Quick Reference Guide for Band Directors Who Teach Jazz

Ronald E. Kearns is a retired band, orchestra, and jazz band director. He is a classically trained musician, jazz recording artist, jazz record producer with over forty-five commercially produced recordings and author of three other books for music educators: Quick Reference for Band Directors, Recording Tips for Music Educators, and Quick Reference for Band Directors Who Teach Orchestra.

This is the book—an outstanding band, string, and jazz educator spells it out in a step-by-step journey to developing a new jazz program or improving an existing one. It’s loaded with tips, resources, and proven techniques that will jettison your program to new levels of success.

• Table of Contents AcknowledgementsIntroductionPurpose Chapter One - Getting Started - First Steps Developing Your Personal Philosophy of Music Education Creating a Support Network Program Description A Sample Jazz Ensemble Handbook Developing a Five Year Plan Chapter Two - Developing a Jazz Ensemble as part of your band program Program Development Teaching Improvisation Selecting students for jazz ensemble Chapter Three - Things you need to do before the first rehearsal Organize and plan Chapter Four - Organizing the first rehearsal Organizing the first rehearsal and classroom management Ending the first rehearsalSample lesson planChapter Five - Developing improvisational skills Expanding the palette Transcribing jazz solos Developing and using the jazz language Baby stepsCreating melodic lines Beyond baby steps Learning to overcome the fear of failure Performance time Chapter Six - Planning your first performance Writing lesson plans for jazz class The performance Chapter Seven - Festival preparation and performance Festival information and description Teaching the music for adjudicationRecord your rehearsals Chapter Eight - Developing a jazz budget separate from the band budget Travel expenses Electronic equipment Chapter Nine - Program maintenance Developing a five year plan Maintaining equipment and equipment purchase The importance of individual recognition and praise Chapter Ten - Using technology in the jazz classroom Recording your group Using tablets and smartphones Interactive software Play-a-long recordingsWebsites Social media Notation software Using play-a-long software and hardware PowerPoint Videotaping your jazz ensembleTechnology resources on the internet Technology resources in book form Chapter Eleven - Choosing literature for your jazz ensemble Chapter Twelve - Quick repairs and instrument maintenance Quick repairs Chapter Thirteen - Developing a support group for your jazz ensemble Establishing a new parent group Chapter Fourteen - Trips and festivals Chapter Fifteen - Recording your group during rehearsalsStudent directed warmupsMicrophone setup and placement Appendix Glossary About the AuthorIndex