Russell Schmidt
"I tell my students that music only begins by getting the notes and rhythms right, but far too many think that's the finish line instead of communication, spontaneity, and interaction being the true end."
Russell is a teacher serving several levels of music education. He’s held positions at top colleges including Eastman where he earned two degrees. He’s also a remarkably skilled piano player.
As one of the smartest musicians I know, Russell has a lot to say about music history, jazz improvisation, music theory, composition, and education. We weaved our conversation throughout these topics along with his opinions on the state of jazz, and some surprisingly honest candor about students as well as jazz masters.