IAJE-Wisconsin News On-Line Conference Edition The Newsletter of the Wisconsin Unit of The International Association for Jazz Education www.iajewi.org   Volume 4, Number 1: October, 2005
In This Issue:   Conference Jazz Events:   Lawrence University Presents "Homage to Wisconsin Jazz Composers" Part 1 - Wednesday P.M. Part 2 - Thursday A.M.   Jazz Ensemble Direction Pedagogy Ellen Rowe 2005 WSMA Honors Jazz Band Director   IAJE-WI Open Jam Session Thursday Night at Restaurant Magnus 120 East Wilson Street  BRING YOUR HORNS! Now's The Time: Jazz For All Ages Doug Goodkin IAJE-WI/WSMA Jazz Reading Session Hear the Charts on the WSMA contest list Jazz in the Technology Age- Getting The Most From the IAJE Web Site A panel discussion with attendee input IAJE-WI General Meeting WSMA Honors Jazz Ensemble A MESSAGE FROM THE V.P By Steve Zenz Music for Peace!  by Sol Amaya An international opportunity for members of  IAJE-WI WANTED! Wisconsin's Best Jazz Students! (WSMA Honors Jazz Auditions) By Bill Dennee   _____________   iaje-WI Contact Information:   President: Brad Curran President Elect: Mathew Buchman Vice President: Steve Zenz Treasurer: Patrick Phalen Secretary: Lisa Lichter Past President: Steve Wiest IAJE-WI website   IAJE National Website		IAJE-Wisconsin President's Message   Holy Cow it's October! Hard to believe that we're two months into the school year already. Then again, maybe not so hard to believe with homecoming parades, pep band and field shows absorbing time from our schedules. So when is that break in December?   This issue of the IAJE-WI Newsletter ushers in a new administration for our Wisconsin Unit. Steve Wiest handed over the reins to me this past July. It is my distinct honor to both follow Steve and to be president of such a fine organization.  Your new officers, as proclaimed by your votes this past May are: Mathew Buchman, President-elect Steve Zenz, Vice-president Patrick Phalen, Treasurer Lisa Lichter, Secretary These four individuals plus "new" Past-President Steve Wiest and I form the Executive Board of IAJE-WI. Each of us is open to suggestions from each of you as to how IAJE-WI can best serve the jazz educators of our great state. It is no secret that our state has some of the <> best educators/artists in the country.  Our goal is to be able to make available these educators and other resources to every educator in the state that is looking for help in the area of jazz pedagogy. As always, the offer is good for you to contact us through my e-mail: jazztrp@curranmusic.com or via any of our Exec Board Officers and enlist our help with any jazz education questions and challenges you may have.   The annual WMEA convention in Madison this year, as always, has a number of sessions in the area of jazz.  In this issue of the newsletter, you will find a listing of all these exciting events!   Our IAJE-WI General Meeting will take place directly after the panel discussion "Jazz in the Technology Age- Getting The Most From the IAJE Web Site" at 1:15pm on Friday: October 28 in the Hilton Tenney Room.  The idea this year again was to have the meeting in conjunction with a panel discussion. Several of you have expressed interest in learning more about the IAJE web sites so this event is geared toward that topic. Come armed with questions, and great ideas because this will be a good chance to help make our web site a tool that is indispensable for jazz educators. Former vice president Sam Fettig has nearly completed his WSMA Jazz Improvisation Resource Guides, look for more of them to appear on the website in the near future. They will be a great aid to those participating in the Improvisation events for Solo-Ensemble this year.   You can see we have many exciting new things in store for IAJE-WI. Please drop us an e-mail if we can be of any help at all.   I hope to see you at our IAJE-WI booth, or at one of the great events at this year's conference.   All the best,   Brad Curran President, IAJE-Wisconsin jazztrp@curranmusic.com http://www.curranmusic.com/         Copyright 2005  iaje-Wisconsin  All Rights Reserved		2005 WMEA Convention in Madison         2005 Honors Jazz Ensemble Director Ellen Rowe     COMING EVENTS 25th Annual Jazz Celebration Weekend at Lawrence University Nov. 11-12, 2005 GENE BERTONCINI to give clinic and concert November 23, 2005

JAZZ ENSEMBLE DIRECTION PEDAGOGY 

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NOW'S THE TIME: JAZZ FOR ALL AGES

