On Friday, Jon Faddis gave a master class at the University of Miami, and while parts the class were a bit controversial (something for a future article!), there were also many aspects that deserve attention and action. One of the things he talked about was the legacy of jazz trumpet playing and the importance of listening and imitating, then he demonstrated a stirring rendition of Louis Armstrong, then Roy Eldridge. He knew many solos, by many players, and he had them all memorized. There is something to that.

We live in an age where music is more portable and accessible than ever, and yet it seems that overall musical awareness and knowledge is in a long slow decline. The saddest part is that I see evidence of that decline in musicians and non-musicians alike. If musicians are not studying and listening to music — and I mean studying it enough to know it as well as Mr. Faddis so ably demonstrated — then eventually nobody will. That kind of intimate musical knowledge and ability, the kind that makes a musician a kind of walking musical history demonstration, is something we should all aspire to. Perhaps all of those iPods owned by musicians the world over can be put to better use than simply providing a soundtrack for the walk to lunch. Study the music you love and learn to imitate the artists that make it. You will thank yourself a thousand times over for every minute so invested, and what’s even better, the world of music, and all of us who make it, will thank you too.

§ 3 Responses to What’s on your iPod?"

• Aaron Norlund says:

  September 2, 2007 at 8:53 pm

  Craig,

  What is your take on reproducing music from the orchestral world. As in, there are many renditions of Mahler’s 5th by trumpet players from all over the world. Do you suggest learning to mimic different players’ styles for use in different situations?

  Fair leads,
  Aaron N.
• Craig Morris says:

  September 3, 2007 at 7:07 am

  Hi Aaron,

  I think learning to mimic other players is extremely helpful, but not to enable us to copy other players in performance. It is important because it helps to develop our pallette for use in shaping our own interpretation. Any great artist is built on a foundation of his influences.

  Best,
  Craig
• Paul says:

  September 30, 2007 at 9:15 am

  Craig

  It is also important to listen to as many different styles as possible. To me music is music and I have a ton of different styles on my mp3 player. Everything from Heavy metal to country (with a healthy dose of Maynard thrown in). I agree with your comments about listening and then developing from there.

  double G

  Paul