M Ted,

I did read what you said. I agree only to a point. The best way to learn to improvise is to just do it. How? Listen what's in your head and put in down on your instrument. Find it.

Now, what's in your head? If you have had training, then a lot is there. Call on it.

Scales, chordal lines (memorize these...it's crucial), arpeggios, riffs..steal 'em or make 'em up....

But working out jazz choruses in advance does not always help you think on your feet. More to the point is not to think on your feet but to play without letting your thoughts get in the way.

You can always tell a "lick" player. They've got a pat set of phrases in their head. The great jazz players, bluegrass musicians, or whatever are not "lick" players. They play what they hear. These are not always "thought" out in advance.

The only thing a teacher can do is act as a guide. They can't teach you to play jazz or improvise. They can send the student in that direction but the real deal is hearing the idea and playing it.

The best passages of literature is often written on the spot without editing. The same is true for the great jazz choruses which are rarely "written out" in advance.

So, Marion, learn all you can about the music you love by practicing licks, breaks, arpeggios etc. but when sit down to improvise, throw it all away and play what's in your head and heart. The more you jam the more you will jam.

Jamie Abersold approaches it in the manner of learning patterns and stringing them together. This is a good exercise but it is not intended to take the place of improvisation.

Wanna' be a good public speaker? Get out in front of crowds, "think" on your feet. Don't read from the script.

Wanna' be a good improviser? Practice playing ideas on the spot.

Take a small idea in your head (ie: Mary Had A Little Lamb" upside down and backwards and find it on your instrument. Better yet, sing it! Sing the idea first so that it's clear and then find it on your instrument. But make it up. That's jazz....or improvising.

Frank