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Communications
Hello Everyone:
Happy New Year!!! I hope this Newsletter finds you well; and for many of you - I hope it finds you gearing up for yet another crazy semester. Since becoming president, I have communicated with many of you and let me just say that I continue to be overwhelmed by your kindness and energy with regard to our organization. It is because of you that we are making a difference. Whether you are a performer, educator, business professional, radio personality, aficionado, or someone interested in the music, I thank you. On behalf of the Michigan officers, let me say once again that it is a pleasure for us to serve you and help you in our mutual quest to spread all things jazz throughout our great state.In my previous Newsletters, I listed a number of issues that we as a state needed to address. Again let me say that happily, we have made wonderful strides in many of these areas. Before launching into a number of the larger issues at hand, let me first make a few general announcements.
First, don’t’ forget the annual IAJE Conference in New York City Wednesday January 11- Sunday January 15, 2006. The conference will once again be an amazing event, with hundreds of concerts and clinics. If you attend, please feel free to take some pictures and report back to everyone via the state website (http://www.iajemichigan.com).
Also, the annual Michigan Music Educators Conference will be taking place in Grand Rapids from Thursday January 19 – Saturday January 21, 2006. Several important IAJE events will take place on Saturday the 21st:
1. 11:00 AM - State officer
meeting (outside the Emerald Room in the Amway Grand
2. 2:00 PM - IAJE Michigan New Music Reading Band (Emerald Room in the Amway
3. 3:00 PM – General Membership Meeting (Emerald Room in the Amway Grand Hotel)
Hotel)
2. 2:00 PM - IAJE Michigan New Music Reading Band (Emerald Room in the Amway
Grand Hotel)
3. 3:00 PM – General Membership Meeting (Emerald Room in the Amway Grand Hotel)
Please attend this important event. The general membership meeting gives everyone an opportunity to participate actively in the organization. I hope to see you their. For more information about the conference please check out the MSBOA website at (http://www.msboa.org).
And finally……please, please, please - utilize the amazing website that our editor/webmaster has developed. He has done an unbelievable job with the site. I believe it is hands down the best and most informative IAJE state website in the country. Participate and be recognized within our e-community as we seek to maximize communications. Take a few minutes of your busy time to explore and give site feedback, utilize the many resources available, and talk-it-up with everyone you come in contact with.
Now….the remainder of this Newsletter will focus on a number of initiatives that we have undertaken during the last several months. Again, this is your organization so please feel free to respond, brainstorm and offer-up any suggestions and recommendations that you might have.
This past December at the Mid-West Clinic in Chicago, I had a wonderful meeting with Paul Stanifer, Paul Lichau and Chris Blackmer of MSBOA . We discussed many of the issues that both IAJE and MSBOA face and how we can work toward several common goals. One important issue that was discussed at length was the possibility of all MSBOA Jazz Festivals becoming officially sanctioned IAJE Jazz Festivals. This is a topic that has very positive upsides for our organization. However, the one caveat that needs to be addressed is the adjudication tool (eg. the Grading Sheet). Following the IAJE conference in NYC, I will be in touch with IAJE Executive Director Bill McFarlane to discuss this issue further. I will update you with specifics at that point. Another issue that was discussed was the educational value of the sight-reading component of the adjudication process. Is it of value? If it is, why doesn’t it impact the final grade? Would we be better served by having a judge do a full length ensemble clinic rather than continuing the sight-reading component? These are all issues that I would love to have your input on. We will discuss these things further at the general membership meeting. Please think about them and let me know your thoughts. Overall, it was a terrific meeting and I will continue to communicate with MSBOA. I am excited about the future of both of these organizations and I am particularly excited about our closer working relationship.
During the past several months I have had several discussions with Chris Hajek. Chris is very interested in Jazz Education and would be interested in partnering with IAJE on a Community Jazz School initiative. Chris gave me permission to share this with the membership. Chris’ original thought was to have a Detroit based institute. After several discussions we are taking a tripartite approach – East/West and North. I have been in touch with some partnering organizations on the Westside of the state and President-Elect Danny Jordan has been working on the Eastside. We still need some folks from up north. I have submitted the proposal that Chris submitted to me. Please peruse it and let me know your thoughts.
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Detroit
Institute for Jazz Studies
Formed to respond to drastic reductions in public funding for music education in the classroom, the Detroit Institute for Jazz Studies is an innovative jazz education program for high school students
Organization:
Non-profit organization dedicated to the enrichment and enhancement of the appreciation of jazz music.
501(c)3 Tax Exempt Organization
Michigan Non-profit Corporation
Mission:
The mission of the Detroit Institute for Jazz Studies is to assure the continued worldwide growth and development of jazz and jazz education among students entering the 9th through 12th grades. As a part of that mission, the Detroit Institute of Jazz Studies initiates programs which nurture and promote the understanding and appreciation of jazz and its heritage, provide leadership to students regarding performance, assist students with information and resources, takes an active part in organizing clinics, participating in festivals and symposia at local, regional, national and international levels.
