Our Mission
Jazz is worth celebrating, it’s worth preserving, and it’s worth understanding deeply. At This Is Jazz, we believe this incredible art form belongs to everyone – from casual listeners to dedicated musicians, from students to teachers. Our mission is to make jazz education accessible, engaging, and enjoyable for all, preserving its legacy while inspiring the next generation of jazz enthusiasts and performers.
Our Story
This Is Jazz was founded by Quentin Walston with a clear vision: to share the magic of jazz with everyone, regardless of their musical background. What started as a passion for jazz education has grown into a comprehensive platform offering courses, live events, and teaching resources that reach music lovers worldwide.
Our Approach
We believe in teaching jazz through three core pillars:
- History: Understanding the evolution and cultural significance of jazz
- Theory: Mastering the fundamental concepts and techniques
- Performance: Bringing jazz to life through practical application and live music
Meet Our Founder
Quentin Walston
Quentin Walston is a professional jazz educator, pianist, and composer with over a decade of dedicated experience in sharing jazz with audiences of all ages. His credentials include:
- Professional Recognition:
- Virginia Commission for the Arts “Teaching Artist”
- Maryland Commission for the Arts “Touring Artist”
- Jazz Studies degree from James Madison University
- Performance Experience:
- Active jazz trio leader
- Featured on NPR and PBS stations
- Multiple podcast and radio appearances
- Original music composer and performer
- Educational Impact:
- Over 225,000 social media followers
- Workshops & seminars for all ages
- Expert in jazz, composition, and music history
- Trusted educator by music publishers and arts organizations
What Sets Us Apart
Expert-Led Education
All our courses and materials are developed by experienced jazz educators who understand both the art form and how to teach it effectively. Our content is carefully crafted to be:
- Accessible to beginners
- Challenging for advanced students
- Practical for educators
- Engaging for enthusiasts
Comprehensive Resources
We offer a complete ecosystem of jazz education:
- Online courses for all levels
- Teaching materials and guides
- Live performance events
- Community engagement opportunities
- Professional development for educators
Proven Results
Our approach has been validated by educators and students alike:
“Quentin brings an extremely educational, intellectual, informative, and fun approach to many about the wonderful legacy of jazz”
— The Billy Strayhorn Foundation
“This is an incredible resource that piano instructors and music teachers must have in their teaching libraries!”
— Robert Fischer, Piano/Voice/French Horn Teacher
Our Community Impact
This Is Jazz is more than just an educational platform – we’re building a community of jazz enthusiasts and educators who share our passion for this amazing art form. Our impact includes:
- 1000+ Students Taught
- Hours of Course Content
- Live Events That Share Jazz to All Generations
- Global reach through online education
Join Our Mission
We believe jazz education should be:
- Accessible to everyone
- Engaging and enjoyable
- Historically informed
- Practically applicable
- Community-driven
Support Jazz Education
This Is Jazz is dedicated to making a positive impact in the world of jazz. Your support helps us:
- Create new educational content
- Host engaging live events
- Develop teaching resources
- Make jazz education accessible to more people
- Preserve jazz’s cultural legacy
Get Involved
There are many ways to be part of the This Is Jazz community:
Enroll in our courses
Attend live events
Support our mission
Follow us on social media
Subscribe to our newsletter