Jazz School
by Mary-Noelle Dana
J@zzchool® offers an opportunity for young people to learn about jazz from the source – the musicians themselves. Each week for the next two semesters, participating musicians will teach an interactive class about a different subject related to the world of jazz. Middle and high school classes from a variety of wired schools across the East coast will connect to the Knitting Factory in New York City. In each of the classrooms, students will join the distinguished musicians in a 55 minute distance learning experience.
Using multiple ISDN lines and state-of-the art video conferencing equipment, this unique opportunity to educate young people by means of living examples and role models is an unprecedented connection between the worlds of music and education. Before and after the live class, the subject matters and artist histories can be further explored through this web site for an ongoing education. The use of technology to inexpensively connect students to the world of the living arts is the wave of the future, and J@zzchool® leads the way.
Teachers and students are sent, prior to each session, a detailed list of suggested readings and recordings, as well as other pertinent info to ensure a basic preparation to the subject.
Here are the basic requirements in order for your school to participate:
- 3 Data capable ISDN lines
- Standard video conferencing system capable of bonding to a speed of 384kbps.
- Camera(s) to feed local video into video conferencing system.
- Monitor to display far side video.
- Microphones and speakers for sending and receiving audio.
Sessions take place live, every Thursday, from 2 to 2:55pm. Students and audience can attend the sessions live as well.
The sessions are free for high schools, individual connecting charges apply.
Teachers and students are sent material prior to the session (lesson plan, biography, recommended reading and listening).
The sessions are broken down in 2 parts:
In the past semesters, Jazzchool had the privilege of presenting, as guest teachers, the following artists : Teri Thornton, Don Byron, Geri Allen, Roy Nathanson & Anthony Coleman, Steven Bernstein, Ravi Coltrane, Leon Parker, DJ Spooky, Elliott Sharp, Eddie Palmieri and Mike Clark, Reggie Workman, Nnenna Freelon, TS Monk, David S Ware, Greg Osby, Regina Carter, Tim Berne, DJ Logic, Stefon Harris, Javon Jackson, Odean Pope, Robin Eubanks, DD Jackson, Uri Caine, William Parker, Ray Vega, Lewis Nash, Jeff Tain Watts, Bobby Sanabria, Marilyn Crispell, Susie Ibarra, Conrad Herwig, Peggy Stern, Mario Pavone, Howard Mandel, Steve Wilson, David Gilmoure, Cedric Im Brooks, Gerry Hemingway, Rashied Ali, Will Calhoun…
September 28 – Ronnie Cuber – Cross Over: The Dance/Pop Approach to Jazz
October 5 – Ori Kaplan: From the melody to improvisational material
October 12 – Joe Gallivan: Music, People and Communication
October 19 – Marc Edwards: subject TBA
October 26 – DJ Olive: subject TBA
November 2 – Dave Liebman : The Transcription Process -Why and How
November 9 – Jon Waxman: Why professional musicians need music lawyers
November 16 – Ralph Alessi
November 30 – Phillip Johnston
December 7 – Ned Rothenberg or Craig Haynes TBC
December 14 – Dave Frank: Improvisational techniques.
For more info, contact: Jazzchool Coordinator / www.jazzchool.com
