Avant Garde/Free Jazz; Fusion (1959 - 1990)

in the 1970s, the public became increasingly aware of the importance of jazz to America’s history and culture 

1.

high schools (and even middle schools) increasingly added jazz bands to their music programs 

2.

jazz has been increasingly “legitimized” in formal academia 

a.

university jazz studies programs proliferated in the 1970s, ‘80s, and ‘90s 

b.

today, jazz students study and practice side by side with their classical music counterparts in America’s most prestigious university schools of music and conservatories (e.g., Eastman, Indiana University, New England Conservatory) 

c.

today, students can earn a bachelors, masters, or even a doctoral degree in jazz studies 

3.

many university music departments specialize in jazz studies (e.g., University of Miami, University of North Texas, Berklee College of Music) 

4.

because jazz encompasses so many musical styles, the study of jazz provides practical training for budding professional musicians 

a non-profit education organization founded in 1986 as the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz, the renamed Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz offers the world's most promising young musicians college level training by America's jazz masters and presents public school-based jazz education programs for young people around the world 

in 1987, the Joint Houses of Congress passed a resolution declaring jazz an American National Treasure; jazz education has henceforth been considered American art education 

Aebersold, Baker, Coker 

1.

expanding on the "Music Minus One" concept, Jamey Aebersold has produced over 125 play-along recordings, enabling today’s jazz students to play along with a recorded rhythm section (i.e., practice with accompaniment) anytime they want; the play-along recordings feature professional jazz rhythm sections which play accompaniment to common chord progressions, standards, and classic jazz tunes (the recordings are categorized by jazz artist, particular standards, and common chord progressions). 

2.

David Baker is considered one of the world’s most important pedagogues in the history of jazz education; he (1) was among the first to codify the largely aural tradition of jazz, writing 70 books and over 400 articles on jazz improvisation, jazz composition and arranging, jazz pedagogy, how to learn tunes, how to practice, and other related topics; 2) founded the Jazz Studies program at Indiana University in 1966 and served as Distinguished Professor of Music and Chairman of its jazz department until his passing in 2016; and (3) is remembered not only as an extraordinary educator but also as a superlative composer, performer, and Director of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra. 

3.

Jerry Coker founded the jazz program at the University of Miami (one of the most innovative schools of jazz today) in the late 60s; he also has written a number of books on jazz improvisation, how to teach, how to practice, how to hear common chord progressions, how to listen to jazz, and related topics. 

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