The Teaching of Jazz: Book

Coker doesn't offer theory in a vacuum. He maps out a complete philosophy for jazz program development, drawing from his own successes and failures. Directors appreciate that he tackles the human side of teaching jazz, not just the musical mechanics.

Coker's writing is conversational and grounded, like sitting with an experienced mentor who knows exactly which problems you're facing. You'll recognize situations from your own rehearsals on nearly every page.

Jazz directors building programs from scratch or revitalizing existing ones will find concrete strategies throughout. Teachers seeking deeper understanding of jazz pedagogy, and administrators needing to defend jazz programs, both benefit from Coker's articulate, experience-grounded argument.

• Use Coker's process as a foundation for your program philosophy before trying to troubleshoot individual ensemble problems
• Reference specific chapters when facing common challenges like intonation issues, section balance, or student motivation
• Adapt the suggested exercises to match your ensemble's skill level; the framework stays the same even as implementation changes

This serves as a professional reference during the planning stages of a jazz curriculum. Read through it during the summer before launching or redesigning your program, then return to specific sections as you encounter teaching challenges during the year.

• Jazz improvisation fundamentals
• Listening and ear training in jazz contexts
• Ensemble communication and collective decision-making
• Understanding jazz history and stylistic conventions
• Building confidence to take musical risks