[Dixielandjazz] Please join the Jazz Education Network Traditional Jazz Society!

[David Robinson Jr.]

Listmates,

Dave Robinson here, trumpeter/educator (Centreville, VA near Washington, DC) and member of this list for at least 15 years.  I lead the Conservatory Classic Jazz Band, and have directed the award-winning Capital Focus Jazz Band youth ensemble since 1988.  I think we can all agree that key to the future of traditional jazz is the involvement of young people.  It is time to give this music a strong presence within the largest global organization for jazz, the Jazz Education Network (JEN).  JEN is the trade association for the full spectrum of jazz.  JEN’s mission is to build the jazz arts community by advancing education, promoting performance, and developing new audiences.  Its huge annual conference is a mind-blowing four days of clinics, panels, merchandise sales, research presentations, and performances by student groups and professionals, including many of the biggest names in jazz.  JEN isn’t just for teachers.  It encompasses all walks of jazz life—educators, students, musicians, publishers, festival directors, writers, broadcasters—you name it.  

In an effort to galvanize support for the traditional jazz genre within JEN, I have formed the JEN Traditional Jazz Society, which has been officially recognized by JEN as one of its Signature Societies.  The JEN Traditional Jazz Society’s mission is to foster awareness and appreciation of traditional (“trad”) jazz (the New Orleans-based styles of jazz and their outgrowths) and other early jazz styles among students, educators, musicians, and audiences.  While I formed JENTJS to concentrate on small-group trad jazz, getting more student big bands to perform pre-war arrangements is also important, hence the phrase “and other early jazz styles”.  I’ve formed JENTJS with the following goals in mind:
Increase the presence of “early" jazz styles at the annual JEN Conference (professional and student performances, research presentations, clinics, exhibit booths, etc.)
Promote the concept that trad jazz and early big band styles are not museum pieces, or simply the foundation of something else, but remain relevant, exciting music today
Build awareness within JEN of the magnitude and breadth of early jazz
Forge a partnership between the traditional jazz community and JEN
Encourage student groups/directors to include early jazz in their programs  

The founding core of the JENTJS comprises individuals within JEN who are currently involved in the genre, including representatives of the Smithsonian, Preservation Hall, and the Sacramento Jazz Education Foundation; professional musicians; university PhD’s; and even a member of JEN’s board.  We’ve been having online discussions that have generated some exciting ideas—and we want YOU on board with us!  Whether you’re an educator, musician, or enthusiast, we need you as a voice for this music.  While a full JEN membership costs $84, by joining JENTJS for just $50, you receive full JEN membership benefits, including:
A free subscription to JazzEd magazine 
A free subscription to DownBeat magazine (a $30 value)
JEN e-newsletters
Eligibility to attend JEN Conferences
Early eligibility for JEN grants of $300-$500 for artist fees for master classes, or guest appearances with student ensembles
Early eligibility for JEN scholarship awards
Early eligibility to purchase a student ensemble performance/clinic slot in the JENerations Jazz Festival within the JEN Conference 
Early eligibility to apply for competitively-selected professional or student showcase performance slots in the JEN Conference   
JEN voting rights
—plus a free subscription to The Syncopated Times (another $30 value).

To join JENTJS, go to jazzednet.org <http://jazzednet.org/>, click on Join, enter Yes for Society Member, and when prompted enter coupon code 2018JENTJS.

It’s up to us to join JEN in numbers and take our seat at the table.  This is not an “us vs. them” scenario; JEN welcomes the traditional jazz community, which has been under-represented in their ranks.  JEN’s next conference is January 9-12, 2019, in Reno, NV, and will include a variety of early jazz presentations and performances.

I’m convinced that JEN is “where it’s at” for jazz, and we in the trad jazz community can’t afford to be outsiders.  Please join the JEN Traditional Jazz Society, help us achieve strength in numbers, and let us benefit from your ideas.

Yours in jazz,
Dave R
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