How to Listen to Jazz

About this event

Listening to jazz is a skill that can be learned and practiced. Hearing jazz without it, says educator and jazz musician Alan Sherwin, might be compared to watching a game without knowing the rules: random things seem to happen for no apparent reason. This leads to a common myth about jazz, in which the musicians play whatever they feel. In fact, most jazz performances are built on a disciplined adherence to an underlying harmonic structure-essentially the rules of the song. Those who can hear the structure may find that what was formerly harsh and chaotic now becomes orderly, beautiful, and exciting. In this overview, Sherwin introduces the practice of active listening using familiar songs performed by prominent jazz artists. The concept of song form is discussed, as well as the roles of musicians in a jazz ensemble. Sherwin is a saxophonist who performs with various groups in the Washington, D.C. area. He teaches courses in various aspects of jazz appreciation and develops software applications for musicians. General Information View Common FAQs and Policies about our Online Programs on Zoom .