Teaching Improv in Your Jazz Ensemble: A Complete Guide for Music Educators

(Paperback)

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See the joys, challenges, and exciting possibilities associated with jazz ensemble improvisation with Teaching Improv in Your Jazz Ensemble: A Complete Guide for Music Educators. Zachary B. Poulter presents scholarly research, professional performance techniques, and nuts-and-bolts rehearsal strategies, all of which will help teachers bring the joy of improvisation more fully into the jazz ensemble class.

Over 180 arrangements of jazz standards are indexed to correlate with the sequence of improvisation study. Complete lead sheets are provided for each chart so you can determine the exact improvisational requirements of the charts before purchasing them. Using this invaluable resource, you can design an effective sequence for teaching improvisation, and then reinforce it with correlating jazz ensemble charts.

Learn how to design a sequence of instruction, interpret chord symbols, rehearse improvisation in a group format, and assess jazz improvisation. Also learn about the philosophy and history of the educational jazz ensemble. See how to integrate different types of resources into a cohesive improvisation curriculum from the resource guide.

Uniquely designed to help jazz ensemble directors make the most of the many different improvisation resources available today, this book will be a vital reference for school jazz ensemble directors, as well as in college and university jazz pedagogy courses.

Reviews

This book focuses its attention on an area of consistent concern for Jazz Ensemble directors; its intriguing premise, pedagogical approach, and compilation of resource materials are sure to be of considerable value to a wide swath of music educators. -- Chuck Owen, president of IAJE, professor of Jazz Studies and director of the University of South Florida's new Center for Jazz Composition,
A fabulous resource for all jazz educators! This text superbly articulates the history of jazz education and aural skills research. Plus, it beautifully coalesces this vital research to point out needed changes in music education and teacher training. Full of valuable resources for jazz educators, it gives them professional insight for selecting great music for their ensembles. I feel well informed having this book in my collection! -- Scott Wilson, president-elect, IAJE Utah Unit, Director of Jazz Studies, Snow College

Author Bio

Zachary B. Poulter is director of Bands at Syracuse Junior High School in Syracuse, Utah