Musical self-medicating on the Internet

The Internet can be a blessing for musicians. The ease of finding tunes on YouTube, downloading them on iTunes, the terrific videos of jazz musicians — we now have more resources at our disposal than ever before.
     The downside of this wealth of information is that a lot of it is bad. The trick is to distinguish what is useful from what is damaging.
     Anybody who knows a hypochondriac knows that there is a lot of ridiculous health information on the web. Anybody who knows a golfer (the sports equivalent of a hypochondriac) knows that there is no shortage of golf tips available, enough to ruin anybody’s game at the click of a mouse.
     And there is a lot of stuff for musicians too. I’ve been impressed by the series of videos on YouTube from the Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz Academy. Trumpet players like Marcus Printup, Kenny Rampton and Ingrid Jensen share ideas about warming up, increasing range and so on. I’ve tried some of them and I like them.
     But then I wondered about this kind of musical self-medication. Is it going to get me into trouble? So I asked a pro, and this is the answer I got from Nancy Walker, wonderful pianist, teacher and JazzWorks faculty member:
     “'Consider the source’ was a saying my dear departed Mum imparted to me on more than one occasion,” Nancy writes. “If the musician spouting the advice has a solid reputation and track record as a player and/or educator, then his/her advice via the Internet might be great. If the musician is unknown to the viewer, then a little research into their background and reputation would probably be a good idea before implementing their advice.”
     Nice advice. The Jazz at Lincoln Center folks obviously fall into the reputable category. But I wonder about some of the others. The Internet is full of folks teaching you how to hit double-high C, the Holy Grail for a certain kind of trumpet ego, or how to have perfect pitch. The Internet is also full of folks teaching you how to break 80, cure hiccups and get triple your gas mileage. The expression “buyer beware” might be even more relevant when the product is free.

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     I’ve been away for a few weeks and want to clear up an accumulation of odds and ends of interest to the JazzWorks community. First, a word about the Vocal Jazz Workshop Series. Sessions two and three have had to be cancelled because of low enrolment, but the first session will proceed and will be held Sunday, April 12 at Festival House. Sharada, a celebrated vocalist and teacher, as well as a JazzWorks faculty member, has titled the session “Learning a new tune in your personal style.”
     Elsewhere on this website is further information. JazzWorks President Mary Moore, suggesting that the timing might have been off for offering a three-part program, promises that there will be a survey in the near future to see what other programs members of the JazzWorks community might be interested in.
     “It can be difficult,” Mary notes, “to gauge the public's appetite for any programming, as everyone in the teaching business knows, but JazzWorks will continue to offer what we feel is inspired, affordable, quality programming. Both our Artistic Director and our Executive Producer have built strong relationships with top national and international jazz performers/educators, and we will continue to offer exciting learning and performance experiences to our constituents.
     “For the moment,” Mary adds, “our focus is on Camp.” Registration is now open, in case you didn’t know.

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     Next is news about the next Thursday night jam session, April 16 at the Carleton Tavern. The host band is called St. Vincent and features, speaking of strong trumpet players, Carl Daniel. Others in the band are Edwin Gans on alto sax, Frank Edgerton on piano, Tim Healy on bass and Tim Leah on drums. As always, the host band plays at set at 8 p.m. and jamming begins 45 minutes or so later. It’s always a good time.
     Three days later, the fourth in the Sunday jam session series will be held at Bluesfest Festival House, 450 Churchill Avenue at 2 p.m. This jam session, more organized than the Thursday event, features coaching and input from professional musicians. It has been particularly helpful to and well-received by less experienced musicians.
     The Sunday, April 19 jam will be mentored by bassist Dave Schroeder. Dave, a much in-demand player on the local scene, has a music doctorate from the University of Miami and has also studied at Berklee. He is now teaching at Carleton.
      "I think because it is a jam session rather than a workshop/clinic/ensemble class the focus should be mainly on playing," Dave writes. "I will offer guidance and organization tips, and I will help whenever I can with regards to sharing my relevant experiences. I will offer the participants advice pertaining to what might be expected in a professional level jam session, drawing on my experiences in various cities in Canada and the U.S. I hope that the participants leave the session inspired to implement new ideas into their practice routines that will help them progress and grow as musicians. The experience will help them to grow musically and to learn more about jam session etiquette and expectations, and will help them to be more effective and productive in future sessions."


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  Finally, a word about comings and goings on the JazzWorks board. The latest departure, much regretted, is that of Dave Finlayson. It was Dave who took on the difficult and complex task of bringing the organization’s structure and constitution into line with recent legal changes regarding not-for-profit organizations. The job took several years, but it is done.
     “Serving on the board was enriching, enlightening, and gratifying, thanks to the fabulous people (too many to thank individually) collectively known as  JazzWork,” Dave says. “As a board member I connected with other not-for-profit and charitable organizations and came to appreciate how JazzWorks is a vital community within our diverse broader community, particularly through its educational initiatives but also in ways that are less visible. Closer to home I saw first-hand the dedication of the board in bringing value to us JazzWorks friends in so many ways. You don't miss your water until the well runs dry — continue supporting our precious JazzWorks, come to camp, the jams, the workshops, volunteer, visit the website often, and stay in touch with your fellow jazz-lovers. There's really nothing like it.”
     Dave deserves both thanks and a rest. As long as he doesn’t rest from playing drums.

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