PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION FOR JAZZ STUDENTS: SOME ESSENTIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF JAZZ IMPROVISATION

Abstract

The article considers some theoretical and historical aspects of improvisation, its being an integral part of teaching jazz to students. Style characteristics of improvisation in arts are viewed, as well as the one distinctive for jazz improvisation in the artistic context integration. The jazz improvisation criteria are generalized. It is stressed that improvised music statements are expressed in the forms of dialogue and monologue, and improvisation needs creative thinking to be embodied in relevant musical narrative. The phenomena is analyzed from the point of view of music vocabulary, aesthetics-related psychology, communication. Much attention is given to an interactive approach to improvisation and composition. The article argues that despite the fact that jazz education in Russia traditionally tends to mostly focus on improvisation practice, it should integrate more theoretical and historical aspects, which will help students develop their skills more mindfully and better understand jazz music-related spacetime continuum.