                                                             (Sponsored by Peripole Bergerault)
Presenter: Doug Goodkin  
Friday, October 28     8:00 am-9:15 am
Presider: Mary Brunner, Fountain City
Location: Room M, Monona Terrace

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JAZZ READING SESSION

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JAZZ IN THE TECHNOLOGY AGE -

GETTING THE MOST FROM THE IAJE WEB SITE

Facilitator: Brad Curran, Oshkosh
Friday, October 28      1:15 pm-2:30 pm
Location: Tenney Room, Hilton Hotel

A panel discussion of the various resources available on the IAJE and IAJE-WI websites and how best to make use of these valuable resources.
Attendees will be encouraged to share their experiences and and to offer suggestions.
IAJE-WI general meeting to follow.

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IAJE-WI GENERAL MEETING

Friday October 28         2:30 pm-3:30 pm
Location: Tenney Room, Hilton Hotel

The annual membership meeting of IAJE-WI. Come and meet the new officers and take part in shaping the direction of our organization. We will be talking about a number of initiatives proposed at previous sessions and hope to entertain any new ideas from the floor. This is your chance to voice your opinions, offer suggestions or raise any questions you may have concerning jazz education in our state. The meeting will be over in plenty of time to attend the Honors Jazz Ensemble performance.

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WSMA HIGH SCHOOL STATE HONORS JAZZ ENSEMBLE CONCERT

Friday, October 28     4:00 pm-5:00 pm

Conductor: Ellen Rowe, Ann Arbor, MI
Presider: Karen Johnson, Denmark
Location: Madison Ballroom, Monona Terrace

Love for Sale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cole Porter/Pete Myers (Sierra)
What Did You Say? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .James Miley (Lunc)
The Doomsday Machine Meets Mr. Gelato . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ellen Rowe (Sierra)
Katy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sammy Nestico (Jenson-Hal Leonard)
Nice to Meet You . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .John Clayton (Hal Leonard)
What is Hip . . . . . . . . . . .Kupka/Castillo/Garibaldi/arr. Mike Tomaro (Hal Leonard)

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A MESSAGE FROM THE V.P. -

JAZZ IN ARGENTINA - AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY FOR IAJE-WI

Please allow me to introduce or reintroduce myself.  My name is Steve Zenz and I am your current Vice President. This is the second time I've been part of the leadership of the Wisconsin Unit of IAJE and am honored and humbled to be part of this fine group once again.

I have been involved in performing and the teaching of music for over forty years, and currently teach in the Slinger School District and the Shell Lake Arts Center summer Jazz Ensemble and Classic Combo Camps. I have been involved in Jazz Education for my entire career, as a player, clinician and daily teacher. I am a drummer and I specialize in teaching younger jazz students.

Last summer I had an extraordinary experience studying the culture and music of Argentina for nearly a month. During that time I met many musicians and teachers and discovered a culture that loves and wishes to learn more about jazz. Much of my time was spent in the central city of Cordoba, but I also visited northern Patagonia. I had numerous opportunities to perform with local musicians and share my jazz teaching skills with a sizable number of teachers.

I was overwhelmed by the response of the students, teachers and listeners. The culture is "thirsty" for our music. The positive response was overwhelming and life altering for me and set in motion plans for the growth of jazz in Argentina and further collaborations between our two countries. Some of the projects that were started while I was there include the opening of a week long Jazz Camp that will start, hopefully next July during their winter break, the eventual organization of a Jazz Repertory Orchestra of the city of Cordoba (Population 1.4 million) and the further exchange of teachers and students.

I am hoping that as a state chapter we can "adopt" Argentina and the city of Cordoba as a special place, worthy of out interest and time. Currently I am trying to collect as many big band charts as possible, at all levels and send them to my friend and colleague German Simon at LaEsculaita de Musica in Cordoba. I hate to use the word "copy" and offend any writers, but there is little or no money available by or for anyone involved with this endeavor. We are also looking for any "junk' instruments that could be donated as I know a sax player that swears he can fix "anything". If you have anything to donate or would like to become part of this ongoing project please contact me:
 
Steve Zenz
2325 W. Bernard Ln.
Milwaukee, Wi 53209
414 352 5659
 
This is a wonderful opportunity to "give back" something very significant to all of us and help some amazing and intelligent people from an extremely sophisticated culture. Jazz is our only native art form. Let's share it with some people from another country who really want to learn.
I have included an article written by Sol Amaya, a graduate student in journalism from Cordoba, about what went on last summer. I hope you enjoy it and choose to become part of this very important collaboration.

