The Jazz Doctor A Solution-Based Approach to Jazz Ensemble Development

New middle and high school music educators are often confronted with the daunting task of organizing and teaching a jazz ensemble without knowing the basics of teaching the related curriculum. Music education programs often neglect to present a solid foundation in jazz ensemble instruction, sometimes opting to appoint jazz directors to lead their jazz ensemble programs based on the candidate's jazz performance abilities, while not always considering their abilities to instruct students 'how' to teach jazz ensemble. This book addresses the issue of how to teach a jazz ensemble and uses a reference approach that identifies an issue, explains why the issue occurs, and then suggests proven solutions to solve the issue.
The information includes some initial considerations such as organizing a jazz band, philosophy of rehearsal techniques, leadership, seating, set-up issues, swing interpretation, and the most common rehearsal issues. Discussed in separate chapters are issues associated with the saxophone, trumpet, trombone, and rhythm sections. There are specific chapters on piano, guitar, bass, drum set, and percussion as well as working with vocalists and teaching odd meters. Using over fifty years of successful teaching, the author has developed a long list of jazz ensemble rehearsal issues and how to solve them. Readers can read straight through the book or opt to use it as a reference for specific issues. New and experienced educators will find valuable information that pertains to the level of their jazz ensemble.

John F. Maltester has been a music educator for over fifty-five years. He's created and developed award-winning music programs that include concert bands, jazz band, orchestra, marching band, and theory/improvisation classes. He is also the Music Director Emeritus of the Contra Costa Chamber Orchestra, and the Artistic Director/Conductor Emeritus of the Diablo Wind Symphony (now BDWinds). He is one of only two conductors to conduct both the California State Honor Band and Honor Jazz Band. He started playing trombone professionally at sixteen years of age and has played for the Ringling Brother's Circus Band, the Miller Band, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., P.J. Proby, Jim Nabors, Tony Bennett, Sarah Vaughan, Cleo Laine, Billy Eckstine, Mel Tormé, and Joe Williams. Besides bringing a diverse background of abilities to the conductor's podium, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the California Parent Teacher Association, the President's award for Lifetime Contribution to Education at Los Medanos College (1999), the Contra Costa County Regional Arts Council award for Outstanding Achievement in the Arts (1999), the Outstanding Music Educator award from the CMEA Bay Section (2007/8), the Generations in Jazz Foundation's Lifetime Achievement Award (2008), and elected into the Californian Alliance of Jazz Hall of Fame (2010). He received the CMEA Bay Section 'Lifetime Achievement in Music Education' award in 2013 and was elected to the Pittsburg Arts and Entertainment Hall of Fame in 2018. He is active as a clinician in rehearsal techniques and low brass performance; an adjudicator; and a guest conductor throughout Australia, the Western United States, Hawaii, and Alaska. His publications include "The Basic Guide to Improvisation for Use in the Classroom," "The Concert Band Syllabus," and several articles in national magazines including The Instrumentalist.