Quincy Jones: An Essential Model for Music Production and Commercial Music Education

Quincy Jones

An Essential Model for Music Production and Commercial Music Education

By NAfME Member José Valentino Ruiz, Ph.D., University of Florida

When teaching music production and commercial music, educators often look to current industry leaders and trends to guide students toward career readiness. But amid the rapid evolution of today’s music scene, there is a timeless figure whose contributions to production, arrangement, and mentorship remain essential for any educator’s curriculum: Quincy Jones. His legacy in the music industry exemplifies the highest standards of musical artistry, innovation, and community-building, providing a compelling model for both the technical and human dimensions of music production. From blending genres to mentoring the next generation, Jones’s career offers practical, lasting lessons for educators and students alike.

A Masterclass in Genre Fusion and Versatility

One of Jones’s defining characteristics as a producer and arranger is his genre-fluid approach, seamlessly blending jazz, funk, R&B, pop, and even hip-hop. This cross-genre adaptability began in his early jazz years and grew to define his career, setting the stage for his groundbreaking work with artists as varied as Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, and hip-hop’s new wave in the late 1980s.

For music educators, teaching students to appreciate and work across genres isn’t just about versatility; it’s about helping them understand how different musical traditions intersect, creating a richer sonic palette. Through exposing students to Jones’s genre-blending methods, educators can help them develop a sense of creative fearlessness, where genres become tools rather than barriers. Students can explore exercises inspired by Jones’s approach to layering and sound fusion, challenging them to take elements from jazz and mix them with modern electronic textures, or to add orchestral layers to contemporary pop arrangements. This creative exercise helps students think critically about how blending musical traditions can lead to innovative, original work—an essential skill for any aspiring producer in today’s multifaceted music industry.

The Arranger as a Storyteller

Jones’s career shows that arrangement and production are not merely technical processes but deeply narrative acts. His work demonstrates how every choice—whether in instrumentation, pacing, or harmony—can shape a listener’s emotional journey. In Sinatra at the Sands, for instance, Jones’s sophisticated arrangements heighten Sinatra’s natural charisma, creating a performance that feels intimate yet grand. Likewise, his work with Ray Charles focused on textural elements that underscored the emotional depth of Charles’s voice, setting a standard for how to create compelling, immersive music.

Educators can incorporate Jones’s storytelling approach into their curriculum by teaching students to consider production as a form of narrative construction. Exercises might involve analyzing Jones’s arrangement techniques, prompting students to ask questions like: How does the choice of brass in this section affect the listener’s experience? or What happens if we change the harmony or shift the tempo—how does that impact the song’s tension or release? Indeed, by emphasizing production as a storytelling device, educators can help students build compositions that go beyond technical sound quality, encouraging them to create works that engage and move listeners.

Collaboration and Mentorship

Quincy Jones’s legacy isn’t just about the music he created; it’s about the relationships he fostered and the opportunities he provided for other artists. Jones has always been a mentor to emerging talent, including Michael Jackson, whom he helped guide into becoming one of pop’s greatest icons. His commitment to mentorship extended to his educational initiatives, such as the Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium, aimed at making music education accessible to underserved communities.

For music educators, Jones’s example underscores the importance of mentorship and collaboration in commercial music education. Encouraging students to work together, offering feedback in group settings, and fostering a studio environment where they feel comfortable experimenting are essential aspects of this approach. Educators might also encourage students to explore Jones’s work not only for inspiration but as a model of how to build respectful, collaborative relationships. This emphasis on community-building prepares students to navigate an industry where connections, trust, and mutual support can be as critical as technical expertise.

Production as a Tool for Cultural Connection

Jones’s projects, from We Are the World to Back on the Block, demonstrate how music can transcend cultural divides and bring together artists from various backgrounds. His career reflects a commitment to creating music that is both globally relevant and deeply rooted in cultural expression. This aspect of his legacy serves as an essential example for music educators, reminding them that teaching commercial music and production is not only about technical skill but about inspiring students to think of their work in terms of cultural impact.

Educators can encourage students to explore Jones’s diverse portfolio to understand how music production can be an act of cultural engagement and connection. Assignments might involve researching Jones’s collaborations with artists from different genres or studying how he used music to create pieces that resonated across racial and generational divides. These exercises can help students consider how they might similarly approach their work, thinking about their audience, the message they wish to convey, and how their music can engage with broader cultural conversations.

Taking Risks and Innovating beyond Boundaries

Jones’s career is defined by his relentless pursuit of innovation. He constantly challenged norms, from his early experiments in jazz arrangement to his later genre-blending productions. His work with Michael Jackson’s Thriller is an excellent example; Jones created a sonic landscape that pushed the boundaries of what pop music could be, blending electronic and acoustic elements with a cinematic flair that was ahead of its time.

Music educators can draw inspiration from Jones’s approach by encouraging students to push beyond conventional limits and explore new techniques. This might include challenging students to incorporate unusual instrumentation, experiment with layering sounds, or think about how to use production elements to evoke specific emotions. Fearlessly adopting a fearless approach to music education, educators can cultivate a classroom environment where innovation is not just encouraged but expected.

A Model for Lifelong Impact

Quincy Jones’s career illustrates how a commitment to artistic excellence, mentorship, and innovation can resonate far beyond the individual artist. For music educators, his legacy provides a roadmap for preparing students to not only succeed in the industry but also to contribute meaningfully to it. Teaching production through Jones’s example encourages students to think of their work not only as a technical craft but as a platform for expression, connection, and cultural engagement.

Within the modern music education and music industry, Jones’s life and work remind us that excellence in production and commercial music isn’t just about creating a hit; it’s about creating music that matters. Educators who incorporate Jones’s principles into their teaching practices are helping to cultivate the next generation of musicians and producers—artists who, like Jones, will be known not only for their skills but also for their contributions to the music industry and to society as a whole.

Photo at top: Musician Quincy Jones attends the commencement ceremonies at the University of Miami where he received an Honorary Doctor of Music Degree. Tony Arruza / The Image Bank Unreleased Collection via Getty Images.

About the author:

NAfME member José Valentino Ruiz, 2024 Global Genius® Grand Prize Winner, Multi-Latin GRAMMY® Award Winner, and Emmy® Award-winning artist, composer, producer, and audio engineer, serves as the Program Coordinator of Music Business & Entrepreneurship at the University of Florida, where he oversees undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs (DMA and PhD cognates). An international performer and prolific producer, Ruiz is currently nominated for the 2024 Latin GRAMMY® Award for Best Instrumental Album for Claude Bolling Goes Latin: Suite for Flute & Latin Music Ensemble. For more information, visit: www.josevalentino.com.

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