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In the 1990s, David Liebman surveyed 256
young student/musicians. A total of 37 (14%) participants attended his
annual International Saxophone Master Class at East Stroudsburg
University of Pennsylvania (ESU) between 1994 and 1997; and 219 (86%)
attended the annual meeting of the International Association of
Schools of Jazz (IASJ).
Both of these yearly events presented an opportunity to survey a select population on matters ranging from the personal to the philosophical. The goal of the survey was multi-faceted: to collect some basic information about the backgrounds, listening habits, and other influences that have informed these students' musical lives as well as cause them to reflect upon matters that form one's world view, which is an intrinsic component of being an artist. We hope that this survey will inspire more research into who is being taught jazz worldwide-and their hopes and aspirations for the future.
Respondents' Profile
Gender and Age School Affiliations Performing Media
In Part I of the survey, Liebman attempted to ascertain what drew students from around the world to jazz and who influenced them: "I thought that it would be of great interest for educators to see how these students entered jazz, what books, records, and other musicians have affected them most in the musical realm." Family Musical Background Piano or church organ was listed as being played by a family member by 17% of the participants. Violin, viola, and cello were listed by 7% of the participants, which strongly suggests they had a classical string (orchestral) influence. 6% of the participants named vocalists as relatives. Guitar was mentioned by 5% of the participants; trumpet and saxophone were each mentioned by 5%; and clarinet and drums/percussion were each mentioned by 2%. Flute or trombone were mentioned by 2% of the respondents. How did you become interested in jazz? What was the first live jazz performance that made an impression
on you? List musician(s) and/or group(s). What was your age when you attended the first live jazz
performance that made an impression on you? What recordings, books, and movies have most influenced you?
Books and movies were also significantly mentioned. Some respondents detailed multiple items. Books were mentioned 55 times, including non-music books. The most-named books were the Miles Davis autobiography (17 times), biographies about John Coltrane (5 times), and Duke Ellington's autobiography or biographies (5 times). Jazz movies listed were Round Midnight (18 times), Bird (7), and Thelonious Monk: Straight No Chaser (3). Several non-jazz movies received one mention each. Often participants mentioned an artist in addition to a specific recording, book, or movie. Those artists mentioned most frequently were Miles Davis (35%); John Coltrane (25%); Keith Jarrett or Charlie Parker (12% each); Sonny Rollins or pianist Bill Evans (9% each); Herbie Hancock, Pat Metheny, or Wayne Shorter (5% each); Chick Corea, Weather Report, Dexter Gordon, Duke Ellington, Charles Mingus, or Thelonious Monk (4% each); Ella Fitzgerald, McCoy Tyner, Cannonball Adderley, J.S. Bach, Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers, Joe Henderson, or Jaco Pastorius (3% each); and Michael Brecker or Joni Mitchell (2% each). Additionally, recordings, books, or movies related to Miles Davis and John Coltrane were mentioned most often (cited 95 and 78 times, respectively). PART II Part II of the study focused on the students' views on issues. Liebman stated: "I inserted questions that concerned their view of the world. The main goal at first was not so much to gather information but more to prod the students to think about issues raised by the questions-to reflect upon matters not directly related to playing jazz and begin to form a world view as an artist." Because of the nature of the questions, a majority of the summary that follows is comprised of quotations from the respondents. What other art forms interest you and why? All art forms Finland Studying artistic values of all forms of art will also deepen the understanding and conception of music as art. Germany All arts are interesting because one is being creative with given structures. They have traditions, rules, development, and improvisation. It's interesting to see the parallels between a given structure and what you can do with it in a creative way. Ireland I think it is important to look at what is good in other arts to see what you can bring to your own culture. Sweden From all art forms, you can learn a lot about emotions, life, people, nature, and of course, about yourself. Dance and theater France I enjoy theater because it is a live performance; and as in music, characters and the director can give different meanings to the same sentence. Uruguay Dancers make me see music. Visual arts Ireland It's nice to focus completely on drawing and painting as a contrast to music because they are so silent. USA Architecture is the mathematics and construction of a big work of art. With painting we seek to understand what the artist was trying to convey. The written word Austria Literature opens up your mind and makes you look at other points of view and think from other points of view. Canada I have always been interested in poetry for its condensation to essentials. What do you want to do with your music? Playing/performing USA I want to play my music for people, preferably in related settings. I would like to create more situations that are a hybrid between a formal concert and a bar...create a world for people to get lost in for a while through music. Happiness/fun/enjoyment