Mary is a jazz vocalist raised in Columbus, Ohio where she frequently sang in her church choir. Her love for singing brought her to a three-year run performing at Clyde’s at Courthouse Square amongst national and international artists. Since then, she has performed all over central Ohio and regularly tributes jazz greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Nancy Wilson, and Billie Holiday.

In this video, Mary discusses her beginnings in music, meeting influential musicians like Dizzy Gillespie and Nancy Wilson, other female musicians from her start in jazz here in Columbus, and more.

Take a moment to discuss Mary McClendon and her experiences in her career as a class. Below are a few topics you may consider bringing up.

• How can we support vocalists as equals, rather than “outsiders”, in a band?

• How can we create an environment of mentorship so that younger, less experienced musicians can learn from more experienced musicians? Can this be done among students at a school?

• What are some ways that you can take your passion and expand into other applications, such as Mary did with her singing, voice acting, writing and more?

Linda Landis is a classical and jazz trombonist, leading the trombone section in the Columbus Jazz Orchestra. She regularly performs in Columbus and Dayton, but has shared stages across the world with incredible musicians and bands. Her stories shared here showcase the importance of practice and excellence as a musician.

In this video we discuss her time with big bands like the CJO and DIVA Jazz Orchestra, what it's like to often be the only female on stage, and how her experiences have shaped her career.

Take a moment to discuss Linda Landis’ career and experiences with your class. Below are a few topics you may consider bringing up.

• Linda was fearless in her pursuit of equity in her school band program and in building her confidence as a lead player among many other examples in her career. What would it look like for you to be “fearless” in overcoming an obstacle in your life?

• Many of Linda’s accomplishments came from focusing on a single goal and putting herself “out there” with the utmost professionalism. Consider a single goal that you might want to accomplish, and how you could put yourself “out there” to be recognized by others to achieve your goal? What preparation is needed along the way?

• As Linda states, there are more women in jazz now than ever before. Is that true in your school music program? How can students and teachers support the expansion of female participants in jazz programs?

Improvisation, rhythm, and repertoire are obvious and important elements of jazz education. Jazz history, however, is often overlooked. Even further, the impact that gender roles and sexism played on the development of big bands and jazz music is rarely discussed in an educational setting.

In this video, jazz vocalist Rachel Azbell and saxophonist Mercedes Chomos share their knowledge and experience around the history of women in jazz and the current landscape of women in jazz education.

Take a moment to discuss the history of jazz music with your class and how it was affected by gender roles. Below are a few topics you may consider discussing.

• What instruments have been historically gendered as “male” or “female”? Do we see that trend continuing here in our own community? Were you or someone you know influenced to play an instrument because of a gender stereotype?

• What expectations of women could have affected their ability to “fit in” on a band stand? Is it important to be able to “fit in” with your bandmates in order to be a successful musician? Why or why not?

• Understanding the challenges for female musicians in jazz is not only the responsibility of educators, but also that of aspiring young musicians. How can high school students support female musicians in their jazz programs so that musicianship and performance is rewarded and recognized above all else?

Alexa Tarantino is one of the greatest saxophone players in America today and teaches jazz to students across the nation. In this interview we discuss her career and music, the projects she has been working on during the pandemic, and her thoughts on diversity in a jazz band.

Take a moment to discuss Alexa Tarantino’s career and music in class. Below are a few topics you may consider bringing up.

• Alexa has shared the stage with her musical heroes, from Wynton Marsalis to the DIVA Jazz Orchestra and many others. This was due in part to her desire to participate in programs and opportunities that created encounters with these individuals. What opportunities exist for you to encounter those individuals that inspire you in your area of passion?

• Social media is not strictly for entertainment, and Alexa proves this with her Facebook and Instagram presence. How can you create and share content that advances your passion and inspires others?

• Alexa mentions the importance of diversity of all types on the bandstand, so that audiences and particularly young people may find inspiration from individuals that they closely relate to. Reflect on the importance of expanding our network of friends, colleagues, musicians and others to create more open and diverse groups of individuals.

The discussion on the history and future of women in jazz will never be complete. However, as you wrap up your classroom discussion, we encourage you to land on one final question: What do you see for the future of women in jazz? Your students will likely have wildly different answers while many of them circle around the same idea. Our five guest artists each had a unique perspective on the question and their individual experiences, knowledge, and community contributed to their unique answers.

While discussing this final question, you may also want to bring up the following topics.

• How do we create a better future for women in jazz and what does that future look like?

• Why is it important to know the history of women in jazz and listen to the stories of female musicians?