Charting future directions for research in jazz pedagogy: implications of the literature

Abstract

This paper surveys and evaluates extant empirical research in jazz pedagogy. Investigations in the following areas are addressed: (a) variables that predict achievement in jazz improvisation; (b) content analyses of published instructional materials; (c) effectiveness of pedagogical methods; (d) construction and evaluation of jazz improvisation achievement measurement instruments; and (e) relationships between the construct of creativity and jazz improvisation achievement. A number of possible directions for future research are suggested, including possible extensions of research on instructional methodologies, assessment of achievement that considers group dynamics and the application of confluence models of creativity to jazz improvisation research.