What is the difference between a beginner, intermediate and advanced level Jazz lesson? In a nutshell, it all boils down to who the student is leaning from: the teacher, or himself. The advanced player is in the process of moving away from the teacher, and getting more and more in touch with himself, while at the same time integrating his or her knowledge or other players.

Jazz improv lessons at the beginner level involve teaching students what to play, having them emulate it, and gain "fluency" as they apply it.  At the advanced levels, lessons are totally different.  The idea is to get the player connecting with what is already inside and explore further possibilities.   For this reason, it is important to help musicians get over their fear of singing and vocalizing.  (I can't tell you how many musicians I work with who refuse to sing what they play.)  My experience is that once a musician can sing what he plays or hears, he or she will quickly learn that most of what there is to learn is already there, it's just a matter of connecting the hand with the mind of the mouth.  After that comes the "Why don't ya's"... for example, why don't you raise this or that tone, or why don't you combine it with this or that idea? The end result, is a method that involves listening to and studying other players, coming up with ideas, then engaging in "self transcription" in order to connect with one's true inner voice and combine different influences an ideas.

Here is an example of a typical approach:

• The student listens to several approaches to a solo on a certain tune.
• The teacher and student discuss what they like about what's going on in the tune.
• The teacher accompanies the student, and the student sings out a chorus. 
• The student and teacher stop and discuss it, and experiment with it on their instruments.
• The process is repeated several times.
• Technical problems are worked on. 
• The ideas are worked into a solo routine of a specific length and practiced until the student becomes fluent in expressing these new ideas.

This is an example of an advanced level lesson!

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