France/Morocco Music has become my friend and no longer a means to become known. Communication Netherlands Create a moment of fulfillment for the listener and the fellow musicians. Affecting the world Finland First, I'd like to acquire something that I could justifiably call my music and then expand ideas, express myself, and make social and political statements. Expressing myself Italy I need music to live, and my goal is being able to forget my ego so that the real me comes out through the music I play or sing. Learning France To develop myself in order to be able to have a better understanding of the people in the world. Teaching USA I want my music to be good enough to be used as a teaching device, much like what we do today with our past (musical) jazz heroes. I would like to build a bridge with jazz from the older generation(s) to the younger ones who are missing out on this fun. Communicating emotions Sweden Communicate, evoke feelings, and also enjoy myself while I'm playing-and at last, develop myself as a human being on this planet. And finally... Austria At the moment I only want to graduate. What is the relationship between jazz and your culture? Austria There is no jazz tradition in Austria, but there is a scene and an amount of people who are interested in jazz and folkloristic jazz. This culture is influenced by America. Canada Canada is in transition and jazz melded with ethnic influences is quite possible. Denmark/Sweden There is a lot in common between my Swedish folk music and jazz. They are both rhythmic and use improvisation. England/Ireland Irish folk music is almost entirely improvised and involves the participation so vital to its effectiveness (as with jazz). Britain's interest in jazz is an imitation of America's art form. Influences from different cultures in Britain are slowly mixing with jazz. FinlandBecause jazz is an American art form, it has a strong international aspect from a Finnish point of view. Fortunately, jazz is quite respected in Europe. JapanJazz is one of the most Westernized art forms brought over to Japan and was very closely related with the dance boom in Japan. Italy Jazz is a free language that can unite. Netherlands I'm out of a Dutch, Western European culture; so my music will always sound like that. New Zealand The jazz that is performed in New Zealand reflects the European and American cultures. Sweden My culture is the Western music you know but also some folk music. There have been people in Sweden trying to mix ethnic music with jazz. Switzerland In Switzerland, jazz is music for a minority of people. It's regarded as intellectual stuff-with the exception of Dixieland, which is very popular in my parents' generation. USA The fundamental elements of jazz-rhythm, swing, improvisation-are present in Peruvian music, especially Afro-Peruvian music. What is the relationship between your music, your culture, and the
outside world? Austria/Germany The more I sang and wrote music, the more I found my culture coming through my music (gypsy music) as well as different styles not related to my heritage. Brazil Our Brazilian culture is strong, and world music is heavily influenced with Brazilian rhythms and phrases. Denmark/Sweden Living in Scandinavia, I try to find and push my folk music and roots in my music. The sounds and life are different in Copenhagen compared to New York. France Let's flush out the borders! Jazz and improvisation is freedom. I hope my music will become an expression of myself and my culture, and I hope to be able to share it with great spirit with the outside world. Germany One world. One music. Mix it! Fix it! Italy The world needs our little, positive, but unique contribution. I feel that there is only one god with different names and only one language: music. As human beings we are all equal. Japan The movement, the throbbing, and the creativity of music are part of the important aspects of human values. New Zealand I hope that just by following my instincts and being myself, I will have something pure to offer the world. Creating something "real," I believe, is one of the most positive things we can do for the world today. Sweden My music is hopefully a reflection of my life and thereby also a reflection of my culture, and of the things going on in the world. Switzerland Since I grew up in a culture, it will always be a part of me. After I was able to make my own decisions, the "outside" always attracted me. USA My culture does not embrace jazz. I live in a pop culture that caters to the lowest common denominator. What world issues most draw your attention and why? Ecology: environment, nature, pollution England The destruction of our natural environment concerns me because the next generation deserves the right to live in a decent world. USA Environment: the enormous problems we face are a terrifying sign of our spiritual ambivalence and violent rejection of the original knowledge of native cultures. Desire for peace/disdain for war Germany War: it is scary to see the dark side of human nature. New Zealand War: any situation in which people cause each other to suffer astonishes me. Not only do I despise wars, but I cannot understand how they could possibly happen. Racism England Racism: I think there's still a little bit of segregation in jazz music. USA Racism: it amazes me how we can love the music of a culture; we can tan ourselves until we peel; we can inflate our lips, breasts, and butts to look like a certain culture; but when it's one on one, we can't accept people for who they are. Money/economy Norway The rich nations holding the poor nations as slaves. The poor earn almost