From B-flat to Blues: Beginning Tools for Improvisation

This session seeks to transfer knowledge music educators may already have from music theory and applies it in a scaffolded approach to teaching students new to the concept of improvisation in any ensemble or small group setting. This session will focus primarily on the blues progression and show the transfers between different styles and progressions in the jazz idiom. Addressing rhythmic, harmonic, and stylistic concepts, this session will give music educators practical tools to work with their students as they begin their improvisational journey.

A woodwind musician and educator, Jacob Wright is a Ph.D. student in Music Education at Florida State University, where he teaches classes in jazz and music technology. Prior to his doctoral studies, Jacob received an M.M. in Jazz Studies from Florida State University and a B.M.E. in Music Education from Kansas State University. He served as a high school band director in southwest Kansas, where he taught jazz ensemble, wind ensemble, and athletic bands. Jacob also served as the SWKMEA district jazz chair and was an adjudicator for regional and all-state jazz auditions.

NAfME presents this live virtual event at no charge to all as a service to the music education profession. To register, you must enter your NAfME member information or create a nonmember account. After registering, check your email for instructions. A recording of this program will be available to all registrants for one week following the live event. Members can also view archived NAfME webinars in the NAfME Academy.

The views expressed are those of the presenter; they do not necessarily reflect the views of NAfME.