2008 Woodie Awards
Music professors write books of craft
A jazz professor and trumpet professor both write books to help educators and students
Lori Schueler
Issue date: 9/4/08 Section: A&E
Students may not be able to learn music from a book alone, but it can't hurt to check out two books written by SIUE professors.
Two professors, Reggie Thomas and John Korak, from the Music Department, have published educational books helpful to professors looking to enhance their teaching as well as useful resources for student learning.
For jazz educators wanting to improve lessons, "Teaching Music Through Performance in Jazz," helps teachers overcome challenges that accompany jazz training.
Music professor Thomas co-authored the book along with Ronald Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Ron McCurdy and Ron Modell.
"The book is aimed at music educators and for enhancing music education abilities to teach jazz," Thomas said.
Released in December 2007, the book is comprised of five chapters - one by each author - in addition to music reviews, which, according to Thomas, gives the best resources to use to teach jazz, along with a CD.
"For students who are going into music education (the book) is a great resource," Thomas said.
According to Thomas, some of the challenges educators face are teaching improvisation and teaching the rhythm section. His chapter is dedicated to the rhythm section and jazz ensembles.
"What this book offers to do is to help fill in those gaps that students have not received in the music education training," Thomas said.
He said the book is available through GIA publications and can be ordered online or bought at a music store that carries band materials.
"What we have been seeking to do is to get these types of materials in the hands of educators to better prepare our students to be well rounded musicians," Thomas said.
Rick Haydon, music professor and long-time acquaintance of Thomas, said the book is invaluable for jazz enthusiasts.
"It's very well done, and something we have needed in jazz education for a while," Haydon said.
Haydon said he would highly recommend the book and said also commended the other contributors.
Two professors, Reggie Thomas and John Korak, from the Music Department, have published educational books helpful to professors looking to enhance their teaching as well as useful resources for student learning.
For jazz educators wanting to improve lessons, "Teaching Music Through Performance in Jazz," helps teachers overcome challenges that accompany jazz training.
Music professor Thomas co-authored the book along with Ronald Carter, Wynton Marsalis, Ron McCurdy and Ron Modell.
"The book is aimed at music educators and for enhancing music education abilities to teach jazz," Thomas said.
Released in December 2007, the book is comprised of five chapters - one by each author - in addition to music reviews, which, according to Thomas, gives the best resources to use to teach jazz, along with a CD.
"For students who are going into music education (the book) is a great resource," Thomas said.
According to Thomas, some of the challenges educators face are teaching improvisation and teaching the rhythm section. His chapter is dedicated to the rhythm section and jazz ensembles.
"What this book offers to do is to help fill in those gaps that students have not received in the music education training," Thomas said.
He said the book is available through GIA publications and can be ordered online or bought at a music store that carries band materials.
"What we have been seeking to do is to get these types of materials in the hands of educators to better prepare our students to be well rounded musicians," Thomas said.
Rick Haydon, music professor and long-time acquaintance of Thomas, said the book is invaluable for jazz enthusiasts.
"It's very well done, and something we have needed in jazz education for a while," Haydon said.
Haydon said he would highly recommend the book and said also commended the other contributors.
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