Clinicians José Diaz and Dick Dunscomb will demonstrate strategies for “Day One” success for your beginning jazz band. This session will focus on developing a swing rhythm section from scratch, teaching jazz articulations, and utilizing great recordings that reinforce concepts. A middle school jazz band will provide an actual rehearsal lab experience for all present.
Richard Dunscomb
- Biographical Information
Dick Dunscomb is one of the leading authorities in the field of jazz music and music education. He has been recognized nationally and internationally as a guest conductor, author, adjudicator, clinician and consultant. The International Association of Jazz Educators elected Dunscomb to its Hall of Fame. The Midwest Clinic, an international band and orchestra clinic, awarded Dunscomb the prestigious Medal of Honor and named him a Midwest Clinic Legend. He was the North American Coordinator for the Montreux (Switzerland) International Jazz Festival for 18 years. His most recent publications include, with Dr. Willie Hill, Jr. "Jazz Pedagogy": The Jazz Educator’s Handbook and Resource Guide, a publication designed to provide a foundation and structure to plan and implement a successful jazz program, "Jazz Zone"…the beginning, a jazz band method, and "Jazz Zone Together" an innovative online series of interviews with leading jazz icons. He is also the co-founder with Michele Fernandez of the new jazz service “Your Jazz Education Connection.” Currently Professor Emeritus, Dunscomb was the former Chair of the Music Department at Columbia College Chicago, the nation’s premiere visual, and performing, media and communications arts’ college located in Chicago, Illinois. He is Vice President of the board of directors for the Midwest Clinic, the largest annual event for instrumental music in Chicago, Illinois with more than 17,000 participants. He is an educational clinician for Conn-Selmer.
José Antonio Diaz, founder and artistic director of the award-winning Diaz Music Institute (DMI) in Houston, Texas, was recently honored with the Texas Bandmasters Meritorious Award. A Texas UIL Sponsor of Excellence and Country Music Association Foundation’s Music Teacher of Excellence, Diaz has also been recognized as a Grammy-Nominated Music Educator Top 10 Finalist, recipient of the Berklee College of Music’s John LaPorta Jazz Educator of the Year Award, LULAC Educator of the Year Award, and Houston’s Mayor’s Hispanic Heritage Award. His contributions to music education earned him induction into DownBeat Magazine’s Jazz Education Hall of Fame, the Texas Christian University Band Hall of Fame, and recognition as a Hispanic Hero by FOX 26 and Univision. His work has been featured in SBO Magazine, Band Director’s Guide, and the Houston Chronicle. Currently, Jose is president of Jazz Education Network and serves on the board of directors for The Midwest Clinic. Under Diaz’s leadership, DMI has become internationally recognized for developing and promoting jazz, Latin jazz, and salsa. The Institute presents Noche Caliente at Houston’s Miller Outdoor Theatre, featuring its premier ensemble, Caliente, performing alongside Latin music legends such as NEA Jazz Master Candido, Pete Escovedo, Eddie Palmieri, and Poncho Sanchez. DMI has also collaborated with top artists and educators to provide high-quality music instruction and mentorship to young musicians, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in the industry