nothing making cheap products. Spain Economic differences are getting worse for the third world, which will bring unpredictable consequences in the near future. Politics Brazil Capitalism: when someone wins, someone else has to lose. England The world collapse of communism draws my attention because I know that what existed has only been an attempt at communism and not communism itself. I believe that only through true communism will the world be freed from injustice. Religion Canada I am saddened by the role religion plays in so much of today's strife. I am very concerned about the environment and its degradation-there is nothing if we have no earth! Worship of money and corporate moral bankruptcy are also problems. Lack of communication Denmark The social and economical development in the different regions of the world with its extreme tensions, and the development of modern communication systems like the Internet. Because this will influence my life now and in the future, and I am starting to be afraid of this. Germany I am interested in how the media worldwide deals with political events. Can they influence decisions in law courts? Ireland Why must there be media hype before any issue is addressed by governments? The fickle nature of such media coverage results in unbalanced handling of global issues (for example, Bosnia). SwitzerlandPeople are too selfish, and they don't know how to listen to other people or to themselves. Hunger Germany It is absolutely perverted that people die of hunger in the third world. USA I don't understand how hunger, racism, and crime can exist. General comments Finland What gets put in the food to make it less nutritious, like hormones and preservatives. Also, the inhumane treatment of animals that are raised to be eaten. Netherlands The lack of self-knowledge, honesty, and application of simple wisdom. From this stems the more concrete issues such as violence (wars) and hypocrisy on a global level regarding the unequal division of wealth. This also provides the conditions for the existence of moral codes in the political and economic arenas such as we know them now. Portugal All issues that show people's disrespect for themselves and others. Sweden The worst thing is that there are too many mean people in the world because of a long tradition of bad education and bad raising of children.
Austria It's a special way to live, with creativity. It's not only important for your music but also for all aspects in living. Canada I have believed for some time that all humans are driven to create. Some do it via creating children, others through house construction, others through the arts, or the like. I believe each person has at least one creative niche and needs to find it. (Denmark) I believe that we need inspiration from all sorts of things, people, places. Also to be able to be really creative so it really will get to people. I guess if you dare to stand behind yourself and what you do, you will grow. England Creativity keeps the mind active and is stimulating; originality is achieved through creativity. Finland They come of open-mindedness and courage and trust. They occur in everybody, but most of us are taught not to use them. But you really can't get through to other people without them. France They must be developed by practice. It's hard to balance the search for originality and the necessary repeat and practice of the tradition of jazz. Germany What goes in, comes out. The most important thing to a jazz musician is the broad input from all kinds of music and life experience (including pop and classical). Holland Creativity is the ability to finish solutions to a problem or task that are not obvious or closely related to your personality. Originality is not wondering whether what you do has been done before. Norway I must be creative to be happy with life, and originality is a question of really finding my own person and being honest with other people. Sweden These are natural forces; get prepared to be spontaneous as often as possible. Switzerland Creativity grows in a situation where a person or group lives in the moment without consciousness. Originality is a result of study, understanding, and transforming in an honest way. USA I will never do anything original in music. I can be creative. I'm only trying to be true to myself. What relationships do you see between jazz and other forms of
music (i.e., classical, pop, folk, world)? Austria Jazz is that kind of music where musicians try to combine different experiences which they had in other forms. There is a lot of give and take. England As Duke Ellington said, "There are only two forms of music: good and bad." Finland I find all styles mentioned above interesting at some level. Jazz musicians can learn a lot about simplifying and clarifying music. France All forms of music influence each other. Can we give music labels? What is jazz and what isn't? Japan It seems to me that European people consider jazz as one art form of modern music (including classical music). However, most Japanese people consider jazz as a totally different music form and it doesn't have any relation to classical music or rock. Netherlands Classical music gave the foundation for jazz harmony that is used. My feeling is that jazz and classical music are closer to each other than ever. Sweden Jazz is one of the few music styles where all of these forms of music can meet and be used freely. Switzerland Classical music and free improvisation are just other forms of organization. USA Classical's harmony relates to jazz; Pop's lyrics, phrasing, some harmony, solos do; World Music's rhythm, phrases, and harmony do. In what ways can art in general influence individuals, events, and