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MUSIC FOR PEACE

by Sol Amaya

 

United States music is traveling all the way to Argentina. Many new activities influenced by North American art are taking place in this southern country, especially in the city of Cordoba.

This Argentinean city welcomes people from every country and of different cultures. One of the aspects that have been growing during the last years thanks to these influences is Music. A special style is developing very interesting projects between South American people, and that style is Jazz.

Thanks to the cooperation of Dr. Carol LeBreck, who is in charge of a very important international Programme (Global-Links), Dr.Hugo Olmos, from the San Agust’n Foundation, and the influence of Wisconsin drummer and educator Steve Zenz, Jazz music is becoming more and more important in Argentina.

Last July, Mr. Zenz presence in Cordoba allowed the organization of special jazz concerts, with students and professionals from the music school La Escuelita, Escuela de Mœsica Cordoba, which is run by Principal German Siman, also an excellent drummer. One of these concerts, together with an educational presentation took place in the most important theatre of the city, Teatro San Mart’n.

These kinds of events are just the beginning of a new era in Jazz and it's  fusion with Latin music. This group of people is planning to organize a Jazz Camp directly patterned after the very successful Shell Lake Arts Center Jazz Camp of northern Wisconsin, which has been in existence for nearly forty years to Cordoba, to exchange influences between USA and Argentinean artists. Next July (2006),this new Jazz Camp will take place in Cordoba's countryside, and it is hoped that many North American and Argentine musicians will participate in this experience. This way, artists from both countries will be taking part in the advancement of Jazz and Latin Music.

Hard work for a good cause

Apart from participating  in interviews, going to radio stations, instructing teachers and students from the music school, both Mr. Zenz and Mr. Siman, also had time to share ideas in an effort to help Peace grow between different countries. Music is a universal language. It is a perfect way to communicate peacefully and help people to understand each others culture and commanality.

Going through Cordoba's main theatres and cultural spots, Steve Zenz became inspired to continue his job as a world wide educator. Together with Dr. Olmos and Mr. Siman, they have been gathering people who want to participate in this cause. It's been difficult work, and more and more effort will be needed, but it's a very important project and worth investing many people's time and energy.

 The City of Cordoba embraced Mr Zenz ideas immediately. Teachers and students are very thankful for the opportunity of learning more about jazz and North American culture.

Music and Communication

Promoting the study of new styles and cultures among students and educators helps the development of World Peace. By experiencing and performing each other's music, these professionals are giving students the opportunity to learn and enjoy; and to create bounds between North and South Americans. It is highly significant for both countries to work and learn with people that make so much effort and travel worldwide to spread messages of peace using music as a common language.

Music is an ideal way to communicate between people who speak different languages, yet share the desire for a more peaceful world. The people of Latin America are willing to be influenced by peoples from all over the world to enrich their culture, to get to share, to make people realize that different does not mean enemy, that we, human beings, have the future of humanity in our hands.

In a world going through a continual crisis, where global war and economic uncertainty increase poverty and famine, our small efforts can make huge differences.

We know the power of music and how it can affect change in the world.

We are sure that this is one very important way to start these changes. Great things start as small ideas. We know that participating in these projects to share cultures using our love of music, can be a big contribution to World Peace.

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WANTED

Wisconsin’s Best Jazz Students

December 1^st is the Deadline for 2006!

In an effort to increase the number of students auditioning and the quality of auditions, IAJE – Wisconsin has come up with a couple of ways to help student progress.  WSMA has changed the audition material in an effort to improve high school jazz programs and individual student performance.

The audition material can be found on the WSMA website – www.wsmamusic.com

Students will have the opportunity to audition for solo or section chairs.  The solo chairs will require a higher improvisation level.  There is also a separate etude for the lead trumpet.

