Meeting chair:
Ronan Guilfoyle, Newpark School, Dublin (Ireland)
In attendance:
Peter Churchill, Guildhall School of Music, London (England); Dr. Thom Horning. IAJE Midwest Region Coordinator, Director of Jazz, Cuyahoga Community College, Cleveland, Ohio (USA); Heinz Czadek, IAJE European Representative, University of Music, Graz (Austria); Rudolf von Gunten, Interlaken Jazz Workshop (Switzerland); Kuniko Awai, Koyo Conservatory, Kobe (Japan); Allen Lowe, Pop Music History, University of Maine (USA); Takuya Kawauchi, Koyo Conservatory, Kobe (Japan); Izumi Matsuda, Koyo Conservatory, Kobe (Japan); Jos Beek, Conservatory of Amsterdam, Amsterdam (the Netherlands); Rudy van Dijk, Conservatory of Amsterdam, Amsterdam (the Netherlands); Martin Mueller, New School, New York (USA); Katchie Cartwright, San Jose State University, San Jose, California (USA); David Roitstein, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, California (USA); Tanya Kalmanovitch, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta (Canada).
Opening remarks & introductions
Ronan Guilfoyle introduced himself as chair of the meeting, and all present introduced themselves to the group.
Ronan Guilfoyle presented an overview of the organization, goals & structure of the IASJ, and described the benefits of IASJ membership in his experience of director of the jazz programme at Newpark School in Dublin. Martin Mueller offered additional accounts of musical partnerships that have blossomed out of IASJ meetings.
General discussion
The meeting was then opened for general discussion about the IASJ.
(1) IASJ email list
IASJ members (Katchie Cartwright, Martin Mueller, Ronan Guilfoyle, and David Roitstein) commented on the effectiveness of the IASJ email list as a valuable source of connectedness among the members, and a means of extending the experience of the annual meetings throughout the year. Ronan Guilfoyle commented that in the aftermath of September 11th the list seemed to come into its own as a means of communicating a variety of topics, from the philosophical to the pragmatic. Martin Mueller expressed interest in opportunities presented by online technologies, suggesting that the IASJ might start using its website to disseminate sound files and other information to its members.
(2) Exchange programmes.
David Roitstein commented that students at Cal Arts have asked about exchange programmes with European schools, and asked if the IASJ could set up a list of schools interested in student exchanges. Rudy van Dijk commented that his school (Conservatory of Amsterdam) has an exchange programme, and that the Erasmus facilitates such exchanges within European schools. General concerns were raised. Members suggested that more American students were likely to wish to study in Europe than European students wishing to study in America due to a specifically European aesthetic and approach to jazz education not easily found in North America, and the disparity in the cost of studying in the United States and Europe.
Martin Mueller identified institutional relationships (such as the Berklee International Network) and personal relationships (informal or ad hoc arrangements as can be made at IASJ meetings) as two options. He cautioned that economic disparities between schools could further marginalise economically challenged schools and students.
T. Kawauchi commented that the Japanese government does not seem to be as willing to issue visas for foreign students as other countries. He would like to do more promotion of IASJ in Japan, but is unsure of how the cost of these promotions would be managed.
(3) IASJ philosophy and future efforts
Martin Mueller discussed some of the challenges currently facing the IASJ: developing structure, enhancing communication, and moving forward in the absence of any substantial economic base. That the IASJ runs on the volunteer efforts of members is both a strength and a limitation. He suggested that resources might emerge as the IASJ continues to bring people together to foster these discussions. The IASKK is engaged in the process.
Rudolf von Gouten commented that the events of September 11th changed the order or priorities for many people, and inquired about the possibility of the United States government increasing funding to the arts. Martin Mueller suggested that the IAJE might be better positioned to lobby for this.
Martin Mueller commented that the standardization of Curriculum in European schools presents an interesting new focus for the IASJ.
(4) IAJE European Reception
Heinz Czadek invited all assembled to the IAJE European reception that evening.
The meeting was adjourned at 13:30.