The Real Jazz Pedagogy Book

How to Build a Superior Jazz Ensemble

Ray Smith

• Publisher: Outskirts Press
• Year: 2019
• Print ISBN: 9781977203786
• eBook ISBN: 9781977208156
• Topic: Media & Performing Arts
• Subtopic: Jazz Music

Written by a jazz teacher for jazz teachers, "The Real Jazz Pedagogy Book" is based on the premise that successful jazz teachers must be constantly working four main areas: 1) the wind instruments-including tone production, intonation, and section playing skills; 2) playing styles correctly-such as rhythmic and time feel approach, articulation approach, and phrasing; 3) the rhythm section-playing the instruments, time feel and concept, coordination of comping, harmonic voicings, drum fills and setups, stylistic differences; and 4) the soloists-developing improvisational skills (both right brain and left brain), jazz theory, the ballad soloist, and the vocal soloist. Ray Smith, who has taught and directed jazz ensembles, including the acclaimed Brigham Young University group, Synthesis, and given private lessons for over forty years, also discusses the details of running school programs. Smith's YouTube channel complements "The Real Jazz Pedagogy Book."

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright
• Acknowledgements
• Author Bio
• Introduction
• Contents
• Section 1 In the Beginning: Let There Be Jazz
• Section 2 Dealing With Basics: It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Sound
• Section 3 Dealing with Style: It Don’t Mean a Thzing if it Don’t Swing
• Section 4 The Rhythm Section: It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Time Feel
• Section 5 The Soloists: It Don’t Mean a Thing if There Ain’t No Jazz
• Section 6 Thoughts on Administrative Issues: Gives Meaning to Everything Else
• Section 7 Appendices: Don’t Have These Removed!