Beginning Woodwinds and Brass

Many school jazz programs in North America do an impressive job of developing their members’ technical and music-notation-reading skills, necessary to perform jazz big band literature with polish and precision. However, many school jazz students are as dependent on notation as they are in the concert band. Although the young jazzer may take improvised solos in jazz band performances, he may be unable to negotiate chord changes or incorporate characteristic jazz vocabulary. In light of this, this chapter covers concepts and skills relevant to beginning jazz instruction for wind instrumentalists. Specifically, it identifies three foundational topics for the reader to consider in fashioning an authentic and effective jazz curriculum: (1) establishing a listening foundation, (2) developing ear-playing ability, and (3) developing a personal repertoire of jazz tunes. Following these sections the text addresses (4) style and articulation and (5) rhythm.