Introducing Jazz

[wolfe]

I'm a senior in high school who plans on going to college to study music education next year gives free music lessons to a couple of 8th grade saxophonists. One student I feel might be ready to start learning some jazz and improv. My question is, how do I start him off? Should we jump right into improv or should we do some general jazz tunes to get him used to it first? I really want him to learn to use his ear in playing jazz. The school he goes to doesn't have a band so he doesn't have many opportunities for ensemble playing. I have access to a few Aebersold records so we could use those (I'm thinking specifically of starting with Major and Minor).

I've never taught anyone how to play jazz before, but I really want to make sure that he learns to listen and not get caught up in himself. When I first started learning to improv, or to play jazz even, listening wasn't something that was stressed. I don't want him to have the same experience.

Thanks for all of your wonderful advice in advance,
~Nathan S.

[professorofsax]

The most important thing for you to do is to set the style down for the student. Maybe let them borrow a cd of some good quality jazz bands. Also play some stuff for them. I don't see any reason not to just jump in to the improv. Maybe do simple little 2-4 bars of improv where you and the student switch off...that way the student can get some ideas from you. The best way to learn is to listen!!

Best of luck

[wolfe]

The best way to learn is to listen!!


Exactly!

Thanks for the tips.

[Lambik]

I'm no teacher, let that be clear, but we started by learning some easy funky tunes.

Watermelon Man, Chameleon, Mercy Mercy Mercy, Work Song, Straight No Chaser.

I loved those ones (still do). Also, we didn't get sheet paper, that helped making it fun, I found.

[Koutetsu]

Don't forget Blue Monk and Back at the Chicken Shack.

I say go over a bit of theory with them every lesson, introduce them to some blues songs, and the blues scale. after that you can do chord tone improv, you play a simple lick and have them repeat it.

[Tenorsaxer]

work him out of the Lennie Niehaus jazz method books for articulation. There are plenty of good theory books out there.

[carloverdicarlo]

Hi,

do exist free sax courses somewhere in Italy???????????