[Dixielandjazz] What music do young people hear?

[Steve barbone]

Lily Karte - Tramette89 at aol.com wrote (about playing CDs for young people)

> Well, that's part of the problem. Getting other kids interested. The kids who
> have talent generally don't want to screw around with this stuff because they
> think it's uncool, or too easy, or something. I've gone through my CD's and
> found songs that just excited me the first time I ever heard them, and I play
> them for the other kids sometimes, but it just goes right over their heads.
> "Why do you listen to this stuff, why do you want to play this stuff? I can
> get 
> you some good music, I've got an extra copy of 'Kind of Blue'..."
> 
> It's a bit of a hassle because everyone's minds are closed enough as it is,
> what with rock and rap and all that junk. It's almost a miracle if a kid wants
> to listen to any sort of jazz, these days. I suppose it all boils down to
> pressure in the end. Peer pressure makes them want to avoid jazz in the first
> place, and pressure from adults makes them only listen to the newer stuff. The
> fact that there are virtually NO trad bands in the state doesn't help things
> much. (I think a lot of kids have problems relating to a scratchy old record,
> but 
> hearing it live sorta opens things up for them. Of course, the fact that most
> of the musicians are older isn't much of a selling point for them...the other
> kids in band enjoy ribbing me about that!

Bless you Lily, for telling it like is is.

Yep, a big problem for most (but not all) of us old folks who try and
interest Lily and the other kids in Dixieland or Swing. CDs won't do it, nor
will doing the same program for kids, that we bands do for old folks
interest them.

Louis A's Hot 5 Hot 7 records, as important as they are to us and the
history of jazz are just plain not relevant to the kids. And why should they
be? Heck, I didn't hear them myself until I was in my mid 20s and I had ben
playing Dixieland in a band for 5 years. I was too busy listening to his All
Stars, Eddie Condon, Pee Wee Erwin, Wilbur De Paris, and Conrad Janis, Pee
Wee Russell and Sidney Bechet LIVE.  Bix, ODJB, Picou, Bolden, etc
historical as they may be, are NOT RELEVANT TO KIDS . . . yet.

What is relevant to kids? The glamour, the beat, the sexiness, the booze,
the slightly criminal aspect, AND DANCING TO THE MUSIC etc. Heck, that's
what got most of us old folks interested, when we were kids, not the
"artistic beauty", or the "history". That came much later.

Along with hardening of the arteries and attitudes. :-) VBG

But then, I've been singing that song for 5 years now on the DJML. Want to
get to the kids? Make your music & presentation relevant to them. We do it
almost every day with our band and we play for kids (5 to 35) on every gig.
You all saw our schedule on the last digest in April. Twenty five gigs for
May, to be played WHERE THE KIDS ARE. By a band that averages 70 years old,
but knows how to treat the kids as equals rather than put them down. Capped
off by an elementary school gig in June for 375 kids between the ages of 5 &
10. There by popular request after similar programs in the area. Shoot,
that's more audience than many jazz festivals and societies muster. And just
as much, if not more appreciative.

Heck, I even offered a nine page band marketing paper on HOW TO DO IT, free
and a year or so ago. All of about 6 people requested it. I lost it in my
computer crash, but can re do it if there is any band leader interest at all
this time. Just write me off list and I will send you a copy. (Will take a
week to re do)

Lilly, get you folks, or your school band director to bring you and your
friends to Philadelphia and see/hear a band that "gets" the kids. This
Sunday, or July 2, or July 17 we'll have the extra added attraction of a 10
year old jazz violin whiz who easily holds his own. It is a great treat to
see the young girls flock to him. Or this Friday we've got a swing dance at
the Episcopal Church in Trenton for the 18-30 year olds. Come on over.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone (Still a kid at 71)