[Dixielandjazz] Kids and Okom

[Gary Lawrence Murphy]

LOL .. when he was 11 our hot-shot clarinet player was told by his
(classical) clarinet teacher that Benny Goodman wasn't very good. We
didn't find this out until a bit later, but what we noticed was that
he wasn't very interested in going to lessons anymore, he'd lost his
enthusiasm for it and seemed generally dispondent over everything,
school, friends, the worlds.  So I asked him, "would you like to stop
taking lessons?" and I got a big beaming smile, and suddenly he was
joyfully practicing his clarinet again, and still wields it proudly
(in addition to his sax and trumpet) and completely outstrips his
peers.

Some music teachers can be instrument to a child. Others can be pure poison.

what I do to share early jazz is to get the kids together in the
Saturday outdoor market downtown, and I have combo-ork books printed,
one in each key, and I make them sight read it, but I don't demand
printed-note-verbatim compliance, I only ask that they behave as a
band (with some decorum and discipline and societal consideration,
about as much as maybe air cadets might ask) and I ask that they stay
true to the *intent* of the music, which was to express and *share* a
great joyful noise ;) -- you can check out our
facebook.com/eighthstreetorchestra and tell me if you think my method
is working.

All it costs me is the occasional round of pepsi and the odd pizza if
the busking money doesn't cover lunch, and the response from our
community has been phenomenal -- last week the city hall was receiving
dignitaries for upper government here to hand over some grant money
for arts orgs like the symphony and the theatre, but who did they
invite to play the reception?  the symphony chamber players? the stage
choir?  the local professional theatre arts school?  the highschool
band?  no, they asked us, my rag-tag little band of ragtime jazz cats.
 And we knocked 'em dead :)

On 6/15/13, Fuzzy <fuzzymail at fuzzyjazz.com> wrote:
> John,
>
> (Warning: Long post)
>
> First - thanks for all you do for trad jazz!
>
> I agree with most of your post (though I still very respectfully disagree
> about Taco.)
>
> My high school band teacher encouraged us to put together a little
> "Dixieland" combo, and even let us perform in the various festivals, etc.
> The group was always a big hit, but (as a clarinet player), I was always
> admonished for the vibrato and smears...with a wagging finger, the judicial
> board would tell me that it would ruin me.  It seems that it was beyond the
> scope of their belief that a clarinetist might want to play something other
> than classical music.
>
> When I went to college, I was prohibited from playing early jazz
> whatsoever;
> and I was forced to saxophone for any jazz functions.  (I'm sure this is
> "normal.")  Time passed and I returned to college after a new "Jazz
> Studies"
> program was created.  I was told that "Perhaps at this point in your life,
> you would be better suited to switch to saxophone," and "While larger
> institutions might be able to offer early jazz studies, we follow a more
> modern approach.  If you want to follow the Benny Goodman approach, you
> will
> need to do so on your own time."  (This from both the President of the
> music
> department AND the director of the jazz studies program.)  No problem -
> it's
> their program, and if they don't want to (or can't) offer early jazz, so be
> it.
>
> However, we were also forced to participate in self-formed "small combos"
> for no credit.  I asked if I might form a trad group for one of these, and
> was told, "NO!!!" in very clear bold face.  This bothered me.  I completed
> that semester and left college lacking a diploma with a "Jazz Emphasis."
>
> One of the ideas I've been kicking around is this (and I am interested to
> hear from those who have done similar, or are in the education field):
>
> I'm starting to chat with some of the local junior high/high schools in my
> area in order to see if they would be interested in a presentation about
> early jazz music.  If it works out, I'd like to spread such a presentation
> throughout my state.  My idea is fairly simple...to bring along prime
> examples (recordings), which could help showcase the progression of jazz
> from popular music in the late 1890's to swing in the 1940s; also
> indicating
> some of the defining musicians.  Perhaps playing a few examples on my
> clarinet or whatever, and providing handouts of musicians/groups/tunes and
> other resources which might help them further their research into the
> music.
>
> Does anyone have any input to offer on this idea?  Would anyone want to
> share any similar experiences with me?  Any suggestions on the best way to
> do this?  Any discouragement about what I'm planning?  Feel free to offer
> suggestions via private e-mail too.  My feelings won't be hurt, so please
> be
> candid.
>
> My entire state only has about 560,000 residents, so most towns/schools
> would be extremely small.  I'm not affiliated with any band or organization
> which could benefit from this endeavor, so I have nothing to sell.  I just
> want to share early jazz with as many as possible.
>
> (Light-heartedly offered:  Bring me ONE trad jazz musician who is brave
> enough to admit she was brought into trad jazz by Taco, and I'll happily
> change my opinion!)   :)  On a more serious note: I'm not knocking Taco -
> I'm just questioning Taco's effectiveness in bringing kids to OKOM.
>
> Fuzzy
>
>
>
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
> John Knurr said:
>
> Regarding kids hearing our music - got to get band directors to learn the
> music and start bands in the schools. Jazz ensembles are great but don't
> lend themselves to learning trad jazz. The college music departments are no
> better. How is it done? Have no idea because the music teachers have not
> been exposed to the music either!. The trad jazz camps are the best in
> reaching a large number of kids - we need one in every state. And - though
> you put Taco's version of "Puttin on the Ritz" down you must listen to it
> for its clever arrangement and style. It was not intended to be authentic.
> There are little snippets of other tunes thrown in - good ideas. And  - at
> least it was "Puttin on the Ritz". John Knurr - Milwaukee (one of founding
> memebers of Sacramento Traditional Jazz Society)
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> To unsubscribe or change your e-mail preferences for the Dixieland Jazz
> Mailing list, or to find the online archives, please visit:
>
> http://ml.islandnet.com/mailman/listinfo/dixielandjazz
>
>
>
> Dixielandjazz mailing list
> Dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com
>


-- 
*Teledyn Addendum: teledyn blogspot ca*
*eso: **EighthStreetOrchestra blogspot ca*