Musicians Look To Online Teaching During Uncertain Times

News, COVID-19, Ralph Alessi, Larry Grenadier, Dave Liebman, Caroline Davis, Jeff Lederer, Pat Thomas, Natalie Cressman, Jeremy Pelt, Gabriel Chakarji, Stanton Moore

By DownBeat I Apr. 3, 2020

Saxophonist Caroline Davis continues teaching throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Photo: Jacob Hand)
Trumpeter Ralph Alessi is among high-profile bandleaders who have turned to teaching online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(Photo: John Rogers/ECM)

While jazz education has long served as a way to hand down tradition while instilling superlative musicianship, it has become a bulwark against lost gigs for performers during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

It’s likely that a number of the musicians listed below previously offered private lessons—either online or in-person—and will continue to do so after we return to normalcy. So, if you’re looking for opportunities to sharpen your instrumental skills from the safety of your own home, take a look at our growing list of player-educators who are just a Zoom conference away.

That said, do some research and see who might be a good fit. We haven’t vetted the folks below, but are working to provide a resource to both educators and students in a truly unique situation.

Some of the information below was pulled from a round-up of experimental performers posted here, gleaned from PR folks and collected from responses on social media. DB

Ralph Alessi (trumpet)

Mike Allemana (guitar)

Fabian Almazan (piano)

A Step Ahead Summer Jazz Online with Alexa Tarantino & Steven Feifke (various)

Mike Casey (saxophone)

Leo Castro (piano)

Gabriel Chakarji (keys)

Patrick Cornelius (saxophone)

John Colpitts (drums)

Chris Corsano (drums)

Natalie Cressman (trombone)

Stephan Crump (bass)