Learn Jazz Standards is an online Jazz resource for musicians. We specialize in helping musicians learn Jazz repertoire and become better Jazz players. The Learn Jazz Standards website has two main components: the Blog and our Jazz Standards.
This is the hub for the Learn Jazz Standards podcasts and YouTube videos. This is a great resource for learning Jazz theory, ear training and approaches to improvisation.
The Learn Jazz Standards website contains a comprehensive list of Jazz standards, including lead sheets (in different transposing keys), essential and/or original recordings, and a recording of a rhythm section playing through the chord changes several times (a la Jamey Abersold). Often, these "Jazz minus one" rhythm section recordings are offered in a few different keys. The site also includes a blog, podcast, and a list of articles on the topic of Jazz. This resource is especially helpful for melodic instrument Jazz players, giving them practice with chord changes, and I use this site frequently in my Jazz classes.
"What is Jazz?" is a four-part lecture about Jazz by Dr. Billy Taylor presented at the John F. Kennedy Center. Dr. Bill Taylor is a noted Jazz pianist, historian, and educator. His four-part lecture dives into the history of Jazz and the most important moments of Jazz history. The first lecture centers around the origins of Jazz in the African-American experience of slavery to the civil rights movement. This lecture explores the development of repertoire and techniques used in Jazz performance. The second lecture discusses the techniques and traditions of Jazz improvisation. The third lecture discusses the evolution of swing and rhythm/harmony with the inclusion of examples by a piano. The fourth lecture discusses the role of Jazz in American culture and history, as well as the impact it has had on the world.
This YouTube channel is a great resources for jazz educators in both a private and ensemble setting. The videos cover the whole jazz orchestra, providing videos of technique as well as ways to develop students' improvisational skills.
Jazz Academy is a YouTube library with free lessons on Jazz for educators and students. Lessons range from the instrument specific techniques, Jazz history, master classes with professional musicians, and lessons on different styles of music. From these videos, students receive important information from professional Jazz musicians. As a Jazz educator, there are also videos that improve my understanding of specific techniques and styles.
The saxophone is usually viewed by the wider public as a “jazz instrument,” thanks to nearly one hundred years of iconography associated with that art form
most in the music community now recognize that the instrument is capable of performing in any musical style, from contemporary classical to jazz to rock to pop to salsa, and so much more.
Instead of solely nurturing one style of saxophone playing, students should be encouraged to make use of all of the wonderful potentialities of the instrument, so that they can enjoy any possible form of music making throughout their lives.
A different mouthpiece and reed combination. The classical and commercial genres require different sounds, approaches to articulation, etc. While the performer mostly accomplishes this, a purpose-built, high-quality mouthpiece will make their lives easier
Many charlatans are lurking in the world, touting their instruments as “perfect for jazz” or “great for classical playing!” In truth, a quality saxophone is a quality saxophone, and all reputable brands are manufactured to allow for absolutely any type of playing. The student should simply be on the highest-quality instrument possible
two “pants pockets.” In one, a saxophonist keeps their classical skills, and in the other they keep their jazz skills. The two different styles shouldn’t mix, but they should both be handy for any given musical situation.
classical alto performance include the Selmer S-80 C*, the Selmer S-90 190, the Selmer Concept, or the Vandoren Optimum AL3. For jazz alto, the Meyer 5M, Vandoren V16 5M, Jody jazz HR 5M, and the D’Addario Select 5M are all great choices.
As far as reeds go, it’s really up to the preference of the student. Some players use “classical” reeds and “jazz” reeds, while others use the same make on both setups. However, since classical and jazz mouthpieces are designed differently, the student will normally need to play reeds that are slightly lower in strength on their jazz mouthpiece.
teachers advocate different embouchures for jazz and classical playing, I am of the opinion that one can serve both purposes
One of the biggest differences between the performance of commercial and classical styles is articulation
Classical and jazz saxophone sounds are vastly different
how are students supposed to know what a great classical or jazz sound is? How are they supposed to learn about style? As always, the musician’s greatest tool is a busy set of ears.
Young saxophonists, from the first day, should have quality recordings available to them. With online video-sharing and streaming services, it is incredibly easy to give a student a list of names and let them start exploring for themselves
This articles discusses myths of the saxophone being a jazz instrument rather than a classical instrument. It offers suggestions on instrument selection, mouthpieces, embouchure development and reed selection.
This articles discusses myths of the saxophone being a jazz instrument rather than a classical instrument. It offers suggestions on instrument selection, mouthpieces, embouchure development and reed selection.
We spend hours searching the Internet for great jazz videos so you don't have to. jazz on the Tube provides three free services:
(1)A searchable database of thousands of carefully hand picked and annotated jazz videos; (2) A free Video-of-the-Day service. Love jazz? We deliver a great jazz video to your mailbox every day; and (3) An up-to-date directory of jazz clubs, jazz festivals, and jazz organizations world-wide.
