q notes: teach your children well
The Q Notes column was originally published in Billboard magazine in early 2008. We’re posting it now since the sentiments Quincy expresses go hand-and-hand with his dream of establishing a secretary of the arts post in the U.S.
It happens all the time. Parents come to me and say, “Would you mind talking to my kids and giving them some tips on how to make it in the music business?” For a singer or a trumpet player or any other musician, I would say, “Find the 10 people you admire the most as an artist-someone that hits your soul-and sing or play along with their records. Copy every note.”
That may sound strange, but you’re not going to end up sounding like the people you are copying. That’s how the whole evolution of jazz has worked. Louis Armstrong heard King Oliver, and tried to play and sing like he played, which was revolutionary. Then Roy Eldridge heard Armstrong and copied Armstrong and developed his own sound. Dizzy Gillespie copied Eldridge and developed his own sound, and it went on and on like that.
Even when we were kids, we’d copy every note Miles Davis, Fats Navarro and Bird put down. We’d know all the licks-all the things they played on 52nd Street. We didn’t miss a thing.
It’s tragic when American kids don’t know the history of their own music. I challenge you to go up to some 14- or 16-year-olds and find out how many of them know who Charlie Parker or Duke Ellington was. Jazz is to America what classical music is to Europe. All the big tent-pole figures in R&B — Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and Earth, Wind & Fire — were all influenced by jazz.
Today, I harp on the kids and jump up and down and say, “If you know where you’re coming from, it’s easy to get where you’re going.” They act like blues and jazz don’t exist, but it’s not only their problem. Clear Channel doesn’t play it, radio doesn’t play it. It’s not part of the education system. We’ve got to change that or our own musical history will soon be lost forever.
Very nice to have that thought, coming from somebody who knows his subject..
Sad situation, but through your music and carrer, a lot of young musicians, in the States and all around the world (Hé hé! Je viens de France!!) can have and/or feel the origins of our music.
Thank God I live in the same era or yours!!!
Blessings from France (Corbeil Essonnes, near Fontainebleau),
PJ
PS: When I grow up, I want to be Quincy Jones!
Cheers
PJ
The present music is influenced by commercialism1 x commercialism2.
The human sir.Q’music cheers up a human being, and temperature of the blood is gentle.
I completely agree.I feel black music is walking away of it roots and it may be due to lack of education.The trend is making the old great music seem no fancy. Im working in an ambitous album called Funk Temple inspired by all the great musicians at that time and my jazz influence.I was lucky that my dad had all those old vinyls from west montgomerie miles davis etc but the more I listen to contemporary R&B the more I feel something got lost in the way.Funky music came from Jazz it derivated to disco,later pop,then dance and all its variants.Quincy has defined a new way of production being able to bring that jazz touch to dance hits and commercial music. Im tryng to bring back that harmonies and arrangements and bring back the beautiful compositions.These days most producers think the beat is everything forgetting about composition songwriting and arrangements
Hi Mr. Quincy,
My name is Mary I’m brasilian woman and here in Brazil me and my san always have seem you on TV. The name of program is A Crazy on Street with Will Scmith. All days we have seem it and it´s marvelous. Today I did a reserch at web and I have descovered that you are a musical productor. When will you go to visit my contry ? I would like to know you. Please answer my little letter.
A lot of Kisses Mary
Hi my name is Taylor I’m a tenth grader at Autin-East High School in Knoxville,TN i wont to know how did you get from the bottom to the top. Went I grow up i wont to be like you. I wont to know how you did it. My email is TaylorWarren@yahoo.com
Thanks Quincy for the years of your experience and guidance. Your about my fathers age he always influence so look to you as a music father figure. Thanks for the thoughts of keeping the youth informed of our musical legacy and heritage. I name my company after you so I try to carry the musical torch you left for other generations to shine on. And yes we need to teach our youth musical accountability for the trail blazers before them so they to can know.
I been a musician for 36 years and though I haven’t had pop success I hope to keep influence the youth for the rest of my days by example.
JL of The Q Group
abandofpropets@gmail.com
interesting. recently i`ve picked up “The Autobiography of Q.” the tale was so inspirational that i decided i want to read it at least 5 times before i go to college.
i have to admit that there were A LOT of names mentioned that i didn`t know of or even heard before i picked up your book. i considered checking some names out and seeing what their about.
however, having read this Q-Note, i really want to dedicate some time to tracing back, starting over. once i become familiar with my roots- i will compare and contrast popular R&B songs of today with classical Jazz of yesterday =)
and to your theory of copying to find your own sound – i totally agree ! nothing more to be said . it works people !
