Complete Method for Improvisation for All Instruments: Book & CD

Coker organizes jazz improvisation by tune-type rather than by instrument or difficulty level, which means your students encounter real repertoire categories they'll face in actual playing situations. The systematic chapter-by-chapter structure gives you a clear curriculum arc, and the included CD provides immediate reference models for each approach.

Moving from confusion about how improvisation actually works to clarity about the distinct musical languages within jazz. Each tune-type carries its own vocabulary and logic, and Coker's method reveals those differences with practical, playable examples rather than theoretical abstraction.

Jazz students at the intermediate level and above who are ready to move beyond scales and into real-world improvisation contexts. This book works equally well for self-directed learners and for musicians studying in ensemble or private lesson settings.

• Study the characteristic harmonic movements within each tune-type before attempting to improvise; understanding the architecture makes phrases fall into place naturally
• Use the CD examples as transcription studies, not just as background listening; sing the recorded solos back to yourself to internalize the language specific to each style
• Apply one tune-type at a time across multiple sessions rather than rushing through all seven; let each approach settle into your musical vocabulary before moving forward
• Work through the given characteristics and approaches for each tune-type before attempting your own interpretation; this builds confidence and prevents vague improvisation

Assign chapters sequentially as students develop their improvisation skills throughout the year, or zero in on specific tune-types that match the repertoire your ensemble is learning. The modal chapter pairs naturally with preparation for modal standards, while the blues chapter supports any semester where you're building fundamental soloing skills.

• Recognizing and improvising over standard jazz changes
• Understanding bebop melodic and harmonic language
• Navigating modal jazz structures and reharmonization
• Soloing over blues progressions with authenticity
• Approaching contemporary and free-form improvisation frameworks
• Analyzing tune characteristics before improvising
• Building solos that reflect the specific style of each tune-type