The material will include:

1.                  Scales

2.                  Improvisation

3.                  Etude

4.                  Sightreading

IAJE – Wisconsin is asking directors to encourage their outstanding soloists, jazz camp students, and strong section players to audition for the honors project.  The Wisconsin Chapter of the IAJE is also working on recognizing jazz students that have received outstanding soloist awards or scholarships for camps.  A letter would be sent out in September to the students and their director, congratulating them on their accomplishments and encouraging them to apply and audition for the WSMA honors project.

In an effort to further support the honors project, IAJE – Wisconsin is launching a new opportunity for students to rehearse and fine tune their audition material.  Students will have to opportunity to attend local colleges around the state to rehearse their audition material with college directors.  High School directors will be contacted to send their students to a local site in an effort to increase their student’s knowledge of the audition material.  College directors will be working with area directors, college students, or student IAJE chapters to provide help with this clinic experience.

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 ANNUAL JAM SESSION READY TO WAIL !

Jam Session : An informal performance of musicians, involving a degree

of improvisation. Jam sessions also serve as training sessions for young musicians. Common in jazz, also pop and folk music.

   
The Wisconsin Unit of IAJE is pleased once more to present a jam session at this year’s annual WMEA State Music Conference. The session will take place on Thursday, October 27, 2005, beginning at 9:30pm (following the Honor’s Concerts.) The Restaurant Magnus  has again agreed to host this gathering. Located a block from Monona Terrace at 120 East Wilson Street, the Magnus is a great jazz club - complete with a stage, piano, and the ambience to make this a truly exciting evening.

This year’s IAJE-WI Jam Session is the third of what has now become an annual event. IAJE-WI members Mathew Buchman, piano; Karyn Quinn, bass; and Steve Zenz, drums, will be anchoring the house rhythm section for a night of hot (or cool) jazz. Be sure to bring your axe to the convention so you may join in the festivities - the more the merrier. With the wealth of talent we have in our state, this jam session promises to be an exciting one. See you there!

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The Wisconsin IAJE Chapter is happy to help spread the word about "Homage to Wisconsin Jazz Composers," the 2 programs the Lawrence University Jazz Ensemble will be presenting at the WMEA Conference in Madison on Wednesday and Thursday, October 26-27.  Below this article is a copy of the program, complete with titles, composers/arrangers and their Wisconsin school affiliations, and bio details.

In total, they'll be performing 20 published works by Wisconsin writers (many of those published by Wiscoonsin-based publishers: Ron Keezer's "Really Good Music," Hal Leonard Corp., and Blair Bielawski (Peter Blair), the jazz editor for Lorenz Heritage JazzWorks).  Their first program -- at WMEA's "Jazz Night" (Wednesday, October 26) -- will be "Advanced Works by Wisconsin Writers" -- big band charts for professional, collegiate, and advanced high school jazz ensembles.  The second -- at 8:30 am the following morning (Thursday, October 27) -- will be "Beginning & Intermediate Works by Wisconsin Writers" -- big band charts for middle school and young high school jazz bands.  Both performances will take place in the Community Terrace Room of the Monona Terrace Convention Center in Madison.

The 20 writers represent several important WI jazz constituencies....
 
    -Four of our retired state jazz education pioneers are represented: Dominic Spera (UW-Eau Claire), Lovell Ives (UW-Green Bay), John Harmon (Lawrence University), and Frank Ferriano (UW-Whitewater). 

    -Five current Wisconsin university jazz educators are represented:  David Milne (UW River Falls), Marty Robinson (UW-Oshkosh), John Salerno (UW Green Bay), Fred Sturm (Lawrence University), and Steve Wiest (UW-Whitewater). 

    -Three Wisconsin school directors are represented: James Gallagher (Arcadia), Matt Lamb (Glenwood City), and Dennis Luginbill (Eau Claire Memorial HS and Northstar MS). 

    -Two Wisconsin natives who graduated from WI universities are represented: Chuck Dotas (UWGB alumnus currently serving on the jazz faculty at James Madison University) and Jamey Simmons (UWEC alumnus currently serving on the jazz faculty at Middle Tennessee State University). 

    -Three writers associated with Wisconsin jazz publishers are represented: Blair Bielawski (Lorenz Heritage JazzWorks), Ron Keezer (Really Good Music), and Michael Sweeney (Hal Leonard Corporation). 

    -And 3 of our greatest Wisconsin jazz stars are represented: Woody Herman (Milwaukee), Lyle Mays (Wausaukee), and Geoff Keezer (Eau Claire).