I recently watched Patrick Bartley's video "What Jazz Teachers and Students NEED To Do in 2025..." and found it quite thought-provoking. Bartley addresses both students and teachers from his unique perspective as someone who considers himself both, offering valuable insights for the jazz education community.
Given the changing landscape of music education and performance, particularly with the influence of social media and technology, Bartley's reflections feel particularly timely. Below is a summary of the key points he discusses.
For Students
Bartley begins by addressing younger musicians, acknowledging the pressure many feel when seeing peers showcasing impressive skills on social media. His main message is reassuring: you have time. He shares his own experience of not making All-State band until his senior year (and even then as second chair), illustrating that development happens at different rates for different musicians.
He reminds students that progress should be measured against your own development, not by comparing yourself to others. What you're doing might not align with what others are looking for at a particular moment, but that doesn't diminish its value.
His practical advice includes:
- Consider limiting social media if it's causing anxiety about your progress
- Find offline friends to share music with
- Rediscover the joy in music-making
- Balance focused practice with playing music you enjoy
- Remember that even when playing something enjoyable, you're still building skills like endurance
For Teachers
In the second part, Bartley challenges teachers to adapt their methods to contemporary realities. He notes that the musical landscape has changed dramatically, even in the past 10-15 years, yet some teaching methods haven't evolved accordingly.
His recommendations include:
- Recognize that methods that worked for you may not work for everyone
- Engage with students about what they're interested in and how they learn
- Acknowledge that the professional landscape has changed—many gigs from previous decades no longer exist
- Stay connected to current jazz artists and trends that motivate students
- Lead by example, demonstrating genuine enthusiasm for the music
- Make listening to historic recordings a priority in class
- Show students that jazz is enjoyable, not just academic
Bartley emphasizes that jazz education shouldn't feel like an office job—it should be a lived experience where teachers demonstrate their passion for the music, helping students understand why these traditions matter.
What I appreciate most about Bartley's approach is how he balances respect for jazz tradition with the need for education to evolve. His perspective as someone straddling both the student and teacher worlds gives him a unique vantage point.
For anyone involved in jazz education—whether teaching or learning—this video offers valuable food for thought about creating a more vibrant, relevant, and sustainable jazz culture for the future.
