Let’s get one thing out of the way: you need to learn to play your instrument before you can start learning to play jazz. Trying to improvise over an Eb-7 chord when you are still trying to remember whether it’s a D-flat or D-natural is challenging, but it’s impossible if you are at all unsure of the fingering for a high Eb! There are many foundational elements that every musician must master regardless of their genre of specialty, including instrument-specific technique, music theory, and stylistic fluency. But how to build this foundation is a hotly contested topic in the world of jazz education.
My classical journey:
I studied music at Northwestern University (class of ’07), where classical reigned supreme. I was fortunate enough to be afforded the opportunity to study as a part of Dr. Fred Hemke’s studio, where I took 2 years of classical sax rep, saxophone quartet, and technique lessons, all while simultaneously focusing on my Jazz Studies major. Through his experience, I gained enormous respect for the dedication, ungodly technique, and general mastery of the saxophone championed by my classical peers. Although everybody knew I was one of only a small handful of jazz guys, they all treated me as a saxophone equal, and I think we all learned a lot from each other.