Teaching School Jazz: Perspectives, Principles, and Strategies

Written by an experienced and diverse lineup of veteran jazz educators, Teaching School Jazz presents a comprehensive approach to teaching beginning through high school-level jazz. Thoroughly grounded in the latest research, chapters are supported by case studies woven into the narrative. The book therefore provides not only a wealth of school jazz teaching strategies but also the perspectives and principles from which they are derived. The book opens with a philosophical foundation to describe the current landscape of school jazz education. Readers are introduced to two expert school jazz educators who offer differing perspectives on the subject. The book concludes with an appendix of recommended audio, visual, digital, and written resources for teaching jazz. Accompanied by a website of playing exercises and audio examples, the book is invaluable resource for pre- and in-service music educators with no prior jazz experience, as well as those who wish to expand their knowledge of jazz performance practice and pedagogy.

Table of Contents:
Preface Contributors Acknowledgments About the Companion Website Part I: School Jazz Education Ch. 1: Broad Landscape of School Jazz Education Chad West Ch. 2: Jazz for Non-Jazzers Chad West Part II: Language of Jazz Ch. 3: Social Language of Jazz Andrew Goodrich Ch. 4: Pedagogical Language of Jazz Russell Schmidt Ch. 5: Internal Language of Jazz Mike Titlebaum Part III: Teaching Beginning Jazz Ch. 6: Beginning Woodwinds and Brass Bruce Foreman Dalby Ch. 7: Beginning Rhythm Section Chad West, C. Michael Palmer, Michael Grace, Daniel Fabricius Ch. 8: Beginning Improvisation Mike Treat Part IV: Teaching High School Jazz Ch. 9: High School Woodwinds and Brass Andrew Goodrich Ch. 10: High School Rhythm Section Daniel Fabricius Ch. 11: High School Improvisation Michael Grace Part V: Instrument-Specific Jazz Pedagogy Ch. 12: Jazz Vocal Catherine Gale Ch. 13: Jazz Saxophone Mike Titlebaum Ch. 14: Jazz Trumpet Frank Gabriel Campos Ch. 15: Jazz Trombone Christopher Buckholz Ch. 16: Jazz Guitar Bob Sneider Ch. 17: Jazz Piano Russell Schmidt Ch. 18: Jazz Bass Nicholas Walker Ch. 19: Jazz Drums Gregory Evans Part VI: Jazz Literature Ch. 20: Choosing Jazz Literature Daniel Fabricius Ch. 21: Teaching Jazz Standards Nick Weiser Ch. 22: Arranging for School Jazz Ensembles Matthew Clauhs

About the Author :
Chad West is Associate Professor and Chair of music education at Ithaca College. Prior to his appointment, he served as a public school band director for eight years, as Associate Conductor of the Atlanta Wind Symphony, and as a trumpeter for Princess Cruise Lines. He has published over 20 music education journal articles and has edited two books with Oxford University Press. He is a frequent presenter at state, national, and international music education conferences on the topics of preservice music teacher education, popular music education, and jazz pedagogy. Mike Titlebaum is Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies at Ithaca College, where he directs the Jazz Ensemble, coaches combos, and teaches jazz saxophone and courses in jazz standards, arranging, repertoire, and pedagogy. He has played in many of New York's world famous musical venues, including the Blue Note, Smalls, Augies, Fez Under Time Café, and the infamous CBGB's as well as the pit orchestra of the Broadway musical Cats. He has performed with dozens of internationally recognized artists and groups such as Jason Robert Brown, Red Rodney, the Mingus Big Band, Cab Calloway, Natalie Cole, Billy Taylor, Mel Torme, Branford Marsalis, Paquito D'Rivera, and many others.

Review :
"A substantial and essential contribution to jazz pedagogy, Teaching School Jazz explains and illustrates -- via many video, visual, and audio examples -- how jazz educators and students, both individually and collectively, can teach and learn how to perform, improvise, listen to, and arrange jazz in several forms. This book is a must-read for anyone who takes a serious interest in jazz education." -- David Elliott , Professor of Music and Music Education, New York University "A comprehensive volume, well-organized and full of practical information. A terrific resource for any jazz educator." -- Dean Sorenson , Associate Professor and Director of Jazz Studies, University of Minnesota School of Music "West and Titlebaum have provided a thoughtful landscape for jazz teachers and teacher educators to consider the different pedagogies and approaches to jazz education. This book is a well-needed contribution to the field that combines the authors' expertise with a useful online companion." -- Bryan Powell , Assistant Professor of Music Education and Music Technology, Montclair State University