Those who can’t do, teach. It’s an adage students
throw at their teachers in educational institutions throughout the
country. But in UCLA’s jazz department, it couldn’t be
further from the truth.
Charley Harrison and Bobby Rodriguez are the respective leaders
of the Jazz Orchestra and Latin Jazz Ensemble at UCLA, but
they’re also professional musicians.
“The jazz department at UCLA is rather unique because just
about everybody is working in the business in some way, shape or
form,” Harrison said. “When I went to school, the
teachers were aware of the music world but weren’t really
that active in it.”
Harrison has arranged pieces for film scores such as “The
Trumpet of the Swan” and “The Ladies Man” and
created music for a diverse collection of clients, including
McDonald’s and the Chicago White Sox. In February, he
released his first solo album, “Keeping My
Composure.”
The Chicago native also leads and performs on guitar with the
Chicago Jazz Orchestra when he’s not at UCLA.
While his professional experiences give him knowledge with which
to guide his students, teaching keeps Harrison’s jazz chops
sharp.
“It keeps creativity from stagnating, being around other
musicians,” Harrison said. “The process of teaching
forces me to think about the things I do in my own process, and in
some ways I question myself. It keeps me from falling into ruts.
I’m not saying I don’t, but maybe just less than
normal.”
Rodriguez brings his work to class by giving his students pieces
to perform that he arranged for his band. By practicing these
advanced pieces, the students become better musicians.
“I run the (ensemble) like a professional group.
There’s a little bit of banter. There is some laughing. There
is some fun, but there’s always a goal of getting the music
performed correctly and in the right style,” Rodriguez said.
“I always tell them, “˜Keep your mouths closed, your
eyes and ears open, and you’ll come out of this a better
musician.’ And hopefully one day, I’ll play for them,
I’ll be in their band. That’ll be my payback, to see I
taught them the right things the right way.”
With seven solo and orchestra albums under his belt, a book
titled “ABC’s of LatinJazz” and regular
performances solo and with his band The Jazz Experience, Rodriguez
has provided a model for his students of the type of work ethic it
requires to make headway in the shrinking music world.
“We can transfer this information down to the kids so
they’ll become more sensitive to the industry and the
business as well. You can’t survive the music industry
without understanding the business,” he said.
The Jazz Orchestra and the Latin Jazz Ensembles are open to any
students with the passion to play, not just to music majors.
Nevertheless, both professors emphasize in their classes the
importance of understanding the practical aspects of what is often
a cutthroat career to prepare their students for professional
musicianship.
“It’s my belief that there aren’t as many jobs
for young musicians as there were 20 years ago, so the musician has
to learn the most in the classroom,” Rodriguez said.
“Kids have to be thinking musicians. They can’t be
waiting for the phone to ring. They have to make the phone ring by
reaching out to others.”
By incorporating knowledge from their own experiences, these two
professors as well as numerous others in the UCLA music department
give students a firsthand account of how musicians can shape their
own careers and jazz overall.
“Jazz education in the last 10 to 20 years has improved
tremendously,” Harrison said. “I know everyone
can’t become a jazz musician, but hopefully by being exposed
to it and hearing it they’ll be able to better appreciate it
later in life. That’s my hope ““ that it’ll keep
audiences alive.”