Hot Question at LinkedIn.com (Jazz Education Network Group)
Since the "record deal" is basically dead and university teaching positions are scarce, what's next? What do we tell our students?
I actually posed this question to Wynton Marsalis during a talk he gave last weekend when I was participating at jazz at Lincoln Center's Band Director's Academy. (which I think is a fantasic learning experience and highly I recomend it to all jazz ensemble directors!)
I asked "There are so many talented young jazz players nowadays coming out of high schools and colleges - what do you advise them about a career in jazz?'
Wynton said, "I tell them to do what my father told me to do which was to go out and give it all you have and follow your dream. Wynton asked if he should have a back-up plan, (like medical school for instance) and his father said NO! In other words, if you spend time getting a back up plan then you wont devote as much time needed to reallize your real desired goal of being a player. It certainly has worked for Wynton, he is at the top of his field.
But he certainly has many other things he does besides just playing the trumpet. He's a fine public speaker, band leader, and composer too. So maybe the correct answer is to discipline yourself to reach your goal of being the best player you can be, but also make sure you do well in other aspects of your music business. Be a good public speaker, be a good copmposer, leader, too!
Since the "record deal" is basically dead and university teaching positions are scarce, what's next? What do we tell our students?
I actually posed this question to Wynton Marsalis during a talk he gave last weekend when I was participating at jazz at Lincoln Center's Band Director's Academy. (which I think is a fantasic learning experience and highly I recomend it to all jazz ensemble directors!)
I asked "There are so many talented young jazz players nowadays coming out of high schools and colleges - what do you advise them about a career in jazz?'
Wynton said, "I tell them to do what my father told me to do which was to go out and give it all you have and follow your dream. Wynton asked if he should have a back-up plan, (like medical school for instance) and his father said NO! In other words, if you spend time getting a back up plan then you wont devote as much time needed to reallize your real desired goal of being a player. It certainly has worked for Wynton, he is at the top of his field.
But he certainly has many other things he does besides just playing the trumpet. He's a fine public speaker, band leader, and composer too. So maybe the correct answer is to discipline yourself to reach your goal of being the best player you can be, but also make sure you do well in other aspects of your music business. Be a good public speaker, be a good copmposer, leader, too!