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The author's advice is fantastic for learning a specific song, note for note as written. @MrGrando is smart to point out that Jazz and other forms of music are
by mmcconnell1618 5y ago
The author's advice is fantastic for learning a specific song, note for note as written. @MrGrando is smart to point out that Jazz and other forms of music are much more about free expression and improvisation. A level above the author's practice would be to start understanding the structure of the piece from a music theory standpoint. The relationship between the notes becomes the important element and you begin to see things like a II V I chord progression. By understanding the structure, you realize you can improvise on implied scales, transpose to other keys and harmonize with new chords to add your own creativity.
- MrGando 5y agoThat's exactly it. I have to say that the highest-level classical performers reach that level, but through different means. Not the improvisational part, but harmonically, understanding what the voices are doing in a counterpoint Bach passage for example. In classical you're an interpreter, and that's very challenging. In Jazz, you're an interpreter of an improvisation, which is like composing in real-time. I also have to point out that the great classical composers did improvise a lot, and that trend was lost with time but is documented if you research Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin for instance.