Jazz Improvisation Through Reorganization A Return to a Traditional Learning Process

There exists in jazz education today a misunderstanding of how good jazz players approach improvisation. Many
musicians believe that the jazz artist is motivated and driven by some force that is extra-musical, and that this
type of inspiration is more important than any musical preparation. Some believe that copying the work of others
will hamper the development of an individual style. While it is clear that inspiration must - and does - come from
both musical and outside sources, the author suggests that the primary element of the masterfully improvised jazz
solo is the reorganization of a vocabulary obtained from hours of transcription, transcription study, and
transcription practicing. Although it may seem obvious, the first and most important element in any jazz
improvisation learning strategy is to ensure that the student is listening to jazz. Transcription of an idol's work is
paramount to the success of this process. The author comments on his jazz learning experiences.