Speaker | Author | Composer | Educator | Pianist
Meet Ashby Anderson
Congressionally Recognized
Independent Music Educator and History Maker
"I never taught using a black board...
I wrote everything my students needed to know
on their minds and hearts.
-ASHBY ANDERSON
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Get the expertise you need to make an impact on the lives of young people through music.
Ashby Anderson, a multi-faceted artist with 40 years of experience in Jazz performance, Music Composition, Music Education, Community Development and Business. He is a seasoned entrepreneur, leading three businesses and one non-profit from start-up to millions of dollars in scholarships and social impact. Anderson is a highly motivated, goal-oriented professional, decision-maker and artist-entrepreneur skilled in implementing new ideas that positively impact the Black Community.
His music has been commissioned by Meet The Composer, New Music USA’s Commissioning Music /USA program, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, The Mary Flagler Cary Charitable Trust, The Helen F.Whitaker Fund, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Rockefeller Brothers Fund, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Francis Goelet Charitable Lead Trust and a Fellowship for Jazz Composition from the Virginia Commision for The Arts.
He has served as a composer for the BMI Jazz Composers Workshop in New York completing orchestral works for the BMI/NewYork Jazz Orchestra
In 2015, his Aural Memorial For The African Burial Grounds aptly entitled "UNDERTONES", became the first and only orchestral work performed on the African Burial Grounds to commemorate the 150 year end to Slavery In Richmond, Virginia.
A truly groundbreaking experience, his 1 hour long, four movement suite of original music was orchestrated for 22 instruments and performed by the Afrikan Arkestra.
Awards, Commisisons and Accomplishments
1995 McNair Scholar for Music Research
2002 Founded the Jazz Composers Alliance, Inc
2004 Meet The Composer Commission:
The Historic Richmond Jazz Suite
2007 Virginia Commission For The Arts: Artist Fellowship for The Universal Chord Method of Tonal Navigation
2008-2017 Artistic Director Muse Creative Workspace and Richmond Youth Jazz Guild
2011 The Diminished Augmented System of Harmony and Scales
2013 Music USA Commission : "UNDERTONES"
2018 Richmond History Maker
2017-2022 Composer for BMI Jazz Composers Workshop
2022 The 9-Tone System for Music Composition
THE BLACK MUSIC SCHOOL ®
®
THE BIG PROBLEM
The Musical heritage and skills developed by Black Americans are not effectively being transferred to Young Black Musicians in America. As a result, Young Black Musicians are not reaching top levels of excellence by age 14 which limits their performance opportunities, access to scholarships from colleges, universities and national arts programs. The lack of these cultural skills and information are destroying the development of the next generation of Young Black Musicians. This process will erase Black musical heritage from the culture of Black people in America
THE SOLUTION
Excellent and experienced Black Musicians must effectively transfer their skills to the next generation of Young Black musicians by using proven methods for achieving music excellence by age 14.
Excellent and experienced Black Musicians must effectively train music educators in proven educational strategies that produce excellent young Black musicians by age 14.
WHAT WE OFFER
The Black Music School Offers:
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Professional development workshops, that train music educators how to produce excellent young Black musicians by age 14.
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Professional consultation that outlines the components needed for Black youth to continue to excel in thier cultural resource.
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Young Black Musician's Workshop that brings proven techniques and experience directly to a middle or high school. The Young Black Musician's Workshop is only available as an On-Site Workshop.
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On-Site and Virtual Workshops are available for professional Music Educators, Administrators and Grant Writers.
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Online Teaching Platform and Curriculum . We Teach " Black Music " Through Artists, Culture and History
CASE STUDY: The Richmond Youth Jazz Guild 2006-2017
All Videos
Essentially Ellington 2014: Jazz Combo 1 "Quicksilver"
Essentially Ellington 2014: Jazz Combo 1 "Quicksilver"
Richmond Youth Jazz Guild: Anthropology
Essentially Ellington Competition 2014: Big Band "Night in Tunisia"
