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capstone + reflection 12_1.pdfLegacy in Motion: A Journey Through Jazz, Education, and Community
Legacy in Motion: A Journey Through Jazz, Education, and Community
Capstone Proposal & Reflection — High Point University
By Mark Epstein, Music Performance Major
Legacy in Motion is the culmination of my work as a performer, educator, and advocate for the transformative power of jazz. This project explores the groundbreaking influence of J.J. Johnson—one of the most innovative trombonists in jazz history—and brings his legacy to life through performance, storytelling, and hands-on community engagement.
At its core, this capstone is about connection: connecting young musicians to the roots of jazz, connecting local schools to High Point University, and connecting myself more deeply to my mission of uplifting others through passion, discipline, and service. Through school clinics, improvisation workshops, and a lecture–recital featuring Johnson’s music and my own original compositions, I invite students and community members to experience jazz not as a relic of the past, but as a living, evolving art form that still speaks powerfully today.
This project fills a real need in our community by making jazz accessible, offering trombone-specific guidance often missing in early music education, and giving young players the confidence to take creative risks. It also reflects my personal growth as an emerging educator—learning how to plan, collaborate, and build programs that last beyond a single performance.
Capstone- Current Draft.pdfRestating the Mission: Jazz, Legacy, and Community in The Triad
Restating the Mission: Jazz, Legacy, and Community in The Triad
Capstone Concept — High Point University
This project is rooted in a simple but powerful mission: to enrich the lives of others through passion, discipline, and service. Restated Mission & Capstone Concept captures how my work as a musician intersects with my commitment to leadership, community, and education. I aim to lead not through titles, but through action—by showing up fully, honoring the craft, and using music as a bridge between people and ideas.
This capstone focuses on bringing jazz—and the legacy of J.J. Johnson—to the High Point community in a way that is interactive, meaningful, and accessible. Through a lecture-style recital and original compositions, I explore how Johnson transformed the trombone’s role in modern jazz and how his innovations continue to shape my own artistry. But the project doesn’t stop at the stage. By partnering with local band directors and visiting middle and high school programs, I will bring elements of this work directly into classrooms, giving young musicians a chance to learn about improvisation, swing, and the cultural roots of jazz in a hands-on, encouraging environment.
This updated concept addresses a real need: many students experience jazz without ever learning its deeper history, its improvisational language, or the stories of artists—like Johnson—who fundamentally changed the instrument’s possibilities. By combining storytelling, live demonstration, and practical tools for educators, this project closes that gap and creates a pathway for ongoing engagement between local schools and High Point University.
The work is supported by a rich network of assets—faculty mentors, active local music programs, community arts organizations, and my own training in both music and marketing. The challenges ahead, from logistics to cultural sensitivity, require preparation and humility, but they also reflect the responsibility of carrying forward a tradition born from struggle, innovation, and community. By expanding this project into local classrooms, I hope to create impact that lasts far beyond a single performance—laying the groundwork for future outreach, future learning, and future generations of musicians who see jazz as something alive, relevant, and worth exploring.
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