About the Authors

Marcia Foster Dunscomb

Marcia Foster Dunscomb is a composer, author, educator and pianist. She has served as a Contributing Author for the Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, Consultant to the International Piano Teaching Foundation, Educational Consultant in Jazz for the National Museum of American History, and Jazz Editorial Assistant for Jazz Expressions (Warner Bros. Publications). Works in print include Melody Maker (Melody Maker Press), Evolution of Jazz (McGraw-Hill), and Anatomy of Music (McGraw-Hill). In addition, she was a contributing author and Editorial Assistant for Jazz Pedagogy: the Jazz Educator's Handbook and Resource Guide (J. Richard Dunscomb and Dr. Willie L. Hill, Jr. - Warner Bros. Publications), Teaching Jazz - A Course of Study (MENC/IAJE), and Jazz Studies Guide (MTNA/IAJE).

Frequently called as a clinician and adjudicator, Dunscomb has been one of the foremost pioneers in the field of teaching jazz and improvisation to young children. She has presented for many organizations, including IAJE, the National Piano Foundation, and the Stan Kenton Summer Jazz Camps. Previous positions include Director of Education for South Florida Friends of Jazz (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida), Director of Education for Baldwin Piano and Organ Company (Atlanta, Georgia), and music faculty member for Florida International University (Miami, Florida).