The Liberal Arts of Jazz
My research at Rutgers University lead me into the realm of a great question: Is it possible that people imagine (or re-imagine) personal and cultural identities through art -- in particular Jazz?
While a grad student at Rutgers, I took on a number of topics related to this.
It began with a look into the role of legendary critics in creating the "identities" of emerging Jazz artists in the 1950s by "arguing" their case on liner notes to critics and listeners alike. (I surveyed over 600 liner notes and drew some interesting conclusions.) Next, I did research into the role Jazz and "imagined blackness" played among Jewish composers of the 1920s and 1930s as they themselves struggled with what it meant to be as an American. Finally, for my thesis, I looked into the role that Jazz played in creating modern Japanese identity, even during the ultra-nationalist era of the 1920s til the American occupation.
You may think learning Jazz is about learning songs and scales. To an extent it is, but the true artist seeks identity through his or her medium. As we take on and tackle various tune and styles, we examine our art through various lenses. One particular element that distinguishes me as a teacher is that I don't focus on Jazz legends only. We study the composers as well, the circumstances upon which they composed, and most importantly, what those tunes come to mean to us as we come to interpret them -- then we are prepared to learn how to choose the right chords, scales and techniques to bring them to life in accordance with our own unique imaginations.
I expect my students to be readers, intellectuals, artists and people who bring a multi-dimensional approach to their studies. Whether students, classically trained professionals branching out in the world of Jazz, or even retirees and hobbyists interested in expanding their minds, I expect my students to represent the quality that "interesting people make interesting music."
Having spent 20 years in Japan, this is my first time teaching music in the U.S. in over 15 years. Things have changed a lot since I left the country and Jazz may not be as popular today as it once was, still, together we can grow. The future renews one individual at a time.
Please feel to contact me if you'd like to join my journey and I can help you on yours.
While a grad student at Rutgers, I took on a number of topics related to this.
It began with a look into the role of legendary critics in creating the "identities" of emerging Jazz artists in the 1950s by "arguing" their case on liner notes to critics and listeners alike. (I surveyed over 600 liner notes and drew some interesting conclusions.) Next, I did research into the role Jazz and "imagined blackness" played among Jewish composers of the 1920s and 1930s as they themselves struggled with what it meant to be as an American. Finally, for my thesis, I looked into the role that Jazz played in creating modern Japanese identity, even during the ultra-nationalist era of the 1920s til the American occupation.
You may think learning Jazz is about learning songs and scales. To an extent it is, but the true artist seeks identity through his or her medium. As we take on and tackle various tune and styles, we examine our art through various lenses. One particular element that distinguishes me as a teacher is that I don't focus on Jazz legends only. We study the composers as well, the circumstances upon which they composed, and most importantly, what those tunes come to mean to us as we come to interpret them -- then we are prepared to learn how to choose the right chords, scales and techniques to bring them to life in accordance with our own unique imaginations.
I expect my students to be readers, intellectuals, artists and people who bring a multi-dimensional approach to their studies. Whether students, classically trained professionals branching out in the world of Jazz, or even retirees and hobbyists interested in expanding their minds, I expect my students to represent the quality that "interesting people make interesting music."
Having spent 20 years in Japan, this is my first time teaching music in the U.S. in over 15 years. Things have changed a lot since I left the country and Jazz may not be as popular today as it once was, still, together we can grow. The future renews one individual at a time.
Please feel to contact me if you'd like to join my journey and I can help you on yours.
