Elements of Jazz

1.

Improvisation is spontaneous composition; that is, each musician determines what he/she is going to play AS he/she is playing it (easier said than done!). 

2.

Jazz improvisation is similar to regular conversation (see Jazz Improvisation/Conversation analogy sheet). 

a.

Just like a spoken language, jazz communicates thoughts and feelings. But rather than using words to convey how they're feeling at the moment, jazz musicians use music to do the same. 

b.

Just as in spoken conversation in which the conversers are saying what they're thinking and feeling in real time depending on what others in the conversation are saying, jazz musicians are playing what they're thinking and feeling in real time depending on what their bandmates are playing. 

c.

Watch What is Jazz video" from 6:02 to 8:14, and from 23:06 to 29:32. 

3.

In order to improvise, musicians need to: 

a.

be able to technically play their instrument well 

b.

have an understanding of music theory (the way notes and chords go together) 

c.

have the ability to play by ear (i.e., the ability to play the music they “hear” in their head without reading music)⁷ 

d.

have a musical vocabulary covering a wide variety of styles (i.e., be familiar with various styles of jazz, as well as blues, rock, pop, classical, etc.)