This site provides a plethora of jazz education advice. This is made by either professional jazz musicians or educators. It covers topics as style, improvisation and jazz history. This type of information would be useful to jazz educators.
This site provides a plethora of jazz education advice. This is made by either professional jazz musicians or educators. It covers topics as style, improvisation and jazz history. This type of information would be useful to jazz educators.
Excellent resource for tips on improving as a jazz musician. This can be used by both educators and students. Covers many topics like practice habits and tips for transcribing music.
This resource offers advice on a range of jazz improvisation topics for the aspiring jazz musician. The writer brakes down common problems an improvising musician faces and offers structured exercises and ideas to overcome particular musical issues.
This resource offers advice on a range of jazz improvisation topics for the aspiring jazz musician. The writer brakes down common problems an improvising musician faces and offers structured exercises and ideas to overcome particular musical issues.
This YouTube Channel is dedicated to jazz music education, sponsored by jazz at Lincoln Center. It is filled with videos about jazz pedagogy and heritage. This is a great site for music educators to keep their jazz education up-to-date, and for students who have an interest in jazz music. Students are able to take video lessons or learn about different styles and composers of jazz. What a great resource about America's own style of music.
This site provides teachers and students with a rich history of jazz music. Teachers and students can find videos of jazz musicians, repertoire and resources for jazz Appreciation Month and tips and tricks for teaching jazz concepts such as swing and improvisation.
Smithzonian Jazz has a vast resource of archives, recordings, timelines, lesson plans, and interactive resources support Jazz Education and Jazz Appreciation Month (JAM).
A website created by the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz and designed for instructors. It offers lesson plans at no charge for 5th - 8th - 11th grade. Lessons examine Jazz styles, performers, and composers. The website provides instructors with video and audio media, handouts and quizzes for students, and assessments.
Developed by The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, Jazz in America provides Jazz educators with many great resources, including lesson plans, curriculum ideas, and audio samples.
The purpose of Jazz in America is to educate middle and high school students on the history of Jazz, help students think creatively, and to develop an appreciation of Jazz music. The musical content includes lesson plans, a timeline, glossary, important musicians, style sheets, and audio recordings to use in instruction.
Our Mission is to inspire creativity and improve the quality of life for all Oklahomans through preservation, education and performance of jazz, our uniquely American art form.
This website from Smithsonian Jazz gives teachers resources for teaching Jazz education to students. There are free lesson plans and recordings for teachers to utilize. In some instances, lesson plans are organized by age groups.
This website from Smithsonian Jazz gives teachers resources for teaching Jazz education to students. There are free lesson plans and recordings for teachers to utilize. In some instances, lesson plans are organized by age groups.
This Jazz Transcriptions site not only houses many Jazz transcriptions for all instrument, but it provides links to other transcription sites for additional material. Students can access these transcriptions to practice Jazz, sight reading, and for analyzing Jazz theory. I use Jazz when practicing sight reading due to the added difficulty of syncopated rhythms and accidentals.
This is an excellent resource for jazz educators. It includes jazz history information, links, resources, books, festival information, jazz theory, and much more.
Jazz in America is an all encompassing Jazz education website.
It offers everything from what Jazz is and how it began to lesson plans that examine characteristics of all different Jazz styles. The website discusses important performers and composers. It also looks at how Jazz evolved. Audio and visual examples are provided. Assessments are also provided in this website.
Smithsonian Jazz is a website fro music educators. It covers every facet of Jazz. It has links to concerts and Jazz collections and archives. This includes links to articles, sheet music etc. This website also has a link to lessons surrounding great artists such as Ellington, Ella, Louis Armstrong, Benny Carter and many more. Jazz Appreciation Month is covered as well as all Masterworks in the Jazz Genre.
"Composition is slowed down improvisation," and both disciplines deal with the same challenge — how to organize and present ideas in a coherent fashion.
One of the most common misconceptions about jazz is that it is spun out of the air in a totally impromptu manner. This notion exists because many small jazz groups do not read music when they play. The truth of the matter is that what those musicians are actually doing is spontaneously creating a very sophisticated form of theme and variations
The framework is flexible so that the soloists may shorten or lengthen their improvisations depending on the inspiration of the moment. The other players, then, have a responsibility to react to what has preceded them
To many, composed music and improvised music seem to be opposites, but in jazz, they merge in a unique fashion.
But improvisation is not the be all and end all of jazz. Composers such as Duke Ellington and Eddie Sauter wrote, on occasion, jazz compositions practically devoid of improvisation. But the real challenge comes when a composer integrates improvisation into a
This website can be used for jazz education. It contains a wide array of resources for students and adults. The sole purpose of this website is to advance jazz education.
This website features a series of videos presented by legendary jazz trumpet player Wynton Marsalis. Marsalis discusses a wide range of topics including the importance of practice, trumpet technique, the history of jazz, characteristics of jazz music, and famous jazz musicians. Additional teacher resources and websites are also listed.