Educational Spotlight: Dave Douglas

Monday October 18, 2010

From JazzInkBlog

Student Composers and the Elements of Style
By Andrea Canter

When I sat down to observe Dave Douglas’s recent workshop on composition, I figured I was going to hear about his strategies regarding musical composition, and particularly his advice to young musicians/budding composers. The two-night workshop was part of Douglas’s residency at the Walker Art Center, where he would be performing the Midwest premiere of his collaboration with filmmaker Bill Morrison, Spark of Being. This multimedia work was commissioned in part by Walker.

One of the cool components of some of the recent Walker residencies of jazz artists has been master classes/workshops in partnership with the MacPhail Center for Music, targeting advanced students in MacPhail’s jazz ensembles. Last spring, these students were able to share an evening of music and conversation with Bill Frisell, and a “meet and greet” hour with Dave King. The workshop with Douglas was an extended, hands-on experience, hopefully the first of many to come. This was not just a chance for students to meet one of the most creative artists in modern music, but to truly learn and put new ideas into practice. And play side by side with Douglas.

The core group of students was the Dakota Combo, a MacPhail project supported through a partnership with the Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education, open to area students in grades 9-12 selected through annual auditions. Others joining the Combo included members of the Minnesota Youth Jazz Band and others involved in MacPhail jazz ensembles. There were perhaps 15-20 students in total, most who attended both nights.

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Fats (live)	3:36	Dave Douglas

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