Regarding Jazz in Classical Instruction

Oftentimes, teachers of "classical" music, i.e. band or orchestra, may dismiss jazz and folk genres as irrelevant. However, I believe that they should hold a vital place in our curricula.

I was lucky enough to grow up in a town with an established K-12 music program, starting with general music in Kindergarten, and adding options of orchestra in fourth grade, and band and chorus in fifth. The general music curriculum in elementary school largely consisted of folk songs, because they were easy to remember, and they weren't harmonically difficult.

Jazz band was option starting in middle school, although I, as an orchestra instrumentalist, wouldn't be included in that. Some of us would dread the jazz section of the biannual concert because the director was obligated to give each student a 16-bar solo, lest their parents complain. Of course, now I know that such practice is vital to forming skills that they would use in later life, not to mention building confidence.

But I digress. Folk music is what establishes a child's relationship with music theory. American children should be familiar with patriotic songs, such as "America the Beautiful" and "God Bless America," as well as songs of historical significance like "Follow the Drinking Gourd," and familiar melodies like "Simple Gifts" and "Shenandoah."

While it may not be necessary for music educators to be experts in jazz and folk music, it would certainly help to be somewhat well-versed in the history and repertoires of those genres. After all, folk music led to jazz, and even today's pop and R&B music can find their roots in jazz. Most students today only care about 2 Chainz or Taylor Swift, rather than Mozart or Brahms. But if educators can help them see that link into music history, that can help hold their interests in the classics.