Trombone; Jazz Studies; Winds/Brass Chamber Music Coordinator
HCD Music
Hartt Community Divisionjojacobso@hartford.edu F 19
Jordan Jacobson enjoys a vibrant and varied career as performer and educator throughout Southern New England. He plays the gamut: chamber music, orchestral, to jazz and salsa. He is the Principal Trombonist of the Waterbury Symphony and a founding member of the Hartford Independent Chamber Orchestra which specializes in new music. He also performs regularly with ensembles throughout the region including the Hartford Symphony, Springfield Symphony, New Haven Symphony, Ridgefield Symphony, Bridgeport Symphony, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Eastern Connecticut Symphony, as well as frequent appearances at Goodspeed Opera House and Hartford Stage.
He has also performed with the Utah Symphony, Kentucky Orchestra, Lexington Philharmonic, and the Dayton Philharmonic. A native to Utah, he was a member of the Orchestra at Temple Square, performing, recording, and touring with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Jordan received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. He is also a graduate of the Longy School of Music and Brigham Young University. His teachers include Tim Anderson, Norman Bolter, Darren Acosta, Russell McKinney, Jim Nova, Daniel Bachelder, and Bryce Mecham.
I believe any type of trombone playing (jazz, classical, ska, salsa) should have a basis in the fundamentals. By fundamentals, I mean the basic skills needed to play the instrument: playing with a good sound, intonation, rhythm, clarity of articulation, etc. There are certainly other aspects of playing the trombone that students can and should focus on (phrasing, style, soloing, diminished scales, to name a few), but students should spend time every day focusing on the fundamentals. This means playing lip slurs, long tones, and scales, among other things. Having fundamentals in order gives students the tools they will need to be successful when they come to any new musical situation.
I spend time in every lesson focusing on some aspect of fundamentals, but I also believe in tailoring my teaching to the needs of the student. This includes recognizing their goals and aspirations, where they are in their progress as a trombone player, and the student’s learning style. A one-size-fits-all approach does not work for most students.