The essence of Jazz music is the ethereal atmosphere of the dimensional harmony created by kaleidoscope of chromatic tones. It is the pulsating back beat of syncopating African rhythms through the rumble of the drums, or soft sound of the brush to the snare.
The music is an expression of melody from the depth of the soul conveyed as a gospel in many unique ways. These elements combined with the free impressionistic ambiance of instrumental tones in orchestration as a foundational juxtaposition of 7th, 9th,13th chordal harmony makes this style truly unique. The essence of Jazz music is music that is upbeat, full of pizzazz ,yet laid back with style. One would never guess that this free style of music has a foundation that began with Baroque elements found in Classical music.
Classical music comes from the basic structure of homophony when two or more musical lines are played vertically in the same direction as sacred music. In fact, Jazz music is created with homophony in terms of the movement of chords to support the melodic improvisation. However, when it comes to playing intervals and chordal harmonies, Jazz is free from the restriction of classical form. For example, if a song is written in the key of C or a minor there are no sharps or flats written on the staffs. Many times in Jazz music Accidentals are put in the music to cause a tonal effect found in chromatic tones. Tonal effects can occur when one or more notes are altered by raising or lowering a pitch by one half step. Sharps are symbols in the shape of a number sign or tic tac toe board (#). Flats are symbols in the shape of a lower case B(b), yet shaped differently like half a heart.
In some Jazz pieces, both the sharp and flat can occur simultaneously in a chord. The result of such musical experimentation can be Dissonant chords unresolved for the purpose of producing a certain sound. Depending on what tones are used the sound is either full of color, or full of tension. On the other hand, Consonance is a stable balance of harmonic tones without tension. One example of the essence of Jazz Music is the song "Route 66" with cluster of chords with dissonant tones that move from major to minor to diminished to create tonal color.
The Tones in Jazz music is always about the speech rhythm and the chordal harmony full of color as influenced by music in the impressionism period. The essence of Jazz music serves as a personal interpretation of the picture the performer wants us to thinks about. The icing to the cake are the vocalists and instrumentalists who performs how they feel from the soul as the music beckons them to reply to it's statement. As the soloist plays or sings, the beauty of strong kaleidoscope tones in the harmony encourages one to soar especially in ballads.
All of this can occur when the harmony plays in the right position above the correct bass tones found in all Jazz masterpieces. The true essence of Jazz music is present in its ability to shape the music through tones, the syncopation of speech rhythm, the chromatic harmony, improvisational solos, and constant motion of the bass. It is the free structure made from a balanced structure, and a music expressed from the soul.
There are many excellent jazz music schools across the country as well as all over the world. Here is my list of some of the best colleges for young people who want to get the finest education that jazz music has to offer.
Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY
At Ithaca College, you can get a Bachelor's of Music in Jazz Studies. The Jazz Studies program will get students to perform at many places-on campus as well as off. Some courses that students will take are: Jazz arranging, jazz improvisation and jazz history.
Ithaca teaches jazz music in both avenues, for instance, if you are a vocal jazz major or a major in any instrument, your private lessons will be done in the traditional classical style. If your major is jazz guitar, you can study electric guitar, but still know how to perform on classical guitar. Guest artists visit Ithaca and perform giving master classes for students, and they also coach them. Some artists that have performed there are: Jaime Laredo, Rhythm and Brass, the Bach Aria Group and Vladimir Feltsman.
Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA
Berklee College of Music is where students from all around the world come to study jazz music. Students would be majoring in jazz composition here. This jazz music program develops student's creative side, contrapuntal skills, formal as well as developing melody, rhythm and harmony. The student will end up with a group of compositions that will be performed. in public for different ensembles to play. Students will attend jazz clinics, concerts, join in projects and develop critical skills that will enable them to discuss various types of criteria in jazz music. Completion of this major will give students all the skills they need to pursue a career as a professional jazz writer. This is one of the best schools to enroll in to get a top-notch music degree.
University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
The Eastman School of Music is a name that is heard quite often among the music crowd in upstate New York. Students going to this school will be majoring in Jazz Studies and Contemporary Media. Students choosing this major will acquire performance, teaching as well as other music skills and academics. Completing this major will enable students to be their own boss, in a way. They can be part of a symphony, and teach in college; or teach private students and direct as a church musician and free-lance their skills and give recitals. Some students become lawyers or music administrators because the training in music at Eastman School gives them the discipline to do and be anything.
Manhattan School Of Music, New York
Students attending this school will be skilled composers, arrangers as well as performers when they are ready to begin their jazz music career. Students are taught by faculty who are experts. The will also be able to perform with well known jazz artists.There are undergraduate level courses, graduate and doctorate level to major in jazz music. Those who are serious in obtaining a career in jazz music, should really consider any one of these schools to enroll.