- – - – - -
Saika B.,
17yrs Old
New York
what great advice, you are very right about how we should embrace music by learning about the history of it. Not only american music but music all around the world. Take A.R Rehman for instance he is one of the best music directors in india and although he has taken a modern approach to his music he studied the routes of indian music, learning about sitars and the indian drum and the melody way back from moghul times.
Many people in the music industry aspire to be unique and dont wish to follow but want to be the innovator but in my opinion a good artist is not just a teacher, but also a student..
Thankyou so much for putting up a website so that people around the world can interact
)
take care
Aysha
What you say is the sad truth. I am 16 and most of my friend listen to metal or dance music and think it is the best music ever. Thank you for sharing your wisdom with everyone.
If you even get time to read this comment I will be astonished. You sound like an extremely busy man.
Thank you fr blessing us all with your beautiful music.
Hi Quincy I can only hope that you actually read this. I was in a band when I was a young kid in london England. We were signed with Simon Cowell. we sold quite alot of records around the world,not quite as many as yourself just yet but I am working on it.
I became disillusioned with the business.I became narrow minded and put my self in a box musically and lived to regret it.My soul found away out from reading your books.I cant begin to let you know how grateful I am for your words and inspiration.you changed my life. My dream is to one day shake your hand and tell you face to face. Would be great if you could check my music out one day its on myspace. http://www.myspace.com/seanconlonmusic
Thank you, Sean.
Since I was a little girl I’m in awe when it comes to your work and the masterpieces you produced along the decades.
You were a guide for my musical education, and you still are and always be.
No doubt you guided me towards Michael and I’m very thankful for this. Your tremendous talent, passion, persistence and natural empathy are some observations I could have make only through your work and public appearances. You’re a hero for me. Allow me to call you my hero.
Dear Mr. Jones,
My name is Drew MacLaren. Currently living in Chicago, I’ve recently relocated from New York City. I’m a singer, as well as the music director
for The Entertainment Project, a performing arts summer camp here in the city.
I am contacting you because you are a creative leader in the music industry and the music world at large. In my opinion, creativity and originality have been absent in popular music in recent years. With your help, I am determined to change all that.
What I’ve set out to do is breathe new life into the genres of Blues, Swing, and Soul music while still staying true to the raw emotional core that has driven these styles since they were born so many years ago. I want to present a traditional musical package with a modern twist, making it possible to share my music with a wider, younger audience who otherwise would probably never be exposed to these amazing styles of yesteryear.
I’m envisioning being at the forefront of a massive, cross-genre musical re-awakening, something so powerful and inspiring that it ushers in a new level of human connection among our listeners and eventually, contributes to making the world a kinder, more peaceful place to live for generations to come.
My hope is that this sounds like something with which you would be interested in collaborating. Please give me a call so that we may discuss
this creative vision as well as any suggestions you might have for the project.
Sincerely,
Drew MacLaren
917 – 576 – 9224
those are wonderful words of wisdom. i understand all to well of what you speak. this has driven me for the past 10 years in my quest to restablish a form of artist development for under priviledge urban kids and adults who want to become entertainers. as i journey towards my own musical goals and dreams, i felt it was time someone gave back without over taxing the poor to make music. seeing how so few knew any history of the music they all love, i used that as a teaching stone to throw towards the doubt of not “making it”. as we recommend and studied all of the past movies, books, stories, e.t.c of musical legends and their past histories. this was and still is key because as they relate to stories like yours, “MR. JONES”, they can begin to see how they are and will go through some of the same “struggles and successfull outcomes” as many of their PEERS. that also has allowed us to develope and teach a new system/s of song writing. for hip hop, that is since the whole world have embraced it. in lyrical formatting, using symbles, for song adductation, song building and construction, sound and tone recalling, melody arranging, compositioning and composing, e.t.c. it works very well. so well as our form of song concepting, all the way to post production and release can be combined or composed with any other form of music. the fact that it has derived from RAP MUSIC,(SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES,CA. USA. to be exact), has showed once again how MUSIC will always recreate itself no matter what mainstream radio or critics think. we believe that MUSIC now can be taught in any form, but it can “personalized” and developed so that any artist can become their own living instrument. kind of like sound in physical form. with their own musical notes, and abilities including continue growth as a artist. unite that with the new DIGITAL business entertainment 101 teachings, and thus you have created the NEW ARTIST OF TODAY AND TOMORROW. this is what we try to do and continue to achieve in music. some who cannot “SEE MUSIC” , choose to ignore our attempt to descover “THE NEW MARVEN GAY” OR “STEVIE WONDER”. so many of our kids as well as seasoned artist are being over looked and passed by. but we hope our energy is great enough to attract the right/like minded individuals who loves music and would like to assist it’s growth? many people in the our area, of all ages, have benifited from the rebirth of urban soul music in los angeles and around the world. we hope you will as well. thank you once again for your great words of inspiration! PEACE. “KING COOL’P.”(C)2009. OF “D.C.R GLOBAL”(C)2009. please visit: http://www.myspace.com.darkclanridaz for more info.
