[Dixielandjazz] Music theory

[Andy.Ling at Quantel.Com]

Tom Wiggins said:-

> I can't help but ask here folks:
> 
> Anybody know who Taught LOUIS  Armstrong and Buddy Bolden, Kid Ory, and 
> Jelly Roll grammar and theory?
> 
> Or did they just learn it the same way they and their forefathers who 
> gave us this music who by hearing it in bits and pieces and then just 
> doing it ?   Enquiring minds want to know.
> 

I thought I read somewhere that Louis went to a music college. Can anyone
confirm this and whether they were likely to teach theory.

> I know jazz musicians that can't even spell theory or grammar and yet 
> they can play their asses off.
> 

I guess it's like any language. If you learn early enough in life
by listening you just "know" the grammar. You don't analyse the grammar
of English (if that is your natural language), you just know what
is right.

But if you come to it later in life, you have to learn the structure.
Just like when you were taught another language in school

Some pick the new language quickly and speak fluently, others always
have an accent and get the structure (slightly) wrong.


Andy Ling