AboutD C DowDell Expertise D C DowDell will answer questions about Jazz improvisation, composition, chord voicing, scales and modes, practice techniques and ear training. Professor DowDell also enjoys discussions on Jazz musicology and the evolution of style.
Experience D C DowDell is a professional Jazz pianist/composer who currently teaches online Jazz studies at A Passion for Jazz!. He has been teaching music for over 25 years at 2 major universities, several community colleges as well as accepting students for private study.
As an educator, D C DowDell has published articles at the university level and recently published Basic Musicianship a primary reference text for pianists, vocalists and composers.
D C also maintains an active performance schedule, having appeared with Rosemary Clooney, Marilyn McCoo, Bobby Vinton to name just a few. Generally, D C stays in the Southern California area with Jazz ensemble or as a solo artist.
Organizations American Federation of Musicians
National Music Teachers Association
International Association of Jazz Educators
Education/Credentials Bachelors of Music Education from UCLA Masters of Music Composition from UNT
Question This is going to be long. I am doing a research with the topic: "AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICAN CLASSICAL MUSIC, AND A STUDY OF THE VARIOUS METHODS BY WHICH AMERICAN CLASSICAL MUSICIANS, USED THE FORMAL SYSTEM OF MUSIC THEORY TO CREATE AN AUTHENTIC FORM OF AMERICAN CLASSICAL MUSIC". It is due Next week Wednesday. I need all the help I can get. I am trying all avenues and this is one. The piece that I wish to do for the case study is George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue". What are your thoughts on that particular piece. If you should do a musical analysis of that piece. What would your results be. Please email me at or .
Thank you very much
I await a very favourable resposne.
Answer Hello Kadian and thank you for contacting me through AllExperts.com.
While Gershwin's 'Rhapsody in Blue' (c.1924) combines elements of both Classical music with Jazz, it is in effect a Classical music piece that is often mistaken for Jazz by those who reference out of their understanding.
The Jazz influences are almost entirely the use of "blue notes" (flatted 3, 5 and 7 intervals) by the orchestra and the piano. There are none of the elements of collective and little solo improvisation, and for that matter none of the ensemble lines are phrased in an improv style.
The significance of this event was that it was one of the first times a modern American composer had his work performed at the infamous Aeolian Hall in New York City. Paul Whiteman's orchestra performed many new and experimental pieces of music that afternoon which included 'Rhapsody in Blue' written by George Gershwin, who was featured on piano improvising sections he was playing at the performance later adding it to the written score, hence the reference to Jazz.
Thanks for the interest,
D C DowDell
Professor of Music
A Passion for Jazz!
studio: 619.223.2069
mobile: 619.855.2069 http://www.apassion4jazz.net
