Wynton Marsalis and Music Education

Recently I had the distinct privilege of meeting and performing with Wynton Marsalis--master trumpeter, musician, composer, conductor, arranger, and teacher--along with the incredible Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra. The MSU Symphony Orchestra premiered a new work of his, "Two in Three," co-commissioned by the MSU College of Music and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Sitting two rows behind the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, led by Wynton himself, was an incredible experience that I would be hard pressed to say could happen again in my lifetime.

Meeting Wynton in person was such an inspiration to me. He is the real deal--incredibly down to earth, and incredibly passionate about not only performing, but teaching as well. In his comments to all of the sections there were poignant words of encouragement and statements and allusions that got our brains really engaged in the music-making process. His voice is hypnotic and soothing, and no matter what he says you can't help but listen. He has all of the qualities of a master teacher, but he also happens to be the first--and only--musician in history to have won a Grammy in both classical and jazz; and he did it in consecutive years!

Marsalis co-founded Jazz at Lincoln Center in 1987 to bring jazz and educational programs to the very front of New York city's bustling culture. He continued to perform, compose, and direct this group for ten years. Then, in 1997, his compositions garnered him even more fame, when he became the worlds first and only jazz musician ever to have won the Pulitzer Prize in music for his oratorio about slavery in America, entitled "Blood on the Fields."

Amidst all of the engagements of Wynton's bustling performance schedule, he never lost sight of his goals in bringing music education--specifically, but not limited to jazz--to popular culture. He won a Peabody award for his four-part PBS documentary "Marsalis on Music" in the late '90s, and was the primary consultant and one of the main narrators of Ken Burns' groundbreaking documentary "Jazz." He also began a 26-episode special with NPR entitled "Making the Music," based on his Young People's Concerts at Lincoln Center.

Wynton has long been one of my heroes among the trumpet world. His sound, style, and overall character of playing is impeccable across all genres. His knowledge of the music is astounding. His voice as a narrator, band leader, and teacher is entrancing. And his vision, determination and achievements are inspiring. But after meeting him, calling him a hero is almost an understatement. In person, he is every bit as human as the rest of us. Even during the intermission of our joint concert, when he had twelve minutes before soloing with the Jazz Orchestra, he gladly took time to snap some pictures with a bunch of us outside of his dressing room. When I asked for his autograph the day before, he seemed genuinely surprised--and extremely happy--to offer it. He was extremely professional in every sense of the word when it came to teaching and performing his music, and he was extremely personable to all of us backstage and during rehearsals. I've seen him live before, but seeing him up close, and meeting him, is something I will never, ever forget.

- Kevin Scollin