[Dixielandjazz] Learning environment

[Hal Vickery]

I couldn't agree with you more.  A lot of the music I still like was the
same kind of stuff my dad listened to and played.  I think as a result of
that I was able to discern the good music of any genre from the garbage.

When our son was young I was listening to about everything from the ODJB to
Sonny Rollins with some Beatles, Motown, and even some classical thrown in.
As it turns out my son became a jazz lover, likes a lot of the same stuff I
listen to in other genres, and in addition he likes a lot of newer music
that sounds pretty good to these ears.  

Ya gotta hand it to a 26-year-old who'll sit with dad through concerts by
the Jim Cullum band and sets by Ed Metz with the Bob Crosby Bob Cats and
actually enjoys it.  I may have shared this story here before, but I
practically had to drag him up to Madison, WI to see the JCJB play.  He had
trouble getting past the primitive recording techniques used when Louis,
Bix, etc. were playing, and he didn't get it, and he thought it was going to
be a colossal bore, I think.  I think he "got it" about two bars into the
first solo that night.

Hal Vickery

-----Original Message-----
From: dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com
[mailto:dixielandjazz-bounces at ml.islandnet.com] On Behalf Of
Vaxtrpts at aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 23, 2005 4:40 PM
To: dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Learning environment

 
There is nothing political about it, Harold.  Don't start with why  schools 
aren't as good as they used to be or anything like that; and how it is  the 
fault of the politicians and/or the teachers.  Anything to do with the  arts

being dumbed down comes from record companies, PR firms, radio stations,
concert 
presenters...............and parents.
The kids are "dumbed down" way before they ever get into a school
situation. 
 
I still see a few kids in schools who care about "good" music, and the  
initial inspiration came from what their PARENTS and GRANDPARENTS got  them
to 
listen to.  If the listening habits are formed early, it really  helps get
young 
people thinking about music OTHER than what is shoved down their  throats by

people in control of "The Biz" today.
So - here again - it has to come from the home environment before they ever

get to school. (Same as a desire to actually learn from teachers!)
My two cents as a jazz educator.
Mike Vax