Tenor saxophonist Dann Friedman plays with the popular east coast band Entrain, in addition to working for the non-profit organization Food For Free. He also plays a wide variety of other instruments, as well as several genres. He has degrees in Jazz Studies and Philosophy from the University of Michigan, where he cut his chops playing at a sports bar on campus. In 2007, he plans to go back to school to get a teaching degree, and he is already involved with music education through Entrain's in-school workshops. Mary Destri of Music in Schools Today e-interviewed Dann.

Music in Schools Today (MuST):
At what age did you start playing music, and what instrument did you start with?
 
Dann:
I started playing piano at age 7 because my parents made me do it. I hated it!

MuST:
What different instruments do you play today?
 
Dann:
Tenor sax is my specialty. But I also play alto sax, flute, bass guitar and, as of last week, a little bit of clarinet!

MuST:
What different genres of music do you play, and what do you like most about each of them?
 
Dann:
My formal training is in 1950s-1970s jazz. This includes a style known as "bebop." Bebop is exciting to play in much the same way as bluegrass music: it is at once technically challenging and creatively satisfying.
 
MuST:
I now play a lot of rock-n-roll in my band Entrain. This is fun because of the raw energy it has and because it's such a big part of many people's lives.
 
Dann:
I have also played classical music. And my new secret hobby is making electronic music on my computer at home. This is exciting, because I associate it with my generation more than some of the other musics I've played.

MuST:
How did you decide to double-major in Jazz Studies and Philosophy, and do you feel that your philosophy studies have influenced your playing?

Dann:
My parents strongly urged me to pursue a liberal arts degree along with my music degree (although I don't think they foresaw it as one in philosophy!) During my freshman year of college, I was lucky enough to be able to take many different courses - from tv production to literature in film. My intro to philosophy class was the one that really stuck with me. It actually helped me learn how to solve problems in my everyday life by breaking them down into manageable parts. That's the beauty of philosophy, and it has helped me overcome the mental obstacles of being a musician.
 
MuST:
What have been your favorite gigs to date?
 
Dann:
In college, my professor Donald Walden hired me to play a concert with himself and bassist Rodney Whitaker - from Wynton Marsalis's band. That was a blast! And then, after college, I persuaded my favorite band, the New Deal (from Toronto) to let me onstage with them. I'll never forget that one.

MuST:
How would you describe Entrain's music?
 
Dann:
Entrain plays American rock-n-roll with rhythms from around the world accompanying it.

MuST:
The word "entrain" means something along the lines of being on the same wavelength. What kinds of things should musicians look for in bandmates when they're starting a new band?
 
Dann:
It's nice to work with people who have a sort of living awareness of what's going on around them, including an awareness of the nature and needs of the other humans around them. That pretty well describes everyone associated with Entrain, fans and all. 

MuST:
You are planning to become a public school music teacher ~ can you tell us why you feel accessible music education is important?
 
Dann:
Accessible music education is important because accessible education is important. Everyone has the right to understand the spiritual world as much as they have the right to understand the physical world, the theoretical world (numbers) and history.

MuST:
What advice would you give to a student who was interested in possibly learning to play music?

Dann:
Try to remember to do everything you do from a starting place of love and respect for yourself and for those around you. This may sound ambiguous and even "wishy-washy." But as you grow up, you will gradually realize that this simple creed helps remove many of the barriers, mental and otherwise, to pursuing music.  

MuST:
What advice would you give to jazz students about jam sessions?
 
Dann:
Jam sessions are crucial to a career or even a hobby of playing jazz. If I trace them back far enough, just about every gig I have ever gotten has come from networking at a jam session. As much as you can, please remember that at a jam session, their are many people of various skill levels who have come to enjoy playing. Doing your part to help create a musical space for everyone to express himself or herself is a big step towards becoming a mature musician.