How did music schools and recorded music change jazz musiciansā training in the late 20th century?
In the late 20th century, the training of jazz musicians underwent a significant transformation as formal education and recorded music replaced the traditional "on-the-job" apprenticeship model.1
The Shift to Formal Education
Unlike earlier generations of jazz musicians who were largely self-taught and learned by playing with elders, most later jazz musicians attended music schools, including conservatories and university music departments. This shift led to several changes in their development:1
* Academic Foundation: Students took formal courses in music theory, history, and general music surveys, often studying under major jazz figures who served as faculty.1
* Stylistic Flexibility: This formal training fostered an "astonishing technical assurance" and stylistic flexibility, allowing musicians to perform effectively across diverse genres, including classical and global music realms.1
* Emphasis on Composition: The integration of formal study helped resolve the long-standing conflict between improvisation and composition, bringing the latter to the forefront of jazz activity.1
The Role of Recorded Music
Beginning in the 1970s, the widespread availability of recordings provided musicians with an "infinite variety" of resources. Younger generations utilized this access to study a vast spectrum of jazz styles, as well as ethnic, popular, and vernacular music, further expanding their stylistic reach.1