A Method for Teaching Interaction in Small Jazz Ensembles

This article contains a pedagogy for coaching students in five common types of jazz interactions: call-and-response, phrase punctuation, texture change, instigation, and anticipation. Call-and-response is when a soloist states a musical phrase and the rhythm section reacts with a related rhythm, harmony, or motive. Phrase punctuation is playing in the space left by the soloist with the purpose of propelling the ensemble into the next phrase or chorus. Texture change is when the comping instruments alter the way that they are playing to adjust to the soloist's new musical ideas. Instigation is when a comping musician switches something in his/her playing that provokes a soloist into charting a new course of improvisation. Anticipation is when an idea, rhythm, phrase, or other improvisational development occurs, and the soloist and the comping musician arrive in sync. Interaction must be emphasized in jazz education along with theory, improvisation, and history. In order to create more functional, creative, and employable musicians, students must be able to listen to each other and to be influenced by each others' musical ideas. The goal of teaching interaction is to create the “magic” we hear in classic recordings.