Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

[emanresu]

Hey.

I remember when I saw that scene and it instantly hit home.
Like, "haha! this was a stupid thing to say right there! ... wait, I do that too".

But it also is widespread everywhere, including jazz and music in general.
Not the same thing as dogmatism but rather, liking an idea enough to have it risen to a class of "universal truth". Sometimes "the only ... ".

Anyway, we often hear or say things like "don't noodle" or "transcribe for obtaining jazz language", often without alternative for the goal in discussion.

What areas in jazz education, or music in general, is infected by this kind of.. specious behaviour?
Examples?

[Bobby Timmons]

The question I'm resolving is the trade off between drilling in essential practices or styles in jazz into your playing vs focusing on styles you like so it's easier for you to play better. Following one perspective exclusively is probably not the right answer.

The more legit concepts you can get under your belt, the more broad and legit your playing can be. The trade off is that if you don't like it, it can be a chore and slow or prevent learning.

If you focus on things you like, it can accelerate your learning, but your playing has to be grounded in some areas that are legit or it won't sound good or be accepted.

An example with me is Hammond. Imo, you must have groove style playing down for your playing to sound good overall. I could not do this lol. I don't like playing groove style. I could groove fine when I was a bassist, but I couldn't do it holding down all the different parts at once. Had to go back to piano which is more suited to me. I still have to build up legit playing but it works better for me because it's acceptable to be more note-y and less groovy.

My favorite styles to work are spiky and colorful like Monk, harmonically rich like BH, some bop like Bird and Bud Powell, and some blues and hard bop like Bobby Timmons. I dig all these styles and I think it gives me a broad enough range of styles for jazz.

[Bobby Timmons]

^ That's good. I think that's the right way to go about things. I was surprised reading your other post about playing solo because I'm the same way. I'm also in the same boat with you about needing to drop other music pursuits I like in favor of focusing on one that's most feasible and that I have the most ability in. Sticking with jazz piano for now even though I like popular music and have played other instruments. But very happy with my focus.

[Christian Miller]

No teacher knows every path, but hopefully they know at least one path that works


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[emanresu]

A few of them come in mind now.
"Play tunes. Everything you need is in tunes." The second part of it. Yes, but if you don't isolate something in there (that generic part of "everything"), can't progress so fast.
That was a mild one. Not much really wrong with it, just too much emphasis on... "everything".

"Jazz is communication, play with others". Yes, kinda true but depends.. at least in my case, obsessing about playing "acceptably well" makes me forgot to play for myself. Not saying playing with others suck, just that playing for yourself might be as important as the other part.

"Rhythm is more important than the notes". When I first heard it, I thought it was pure evil. Then I sort of got used to it, then saw that it is the truth in jazz and accepted it..... until very much later figured out that it is true because most jazz players just do exactly that. It is true because people make it true. Um, a bit difficult to explain.

[Bobby Timmons]

Yeah no you have to do more than play tunes to develop well. And you have to know how to play well by yourself as well imo to be a legit player. 'Rhythm is more important than the notes' Ehh. It's not false but kind of inaccurate. It's essential for the rhythm to be good or the music won't sound good, while the note approach is negotiable. But the notes need to be good too! You need every aspect of music goin on for jazz to sound good imo: rhythm, melody, harmony.