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My Visit to the IAJE Teacher Training Institute
Dr. Jennifer Morgo, Sayville Schools,
Sayville, New York
I am delighted to write about my trip to the International Association
for Jazz Education (IAJE) Teacher Training Institute (TTI) in late
June 2006, sponsored by Charles Rufino and The Long Island Violin
Shop. Don't miss the slide show (with more comments) at the end of this text!
I am a teacher, violinist, and composer, with a degree in violin from
the Cleveland Institute of Music, and PhD in Composition from the
University of Pennsylvania. In 2002, after more than a decade as a
freelance musician in Philadelphia, I began teaching Middle School, in
Sayville, New York. I feel fortunate to be in a wonderful district
which strongly supports the Music Department, with a great Chairman,
Neil Bernstein, who leads a dedicated group of teachers. Sayville
Middle School has three string orchestras, three bands, and three
vocal groups, as well as co-curricular groups open to all grades by
audition, such as Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Band, and numerous Vocal
Ensembles.
I met Charles Rufino last year at his shop in Huntington while trying
out some bows. I was playing some jazz standards and riffs and he was
interested and inquisitive and after some talk about jazz I forgot all
about our chat. Imagine my surprise when in April, he offered to
sponsor me to attend my participation in the IAJE Teacher Training
Institute, held in the breathtaking splendor of Park City Utah. He
met the IAJE staff at the American String Teachers Association (ASTA)
Convention in Kansas City and was convinced they had a valuable
service for educators. Rufino Violins is the first company to sponsor
a teacher, but the IAJE was so impressed with his offer that they plan
to promote this idea to other companies next year.
The IAJE and Music Educators National Conference (MENC) Teacher
Training Institutes are intensive summertime events, lasting just a
few days. Offering teachers the opportunity to increase their
understanding of jazz education, widen their scope in teaching Jazz
Pedagogy, and develop a well-rounded curriculum that include jazz for
their music programs.
The IAJE assembles a brilliant faculty for each Teacher Training
Institutes; all lectures and demonstrations were full of keen insight
and engrossing concepts, presented in a lively and engaging manner.
Both the IAJE and MENC passionately believe that all music has a place
in the curriculum, and offer educators an illuminating and invaluable
approach to integrating jazz into the classroom. I also have to
mention the dedicated IAJE staff, who responded to every query, no
matter how big or small, with speed and competency.
I would like to thank everyone who helped me have unparalleled
experience, and I look forward to seeing my IAJE buddies again at the
Winter Conference in New York City. You might consider attending
their Winter Conference. It could be just the thing to breathe
new life into you music programs!
If you have never had any contact
with the IAJE, visit them at
http://www.iaje.org.
Of particular interest may be their Mission Statement
http://www.iaje.org/iaje.aspx?pid=8
and their page about the Teacher Training Institutes
http://www.iaje.org/iaje.aspx?pid=9
.
You will be glad you did!
Most Sincerely,
Dr. Jennifer Morgo
morgoj@sayville.k12.ny.us
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A Majestic View of the Mountains Goodie Bags and Door Prizes! A Typical Session in the Strings Classroom The Lodges at Deer Valley Friendships and Colleagues Plenary Session on Improvisation Martin Norgaard Performing One Last Look At The Mountains
Here is a photo taken as we approached the site of the IAJE Teacher Training Institute in Park City, Utah.
The IAJE could not have found a more beautiful backdrop for their program and I was inspired to take some photos in black and white. Such unadorned beauty and natural magnificence is rarely seen back home and was a constant source of joy.
Here I am at the Ecker Hill Auditorium, a new and acoustically excellent hall, where we met every day for lectures. On the first day, Dr. Willie Hill presented an overview of Jazz History. Despite the breadth of the topic, he illuminated each era of jazz in a manner that was comprehensible, profound, and humorous. His lectures were remarkably engrossing, with many of the musical examples superbly performed by IAJE faculty.
We also heard from Mr. Orbert Davis, who presented a series on Instrumental Music, "Making the Literary Connection." His trumpet virtuosity and insightful lecture series, full of original concepts, were most engaging.
Is it any wonder that people rave about the IAJE staff? They had prepared welcoming "Goodie Bags" stuffed with gifts from suppliers for us, as well as a generous selection of door prizes. We were all so happy to be at the TTI that these extras seemed superfluous, but we were delighted nevertheless!
