[Dixielandjazz] Gig Opportunities

[Steve barbone]

"LARRY <sign.guy at charter.net> (polite snip)
 
> When I was in HS there were lots of opportunities to play professionally.
> Not so today.

I think Larry nailed the crux of the matter of teaching Trad Jazz in
schools.

Biggest problem musicians of all genres face today is that there are no gigs
for them all. So why should anyone teach trad jazz in schools? To what
purpose? I think perhaps, that's why they don't teach Latin in schools
anymore either. THERE IS NO NEED, NO MARKET DEMAND.

True even for the prestigious music schools like Juilliard and Curtis. There
are no gigs for all of their graduates, so they scale back classes.

The Jazz Educators of America are too busy trying to hold on to their own
day jobs and so they sure as hell aren't going to teach trad jazz. They will
teach what they are performing, or what they are comfortable with.

Solution? CREATE TRAD GIGS. THEN THE MUSICIANS WILL DEVELOP ON THEIR OWN.

Cheers,
Steve Barbone