those are wonderful words of wisdom. i understand all to well of what you speak. this has driven me for the past 10 years in my quest to restablish a form of artist development for under priviledge urban kids and adults who want to become entertainers. as i journey towards my own musical goals and dreams, i felt it was time someone gave back without over taxing the poor to make music. seeing how so few knew any history of the music they all love, i used that as a teaching stone to throw towards the doubt of not “making it”. as we recommend and studied all of the past movies, books, stories, e.t.c of musical legends and their past histories. this was and still is key because as they relate to stories like yours, “MR. JONES”, they can begin to see how they are and will go through some of the same “struggles and successfull outcomes” as many of their PEERS. that also has allowed us to develope and teach a new system/s of song writing. for hip hop, that is since the whole world have embraced it. in lyrical formatting, using symbles, for song adductation, song building and construction, sound and tone recalling, melody arranging, compositioning and composing, e.t.c. it works very well. so well as our form of song concepting, all the way to post production and release can be combined or composed with any other form of music. the fact that it has derived from RAP MUSIC,(SOUTH CENTRAL LOS ANGELES,CA. USA. to be exact), has showed once again how MUSIC will always recreate itself no matter what mainstream radio or critics think. we believe that MUSIC now can be taught in any form, but it can “personalized” and developed so that any artist can become their own living instrument. kind of like sound in physical form. with their own musical notes, and abilities including continue growth as a artist. unite that with the new DIGITAL business entertainment 101 teachings, and thus you have created the NEW ARTIST OF TODAY AND TOMORROW. this is what we try to do and continue to achieve in music. some who cannot “SEE MUSIC” , choose to ignore our attempt to descover “THE NEW MARVEN GAY” OR “STEVIE WONDER”. so many of our kids as well as seasoned artist are being over looked and passed by. but we hope our energy is great enough to attract the right/like minded individuals who loves music and would like to assist it’s growth? many people in the our area, of all ages, have benifited from the rebirth of urban soul music in los angeles and around the world. we hope you will as well. thank you once again for your great words of inspiration! PEACE.
I believe that everything you said to be frank and true. I’m Akeem and hope to someday be a great producer just like you! I study all songs you produce regardless of who you produced it for! You’re simply amazing. I love your mixing and your timing is truely exciquisite. I simply believe you do an excellent job on syncopation.
In my understanding of music I came to realise that after picking a cool drum hook. You place in accent and simple add inbetween notes- 2 fill up the space pehaps and sometimes to accomodate lyrics. Both of them in the appropriate syncoation to the genera of music.
How do you do that pls? Cuz I’m pretty sure thats what you do but I geuss It’s difficult not hearing it from you- I just need some assurance and a little comment- pls reply this if you can.
A, 23 Nigeria.
thank you so much for this post. i was just telling my mother how much i love the blues and jazz. i think in relation to our musical history, our history in general is dying. i try to talk to kids all the time about our musical heritage but they have been conditioned not to want to revisit the past.
i just wanna say thank you mr jones for your contributions to my life through your music.
First the sound in babies cribs, La-la-la…ar-la…ar-la…then the word while wearing bibs…ooo-aaah-oooo-aaah…pictures of instruments from Dr. Seuss books, wooden spoons, metal bowls, oatmeal box drums, leaves between thumbs, whistles, and sounds from the street…music “is” the sound where people meet themselves along the road of life.
The new era is Kasjaz it was my grandfather “Oscar Pettiford’s” last ideology of improvisation ….Check it out “Pettiford Records” and “Oscar Pettiford institute of jazz-arts” on FACEBOOK.