Jazz Education Video for School Administrators

I believe one of the things that has really helped keep jazz alive is the jazz education movement within the school systems that began during the late 60s and early 70s.  Prior to this time I don't think any high schools had "jazz band" classes like they do today.  During the 70s a lot of publishers started publishing high school jazz material, and these charts were from excellent writers and arrangers.

My first experience in jazz band was in eighth or ninth grade in junior high school and we actually had a full big band.  We played some basic swing stuff and some stuff by Sammy Nestico as I remember. Sammy Nestico may be considered the father of publishing hip charts for younger bands, but there are many others that contributed during those days and still do.

With that being said, I still think there is a long way to go in educating the masses about exactly what jazz music is and how it's played.  This education should begin when kids are young enough to not have any preconceived notions about it.  My kids have heard jazz since they were babies and my six-year-old is starting to play the blues already.  It's simply a matter of introducing jazz at an early age, just like any other subject that is worthwhile.

It still amazes me how very intelligent people still have no clue about what jazz is and what the musicians are doing when the play jazz. Recently I was asked by a good friend of mine this question, "what does an arranger do?"  They say there are no dumb questions, but this is the first time I had to explain exactly what music arranging is.   When I had to put it in words, it was not an easy thing to do.

Like music arranging, jazz improvisation is at a very high musical level, and the only way for people to really appreciate it as adults, is to learn exactly what and how it is put together when they are children.  OK, Enough rambling.

Here is a terrific video of someone at least trying to make a difference and teach kids about jazz.  If you are an educator, put this guy to work at your school or find a good small group in your area that can come in and talk (and play) to your kids about jazz music. I guarantee they'll love it and have a better appreciation of the art form.