Purpose:
- Help develop an understanding
and appreciation of jazz music
- Provide music education to high school musicians
- Build a network of players
- Teach an art form
- Build a fellowship of musicians
- Share the positive aspects of jazz with young people
- Expand student’s musical knowledge and encourage imaginative thinking and
- Provide music education to high school musicians
- Build a network of players
- Teach an art form
- Build a fellowship of musicians
- Share the positive aspects of jazz with young people
- Expand student’s musical knowledge and encourage imaginative thinking and
creativity
Current Environment:
- Drastic reductions in public
funding for music education
- High School Jazz programs are being cut
- Many schools no longer offer jazz studies
- Student’s opportunities to learn, play and perform jazz are limited.
- High School Jazz programs are being cut
- Many schools no longer offer jazz studies
- Student’s opportunities to learn, play and perform jazz are limited.
Program Goals:
- Recruit the top high school
jazz players from throughout SE Michigan.
- Provide significant jazz musical experiences for high school students
- Provide performance opportunities for young players
- Provide jazz education
- Build a network of players
- Create a unique jazz program where the next generation of jazz musicians can
- Scholarships
- Provide significant jazz musical experiences for high school students
- Provide performance opportunities for young players
- Provide jazz education
- Build a network of players
- Create a unique jazz program where the next generation of jazz musicians can
develop their art
- Outreach program- Scholarships
Director:
Candidate – College affiliation
Benefits: provide a pool of students for future recruitment to university
Potential Sponsors:
Funding will be pursued from numerous sources, including both public and private, including but not limited to the following:
- Local 5
- Local 787
- Wayne State University
- Michigan State University
- Eastern Michigan University
- Central Michigan University
- Oakland University
- Musicians/Bands/Groups
- Public Schools
- International Association of Jazz Educators
- Instrument Manufacturers
- Music Stores
- GM
- Ford
- DaimlerChrysler
- Skillman
- Compuware
- Local 787
- Wayne State University
- Michigan State University
- Eastern Michigan University
- Central Michigan University
- Oakland University
- Musicians/Bands/Groups
- Public Schools
- International Association of Jazz Educators
- Instrument Manufacturers
- Music Stores
- GM
- Ford
- DaimlerChrysler
- Skillman
- Compuware
Board of Directors:
- Band Directors
- Musicians
- Parents
- Sponsors
- Business Leaders
- Musicians
- Parents
- Sponsors
- Business Leaders
Faculty/Staff:
- Executive Director
- Music Director
- Librarian
- Operations Director
- Music Director
- Librarian
- Operations Director
Programs:
- Students will have an opportunity to participate in a curriculum that focuses on public performance for big band and small jazz ensemble. In addition to school-year performances, the Jazz Orchestra and Small Jazz Ensembles will perform in local venues and on tour.
- Provides an opportunity for area high school musicians to gain experience through workshops and performance.
- Provides opportunities for students to develop performance skills through large and small jazz ensemble experiences.
Education:
Students will have an opportunity to participate in educational programs that includes:
- Jazz History
- Jazz Improvisation
- Jazz Composition and Arranging
- Jazz Band
- Jazz Ensemble
- Piano Skills
- Elements of Music
The Jazz faculty consists of accomplished jazz artists and scholars.
2005-2006 Season:
The Institute will have one big band/large ensemble and 2 small jazz ensembles.
2006-2007 Season:
The Institute will strive to have an “A” and “B” big band/large ensemble and 4 small jazz ensembles.
Auditions:
Students entering the 9 through 12 grade are eligible to audition for the upcoming season.
The Music Director will set Audition requirements by section:
“A” Band/large ensemble
Brass
Trumpets (4)
Trombones (4)
Woodwinds
Alto (2)
Tenor (2)
Bari (1)
Rhythm Section
Piano (2)
Bass – Jason Nichol
Guitar (1)
Drums – Ari Rosenberg Hajek
Brass
Trumpets (4)
Trombones (4)
Woodwinds
Alto (2)
Tenor (2)
Bari (1)
Rhythm Section
Piano (2)
Bass – Jason Nichol
Guitar (1)
Drums – Ari Rosenberg Hajek
Small ensemble’s – to be
determined
2005-2006 Audition Dates:
Late September
2005-2006 Performance Schedule:
Fall Concert (December)
Spring Concert (March)
New York Jazz Festival
Detroit Jazz Festival
Travel Expenses:
Students will need to fund their cost of travel expense to the extent that the institute’s funds are not available for use.
Alternative Possible Names:
Metropolitan Detroit Jazz Institute
Metropolitan Detroit Jazz Ensemble
Metropolitan Detroit Center for Jazz Studies
Metropolitan Detroit Institute for Jazz Studies
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Thanks once again for all of your support. I hope to see you in
New York and in Grand Rapids.
Peace,
Brian Coyle
IAJE Michigan President
Director of Jazz Studies – Hope College
