[Dixielandjazz] 11th Grade Jazz History

[Gluetje1 at aol.com]

I spent about 20" skimming through the content of each lesson last evening,  
noting the content, recordings selected, but not taking time to listen as  
familiar with a number of them.  I found the content highly equivalent to a  
college course in History of Jazz that I took as an adult student in the  
mid-1980's.  The course I took did include frequent video or movie clips  along with 
records, CDs.
 
Critiques I have relate to personal opinions about how some of the history  
and context are presented and emphasized (or not).  The professor I had was  a 
Monk worshipper--he made his admiration and personal bias clear.  I like  Monk 
also.  Playing bassoon in community bands has put me in contact with  lots of 
music educators in my area as they play in these groups also.  My  
impressions of jazz taught at either the high school or college level is that  educators 
(generality here) do consider Dixieland the first chapter of  history, give 
it about the first 1/8 (maybe) of total course time, consider  it the past and 
not the present, do not themselves spend time or money in  exploring what is 
(or isn't) happening in Dixieland today.  
Ginny
 
In a message dated 7/12/2006 10:45:33 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  
macjazz at se.rr.com writes:

As a  retired state level educational administrator/ex band director etc.
I've  got to add that I took a look at these materials and they certainly  are
well done. (Note that I am not discussing the content. I'm talking  about the
format and procedures followed.)

They are totally  complete, tied in a solid and direct manner to national
norms and  standards, based on readily available materials and work from both
a  historical and a jazz/arts perspective.  That pretty well gets all  the
parts covered with pro performers!

I'm just starting through  them from my personal musical perspective and
would be interested in  hearing what others have to say about  them,
musically.

Mart

Martin D. McKay, Designated  Listener