Programs - Music -
Meet the Program Director

Art Martin

A performer, educator, adjudicator, and clinician, Art Martin has taught in New Jersey public schools for over 37 years and spent 6 years as Adjunct Instructor of Music at Montclair State University.

He has studied clarinet with Louis Duques, Joe Allard, Bill Shadel, and Louis LeGrande, and saxophone with Carl Bethel and Joe Allard.

Art instructs students privately on saxophone, clarinet and flute as well as in jazz improvisation and music theory. He has taught jazz theory and improvisation at the Foundation for Art and Music Excellence summer camp at Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, NJ. Art has presented workshops on jazz improvisation, group memorization and rehearsal techniques at conventions and festivals for educators and young musicians. He also has adjudicated music festivals in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

A woodwind specialist, he has performed with The Drifters, The Platters, Little Anthony, Dizzy Gillespie, Al Cohn, Clark Terry, Slide Hampton, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Warren Covington Orchestra, The Pied Pipers, Denis DiBlasio, George Rabbai, Benny Golson, Ron Carter, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Joe Lovano , John Abercrombie, Don Braden, Mike LeDonne, Mark Gross and Ralph Peterson to name a few. Art also leads an 8 piece ensemble call “Art Martin & Friends. Art’s first recording, Harlem Nocturne, was made in 1972 with his quartet. His latest recording is a CD by The Art Martin Orchestra, a 14 piece big band, entitled The Best in Big Band Dancing, Vol. 1. Art also conducted the Hackettstown Community Band in Hackettstown, NJ from 2004 to 2007.

Past President of NJ-International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), Art is former manager of the NJ All State Jazz Ensemble and past Eastern Regional Coordinator for IAJE and organized the first Eastern Regional Conference for IAJE. He edited Jersey Jazzer, the newsletter of NJ-IAJE and served on the Board of Directors for the NJ Music Education Association. Art has also served as US Section Coordinator for IAJE.

In 1997, Art received an award from the NJ Music Education Association for 27 years of Outstanding Service to Music Education in New Jersey. In 2006, Art received an award from the International Association for Jazz Education for Outstanding Service as United States Section Coordinator at the IAJE International Conference in New York City.

Art received the Lifetime Achievement Award in November, 2007, presented by the New Jersey Unit of the International Association for Jazz Education for his dedication to the advancement of Jazz Education throughout New Jersey and the United States. This award will be presented at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center during the New Jersey All State Jazz Ensemble and Honors Choir Concert.

Art is a freelancing woodwind specialist, playing with the Melbourne Municipal Band, Swingtime, Oh Golly Dixieland Band, Central Florida Winds, Pit Orchestra for Cocoa Village Playhouse, and performing with Art Martin and Friends, an 8 piece jazz band and The Art Martin Orchestra, a 14 piece swing band.