the world? Austria I don't really think that art can change things in the world. Brazil Art could be the great world language. Denmark It can bring people together: art is universal. England It can inspire individuals to do things and also comment on world events. Finland Art is able to evoke emotions that aren't possible to verbalize. France/Morocco It's the best instrument to make people all over the world meet and talk. It's the best instrument for peace. Germany/Austria Art to me is a very important part of the world's evolution. Music and other arts have always been there, and real art seems always to be ahead of its time. Holland Through the education on certain topics of discussion, develop a sense of borrowing and consonance; develop a taste of your own to make life decisions. Hungary Arts can change the emotions and thoughts of the individuals if they are able to accept them. Ireland Although we need a certain amount of ego to perform at all, I think that truly pursuing art destroys the ego and brings us closer to our spiritual reality. New Zealand I think there comes a time in the learning of an art form where in order to improve you have to come to a deeper understanding of the world and its spirituality. I think art has this effect on anyone who allows it to. Norway Art is food for the mind: imagination and fantasy. Sweden Many times art can predict future events in the human society and even influence people into going in certain directions because it doesn't have any restrictions. Art can be provocative, innovative, critical, and educational; and it speaks right to the beholder without being judicial. Switzerland Since in art there is no past or future (in the moment of producing or consuming), it teaches individuals theory that events can be great. USA By pursuing excellence, surviving, and stretching or testing the intellectual and emotional boundaries of the world audience. In what ways can jazz be used to influence individuals, events,
and the world? Austria It can be seen as a universal/global art form and can be used as language/communication. Canada Jazz must be relevant to the times and not existing in museums. The harmonious blend of improvisation and rhythm should serve as a model for human cooperation and interaction. England The freedom and energy could inspire individuals to do something creative, but jazz is too much of a minority interest to have a wide-scale effect on the world. Estonia It's developing the speed of thinking in all aspects. Musicians as a rule are better students, and their emotional worlds are richer. France I don't really think jazz can influence politics and society other than on a small scale (such as to create a community of musicians). Germany Great personalities can influence a whole generation of musicians, not only by their art, but with all their life, thoughts, and attitudes. Holland Jazz has room for any other style of music, makes it easy to integrate different cultures, and opens your mind. Hungary This music demands more courtesy by the listeners, who may be more honest not only to jazz but the other arts, too. Ireland It can promote contact between people of different nationalities, races, religions, and social classes who share a common interest; plus it allows for personal expression while requiring the individual to cooperate with others. Norway It's a universal language and can be a way of life for love, peace, and understanding. Sweden Art can be provocative, innovative, critical, and educational; and it speaks right to the beholder without being judicial. Switzerland I'm afraid it doesn't at all. UK Unless all jazz musicians take up arms, it can't. USA) Once the jazz language is understood, anyone can participate in the process. This is an amazing premise: "Come and make music." USA/Netherlands The technique of collective improvisation striving for a common goal could be imitated possibly by various problem-solving organizations. What do you see as the most important societal aspects of jazz?
Austria People of different colors are brought together and learn from each other. Brazil It can be played in so many different idioms such as Afro, Latin, or Hindu. Canada Jazz is not as equally accepted (compared to other musics) because what people don't understand or find hard to accept is usually what they don't like. Denmark) The feeling of being together in a situation of creativity. England The sense of intimacy you can get from playing with three or four other guys and communicating that to an audience can speak volumes for democratic sharing on the bandstand. France A jazz group for me is like the model of the society in general. We learn very much about society in a group. Jazz is a social music because it has to be performed live and shared between the musicians and with the audience. Germany To bring different people from different countries together and establish a common language for communication and understanding. Italy Jazz is too much of an "elite" music to affect the society. Sweden Jazz is both an individual and a group experience: it is a democracy. Switzerland It can give some people pleasure, but that's all. USA People have to listen to each other to make it work. What do you see as the main limitations of jazz? Austria It's very complex for non-musicians. Canada The fact that it is a subculture. It is an acquired taste in today's musical/cultural milieu, as much as I wish it were otherwise. England Small audience. Finland Sometimes musicians make music egotistically: that might be typical in jazz. For many people, that has a