“Going to the Conservatory”

Abstract

This chapter looks at Armstrong’s development as a musician in his time with Fate Marable and his orchestra on the Streckfus riverboats. Joe Howard, Norman Mason, and Davy Jones, all good readers and veterans of the minstrel shows, helped Armstrong with his studies. This chapter explores the changing dance tempos as jazz and the Fox-Trot replaced ragtime and the One-Step. The chapter also looks at how barbershop principles were influencing white musicians and being written into sheet music arrangements in relation to “Avalon” (1920).