However, it is a very rewarding feeling when a child comes along and says "oh wow I heard that recording by McCoy Tyner on so and so. What an incredible VI - II - V - I turn-around, and such sweet changes!"

Jazz IS about the repetoire. You cant really be a professional without kowing at least half of it, and kowing the "changes" to each song.

As Kevmusic said, listen! Its the best way. Transcribe...AMEN! I do that with DIana Krall solos. I cant get enough of her, but I never forget the point that she is slyly introducing a bit of tyer here, a bit of bill evenas there... splash of monk there. Its all very clever, and will only mean anything to the listener if they are involved in the jazz repetoire etc..

Daniel

Hi and welcome to Jazzman!
You are right young people love playing jazz but can be a bit lazy about listening to it. Our youngest has taken to Jazz and plays the jazz piano and alto sax (and violin) but although she has a wide collection of jazz CDs would rather put on a 'pop' CD. We take her out to live shows when we can, which really works. When she can see and hear the musicians improvising she can actually recognise what they are doing and appreciate it, with much discussion on the way home about chord changes and how she would have improvised. The drawback is that you can't take a 13 year old into Ronnie Scotts or Jazz Cafe (Unless they are performing) so we are restricted to the Free stages at the Jazz Festivals and larger venues like Barbican where it doesnt quite have the same atmosphere as the musicians are miles away! We have tried to smuggle her into rehursals if we know someone in the band, but have been kicked out many times! Guess she will have to wait until she is 18 eh!

Absolutely disgusting that there are age limits. How are we supposed to create a new generation of Jazz musicians if they cant listen to the music they love at the most valuable age?

QUOTE (Jazzman340 @ Jan 26 2005, 11:04 PM)

Absolutely disgusting that there are age limits. How are we supposed to create a new generation of Jazz musicians if they cant listen to the music they love at the most valuable age?

The reason there are age limits is because of the time of day that the Jazz is usually performed (evenings, it makes more money that way) and because alcohol is served. It's the law, it's nothing to do with the music.

The road to successful jazzing can be found in a love of the stuff and (I'm afraid to say) a reasonably good ear. Primarily love of the music though, because it drives attainment and knowledge - the more attainment you acquire the more you want and the same with subject knowledge. It's the snowball effect.

But something has to spark it all off and I don't know of any secret formula there, alas! I thought my kids were beginning to be energised with it but that was a few years ago and heavy metal has won the day! Still, I am a prog rock fan too, so we can trade on some common ground........

QUOTE

Although, I find it very hard to get young people to actually listen to jazz music, as you suggest. They enjoy playing it but don't get totally immersed in it.

This is because it's not considered cool amongst much of the mainstream, and why should it be? It wasn't considered cool when I was a teenager in the 60's; every generation has music that defines their time.

A few of my teenagers pupils are really fired up by jazz, and I believe this is largely because of their individual personalities and backgrounds.

Personality-wise they're not afraid to stand out from the crowd to some extent and explore their own tastes as well as the tastes of the groups they identify with, and background-wise they're exposed to lots of varied music at home, and were taken to eclectic concerts when they were younger.

Jazz didn't really grab me in a big way till I was in my early 30's, and then it hit me like a tidal wave - I became obsessed!!! The posters above are right in that jazz really isn't something you can just dabble with; not if you want to play it well. You've got to fall in love with it before you can even begin to play solos with any heart and soul in them.

Otherwise you're just tinkering around with scales and rhythms but nothing you play will carry any real weight or meaning, so why bother in the long term unless you're really prepared to throw yourself into it?

Violinia

Must admit, got a bit ahead of myself. But still slightly leaning towards the same point, theres not really much chance for the new generation to listen to it, which is a shame.

A jazz club with no alcohol? Or like a restaurant where children could be allowed? Have to go to North America as I know a lot in Canada.

There's a wonderful regular event near where I live called "Nunney Jazz Cafe". It takes place in a village hall, and local jazz musicians of the highest calibre get together and play all Sunday afternoon on a regular basis.

Whole families go, a tasty cheap lunch is served, and good enough jazzers can get up and jam. Some of the kids stay indoors and listen and others play outside when it's warm enough; parents take it in turns to watch the kids or whatever.

It's a fantastic opportunity for members of every generation to hear great jazz in a convivial atmosphere. You get grannies, uncles, aunts, curious people, farmers, bohemians of every description, teenagers, little kids, babies...

Actually I believe it's changed recently and is now mainly tango music, but in a very jazzy vein - still great stuff, especially if you love tango. There's also tango dance sessions where everybody can join in including the kids, who dress up!

These things do need enthusiasts to put it all together, but as has been proved by the Nunney people, if you have the nouse you can do it. Just book the hall, get the musicians, publicise it and away you go.

Check out their website:

Nunney Jazz Cafe

Violinia