bad ring to it. France I think television is the main limitation of art because everybody in the world thinks through their television set. Germany Jazz is in a lot of ways a male-dominated art form; it shows how male musicians can work together but also how hard it is for some females to get a chance to develop. Holland It's too hard for most people to listen to (too theoretical) so that it will always remain "musician's music," which is fine with me; it will always remain music for a selected audience. Japan Many things have been done with jazz, and it seems hard now to do new things. Netherlands As long as we can integrate new elements in the art, there are no limitations. Norway Creative jazz can't be a commercial success. You can't get enough gigs to survive. Portugal Some of its compositional aspects, as well as form and development. Sweden The word "jazz" and your own imagination. Switzerland Like other art forms, a lot of jazz musicians are not very open to other music or art forms-their music is often very static. UK Elitism. USA The purely scholastic/technical approach of jazz schools. A mentality stuck in the 1940s and 1950s. There is a very small audience because of the lack of music education in our schools. Another problem is that most jazz is instrumental and people relate better to vocal music and its lyrics. Lastly, the money. Popular musicians get the money. We, the preservers of history, die poor unless we bend to what record label CEOs want. I guess it all comes down to what the people want, as well. SUMMARY In conclusion, several points can be observed from this survey:
Editor's Note: This article is excerpted and adapted from "Opinions, Attitudes, and Influences of Jazz Students Around the World in the 1990s: The Liebman Survey" in (Part I) the IAJE Jazz Research Proceedings Yearbook Volume XIX (1999), pp. 73-79; (Part II) the JRPY Volume XX (2000), pp. 117-126; and (Part III) the JRPY Volume XXI (2001), now in publication, each also presented at the corresponding IAJE Conference. IAJE is grateful to the authors and to Dr. Larry Fisher, editor of the annual JRPY, for their permission and assistance. All percentages cited in this article were rounded to the nearest percent; figures rounded to the hundredth of percent can be found in the appropriate IAJE Research Proceedings, where many more details of the study process and analysis, plus additional quotes from the individuals surveyed, can be found. Patrick Dorian is an Associate Professor of Music at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, where has been on the faculty since 1987. As a member of the trumpet section of the Phil Woods Big Band, he has toured Europe twice and recorded; he is also a member of the David Liebman Big Band under the direction of Gunnar Mossblad. Since 1992 he has been a member of the IAJE Resource Team for Educational Festivals and Summer Jazz Studies, compiling directories for the JEJ. His writings include seven pages of the enclosure booklet for the 1997 CD The Urbie Green Quintet: Sea Jam Blues (Chiaroscuro CR[D]338); a chapter in the book Annual Review of Jazz Studies 8: 1996 (Institute of Jazz Studies and the Scarecrow Press, Inc.); and Confessions of a Sideman (May 1999 JEJ). He holds degrees from Ithaca College and Northwestern University. Dr. Terry Giffel is a Professor of Media Communication and Technology at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, where he teaches courses in computer integration for teachers and traditional and digital photography. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin and his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees from Indiana State University. This paper represents his first study related to music. David Liebman has performed with Elvin Jones, Miles Davis, Bob Moses, Richie Beirach, Chick Corea, John Scofield, Kenny Kirkland, Terumasa Hino, George Mraz, Al Foster, Ron McClure, Billy Hart, Phil Markowitz, Vic Juris, Jamey Haddad, Tony Marino, and a host of other renowned musicians. He has recorded more than 85 releases under his own leadership as well as being a featured sideman on 170 more, recording well over 200 compositions. A recipient of National Endowment for the Arts grants for composition and performance, an honorary Doctorate of Music from the Sibelius Academy (Finland), the founder of the International Association of Schools of Jazz, a Grammy nominee for Best Jazz Solo in 1998, and an author whose books and articles are widely published, Liebman has taught at universities and in clinic settings around the world. He was inducted into the IAJE Jazz Education Hall of Fame in 2000. For additional, related information, see Jazz In Europe: My Own Impressions by David Liebman (JEJ May 1999) and David Liebman: In Pursuit of Balance by Chris Collins (JEJ March 1995). He will always be grateful for the hard work that Patrick Dorian and
Terry Giffel did on behalf of jazz education with this survey: "Seeing
all this information so cogently organized lends credence to the axiom
that jazz is a universal language." |
Respondents
to the survey came from 5 continents and 28 countries: the United
States, Germany, England, Austria, Sweden, Spain, France, Italy,
Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Japan, Ireland,
Brazil, Canada, Norway, Australia, Portugal, Estonia, Hungary, Mexico,
New Zealand, Poland, Scotland, Slovenia, and Uruguay. Most participants
came from Europe, but the United States was also heavily represented.
Asia, Australia, and South America had few representatives, which was to
be expected given that all surveys were taken in Europe or the United
States. 
PART I