In an age of synthesized music and overproduction, the music industry has evolved into what some critics say is a shocking departure from the origins of the art. What was once a modern art form has become a way to make celebrities richer and more famous. But behind the limelight of mega-successful pop stars and manufactured lyrics, real artists still quietly perform music for music’s sake, enhancing the craft and ensuring its survival among the less genuine forms of music. Jazz guitarists, sharing a history rife with raw emotion and stunning ability, continue to improve upon jazz technique by adding relevant and interesting new forms to the genre. How are jazz artists making modern music viable? Read on to learn the method behind the form.
Jazz musicians today take improvisation to a whole new level, creating symphonies of sound using a combination of natural and developed ability. In the early days of jazz music, artists interwove personal stories with their music, which effected an emotional response from audiences and fellow musicians alike. For many years, jazz became mainstream, and while real artists never lost the improvising spirit, commercial jazz became in large part mellower, appealing to the mass market rather than to true aficionados. Recent incarnations of modern jazz have seen a resurgence in improvisation and a desire to get back to the heart of this genre.
While improvisation has returned in full force, master musicians also continue to develop craft and skill using a variety of techniques honed over many decades of experience. The world is much more open now than it ever has been thanks to advanced technology, which means that teachers and students no longer need to remain in the same vicinity or even the same country.
Taking this to heart, modern jazz guitarists have expanded their influence to appeal to a global student base, and modern musicians have equally embraced the chance to learn from masters living thousands of miles away. These low-cost alternatives to traveling and seeking out the masters on their own have led many modern musicians to benefit from genius without expending the time and energy it would normally require. Far from cheapening the evolution of jazz, online videos make it possible to learn quickly and develop effectively.
Any good student learns to develop and hone his craft by emulating the experts and improving upon their skill. Likewise, today’s jazz musicians are reaching out to the global learning community to not only learn from their predecessors but to change the face of modern jazz. How are they doing this? Technology allows them to watch and learn from masters of the genre.
Mike’s Master Classes, a website dedicated to promoting ongoing learning for jazz guitarists, hosts a wide range of classes from respected jazz masters. Sharing their techniques with today’s musicians, giants of the jazz industry can now impart their wisdom using the lightning-quick resources available to them. Using this as a catalyst for improving their own performance, jazz artists from around the world learn, develop and explore new opportunities in the genre.
What does this mean for the future of jazz music? In essence, it means that technology can enhance music when used correctly. Unlike the overproduced sounds of today’s pop hits, jazz remains a viable genre because it draws that raw emotion that music is designed to elicit. Today’s jazz musicians, while learning the artistry of masters via online videos and classes, take the genre into new territories, creating sounds and styles that speak of the generation as a whole and stand out as both relevant and meaningful in a world full of synthesized noise.
Tom Lippincott has a great modern jazz guitar course on Mikes Master Classes. Each class takes you further into a deeper understanding. This is an advanced modern jazz course and Tom has a wealth of knowledge to learn from. Well worth the hours spent viewing and reviewing this course.
Modern Jazz Guitar – Part I $29.95 Add to Cart |
Modern Jazz Guitar – Part II $29.95 Add to Cart |
Modern Jazz Guitar – Part III $29.95 Add to Cart |
Modern Jazz Guitar – Part IV $29.95 Add to Cart |
Modern Jazz Guitar – Part V $29.95 Add to Cart |
Modern Jazz Guitar part III sample video
Tom’s modern jazz guitar part IV sample video
Part V: Final installment of Tom Lippincott’s modern jazz guitar series. Sample Video
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Very nice blog with gud videos…