Bob Schulz
Bob Schulz was born in the small town of Wonewoc, Wisconson on July 1, 1938. A natural sportsman, he grew up playing baseball, football, track and basketball. Born to a musical family, Bob began singing when he was eight years old and joined the chorus in high school. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin, where he majored in Social Studies, minored in Music and Biology, and was a part of a band, chorus and symphonia. He later went on to receive his master’s degree in music from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
In 1961 he pursued his passion as a music teacher for children in the first through eighth grade. By 1968 he moved to Lake Mills, where he began teaching a junior high band and in 1972, he led the high school band for seven year before moving to the west coast to join Turk Murphy. As a music teacher, Bob learned first-hand the importance of jazz education. A rewarding experience, his 17 year career as a music teacher allowed him to motivate and train future generations of muscians.
Bob’s focus on “Trad” Jazz stems from his experience with Turk Murphy. “Trad,” or traditional jazz dates back to the roots of jazz music in the 1920’s when legends like Armstrong and Buck Johnson ruled the jazz scene. Bob emphasizes the skill required to play “trad” jazz, which can be more technical and complicated than the later jazz movements in New Orleans in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. In reflecting on his passion for this earlier form of jazz, Bob notes that culture plays an important part in the different styles of jazz music. Modern jazz has a different feel to it, but no matter what “you’ve got to have a feel for it.”
The significance on “feeling” the music highlights the importance of apprenticeship in Jazz education. To play truly great music, one must learn in the presence of other great musicians and pick up on their habits, mannerisms, and techniques, which is more difficult to teach in school. Emulation plays a major role in jazz education, which is best learned through mentorship from experienced players, rather than rigid lessons taught in institutions. Experience plays a large role in forming a great jazz musician, as well. Bob emphasizes the significance of one’s upbringing and schooling in the process of learning to play. Like many other musicians of his time, Bob performed for the military, where the “old time” jazz forms were very popular.
Today, Bob continues his passion for teaching in an adult jazz camp that he hosts. Passing on his talents to those who wish to learn the complex subtleties of improvisation. He also has formed a band called the Frisco Jazz Band, which performs in his hometown of San Francisco.
Bob Schulz on "Trad" Jazz
The following is an interview between Bob Schulz and Monk Rowe in February of 1998.
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Table of Contents
1. Evolution of Jazz Mentorship
2. Introduction
3. History of Jazz Education and Mentorship
4. Buster Williams
5. Germaine Bazzle
6. Bob Schulz
7. Allan Vache
8. Claude Williams
9. Race in Jazz Education and DH
10. Modern Mentorship
11. Our Other DH Method
12. Conclusion
13. Additional Works Cited
14. Annotated Bibliography
15. Process
16. Rubric
