Empowering Students' Individuality of Expression in Music: A Study of Two Jazz Improvisation Pedagogical Approaches

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 27
  In Roundtable Session: Wind Band: Pedagogy, Practices, and Participants

Abstract

This study investigated the impact of two methods of jazz instruction—theoretical-based and practice-based—on the improvisational development and individuality of expression of high school jazz musicians.  The sample consisted of 10 randomly assigned high school jazz bands.  Individual student soloists in the control (n = 13) and experimental (n = 21) groups improvised over a 32-measure section of the same jazz selection for the pretest. After four weeks of instruction Soloist participants completed a questionnaire pertaining to individuality of expression and performed the posttest. Recordings were evaluated by three experienced adjudicators using measures developed for this study. The results showed that the practice-based participants indicated a stronger inclination to express themselves through improvisation than were theoretical-based participants.  

Author

• Glen Alan Brumbach, University of Maryland