🥁 The OffBeat Bonus Track: A Self-Paced, "Jazz 101" Curriculum
A low-key guide for the jazz-curious who don't know where to start
This is The OffBeat, where music meets leadership. I’m Allison Stadd—jazz drummer, marketing leader, and very tired/highly caffeinated mom of two—and each week I deliver a fresh take on work, creativity, and connection, like sharing your soundcheck settings. It’s like HBR, but with better taste in music.
Bonus tracks are occasional value-packed freebies for paid subscribers.
Opening Note | A track that captures the vibe of this edition of The OffBeat:
Miles Davis’s iconic song “So What,” recorded in one take in 1959, is the post-it note on the jazz textbook that says “just start here.”
The full OffBeat playlist
Welcome to The OffBeat’s Jazz 101: a self-paced, zero-pressure guide for the jazz-curious.
It’s built for people who like the idea of jazz but never knew where to start, or were scared off by words like “modal” or “bebop” (don’t worry, we’ll get to those).
Inside, you’ll find:
A high-level jazz history
A who’s-who of key players, past and present
A guide to how to listen to jazz
A curated glossary of key terms
It’s a scrollable, saveable, choose-your-own-adventure roadmap aimed at making jazz less intimidating, no matter how much music experience or exposure you have.
Think of it like Ken Burns’ (excellent) 19-hour documentary, but the pocket guide version.
It’s jazz without the gatekeeping.
Jump in below.