Listening to Jazz: Understanding the Standards
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By Nate Gilbraith, Marketing Intern
Jazz is often hailed as one of America’s original art forms. Having originated in New Orleans during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this music genre, which makes heavy use of improvisation, syncopation and the swing note, quickly became America’s favorite.
Throughout the 1900s, many different forms of jazz developed and rapidly started to influence emerging music genres. However, in the recent years jazz has seen a decline in listeners, especially among young adult listeners. Senior Hannah Hoeschen (music) hopes to change that through the education of standard jazz music elements.
“Jazz is very different from any other type of music because it’s improvised and being done on the spot,” explained Hoeschen. “It’s not completely pre-meditated, which is where I think some people get lost.”
In her presentation, “Listening to Jazz: Understanding the Standards,” Hoeschen aims to give the audience a better understanding of this iconic music genre. Hoeschen will start by playing a standard jazz song and point out distinct jazz elements that makes this genre so unique.
“Jazz has changed a lot; I don’t think it’s dead and I don’t think it’s dying, there just seems to be a lack of education about it. I want to give people a reason to become interested in it.”
Having come to MSUM with little knowledge of what jazz was, Hoeschen knows what it’s like to discover a full appreciation and understanding for jazz. She has continued to study jazz and music for the past four years and wants to share her passion with the rest of the MSUM community.
“I think the audience will be surprised by how easy jazz is to understand, once the basic aspects are understood. Then jazz will open up a whole new listening experience… Learning to listen to jazz opens up new ways to listen too all types of music.”