The most fundamental responsibility of a jazz educator and musician is to ensure that the furtherance of jazz is done in a way that is true to and pays homage to the history of jazz and to those who created, innovated, composed, arranged, performed and revolutionized this American art form. The photo above, "A Great Day in Harlem," taken by photographer Art Kane on August 12, 1958, features the pioneers of this great music and represents their collective commitment to this art.
Teaching the rich history and cultural significance of jazz is paramount to and the responsibility of every jazz musician and educator, and thus, it is Matt's commitment to work with and instruct students in a way that emphasizes these very important historical components of the jazz tradition.
With this commitment forefront, Matt instructs students in the following areas of piano and jazz:
- Performance
- Improvisation
- Composition
- Arranging
Matt currently serves on the faculty of Guilford College, North Carolina A&T State University, Wake Forest University, and the Music Academy of North Carolina. Students interested in instruction should complete the inquiry form below for more details.