Every afternoon we would split up into different tracks for the various instrument groups. Martin Norgaard was the presenter for the String Track. During these sessions, Martin took us through his book series, "Fiddle Wizard," Middle School (Book 1) and High School, (Book2). They are a comprehensive training tool to teach improvisational techniques for strings, and are not just fun, but musically sound. I was already planning how to use these books next year just two days after the end of school!
Martin Norgaard had a wonderful way of presenting Jazz Theory that not only made it clear for us, but gave us the tools to be able to present it to our students. Here he is taking us through a brilliant exposition on teaching improvisation for musicians at any level of achievement. I have played a lot of jazz, but it never ocurred to me that I might have to conduct a student orchestra playing jazz improvisations! No problem for IAJE TTI graduates- we were given the chance to lead the string group and practice some of the things we learned. Just so you know, it was not all work, work, work. Most of us stayed at the Lodges at Deer Valley. I had the most fabulous accommodations here- the suites were larger than many apartments I’ve had!
A shuttle conveniently transported us to the TTI site, to town, restaurants, etc., at a moment's notice. The actual physical structure of the lodge is magnificent, as is the mountainous backdrop, seen here. There is no way a photo can capture the beauty of our surroundings, and it made us forget about all our hard work.
Like I was saying, the rooms were beautiful. I just had to take this picture. The mountain air was like perfume, and the woodsy yet elegant feel of the decor was refreshing and relaxing after a busy day of music making. On Day Two of the Teacher Training Institute I woke up inspired and ready to get to work again. But I could not resist this photo- maybe I felt I had been skating on thin ice during some improvisations! It was right outside the lodge and we were about to leave for the Teacher Training site for another day of inspiration.
Each lecture was fascinating, and I barely had time to practice and try out what we were learning. But as usual, the wonderful IAJE staff managed to find me a practice room nearby to "woodshed" a bit during breaks!
These sessions were great inspiration and fun, a balance of lecture and playing. There was so much knowledge being presented that the IAJE experts knew we needed a chance to try it out ourselves.
We were a wonderful mixed bag of teachers from all over the country and I made lots of new friends among them. As I mentioned, part of the fun of these programs is meeting other teachers and sharing ideas about our programs.
Here I am with another participant, Dan Giullian, a fine musician from Denver. We became great friends not only because he flattered my violin playing, but also due to the fact that he told some very good jokes and kept us loose, laughing at all his jokes! That's me with the ponytail in the black top. One of my friends made me get into a picture and prove that I was not spending all my time taking photos! Who would have thought that two days after the end of school I would be back in orchestra!? As the end approached, all the participants gathered in Ecker Hill Auditorium for a plenary session on improvisation. We were able to share insights with other musicians and learn more about the character of improvising on our different instruments. This was the finishing touch on all we had learned over these wonderful few days. As part of the final day, we were treated to a performance by the Teacher Training Institute Faculty. They were supreme masters of their instruments and the art of improvisation. My only regret is that I could not have all my students and fellow teachers from home with me at this wonderful performance. Although we had heard enough of Martin's playing to understand he is a great artist and musician, it was still a treat to hear him play a set without interruption. A final shot of the breathtaking landscape of Park City. The depth and insight in Jazz pedagogy presented at the IAJE TTI was paralleled only by the enthusiasm and passion felt by all.
The IAJE would be hard pressed to find a better site for their conference; the good news is that it will be there next year too. The IAJE Staff - Greg Carroll, Nate McClendon and Deena Yaussi were inspiring in their dedication, even nicer in person than on the phone! I can hardly wait to see them all again in New York City for their Conference in January 2007.
Charles has promised to send out information about the Winter conference in Virtual Violins, the Long Island Violin Shop magazine. If you are not already receiving your copy, sign up on the homepage of this website. And let me know if you will be there!
A Majestic View of the Mountains
Here is a photo taken as we approached the site of the IAJE Teacher Training Institute in Park City, Utah.
The IAJE could not have found a more beautiful backdrop for their program and I was inspired to take some photos in black and white. Such unadorned beauty and natural magnificence is rarely seen back home and was a constant source of joy.
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