Hi. Could someone please tell me the best way to start playing jazz or how to improvise? I`ve been classically trained and I`m tired of looking at notes all the time. Thanks.

Im only 14, but my info is quick accurate and musicly worthy

Yea! I love seeing people come from the dark side of Classical, Not only that, but the music that bands are playing today don`t use those methods anymore. N.E. way..

For improvisation, the things that you have to know is what key it`s in, i would recommend that you memorize all the keys and key signatures of them. This helps because you will have to know what notes you can and could not play in the piece or section. You also have to know the chord proggression, but in jazz the common progression starts on the tonic [let`s pretend that we`re using the note C for this](root note) then goes to the IV note of that scale [F] and then back to the tonic [C] so far the pattern uses the chords C, F, C. and then the V`th note of the scale, which in this case is G, then back to the IV and back to the tonic.
In laymens terms. I, IV, I, V, IV, I.

Then..

You can play any note which properly fits into the key signature, in this case the key of C has no sharps or flats, so you could play anynote in between phrases. One thing that you have to know is that the note you have start on in the beginning is the tonic, [C] you also have to end on this note.

I hope this helped if not feel free to email me at 06chakin@ksbe.edu
or if you have AIM, please instant message me @ QuestionChris

Chris, I thought I, IV, I, V and etc. were the "traditional" (Baroque, Classical) progressions?? I thought Jazz had a lot of 7th chords, dimished 7ths, etc. Do you have a site we can look at or sth? Thanks

Hey chris..do you play jazz piano? j/w cuz theres not too many jazz pianists our age (im 14 also) and i would like to ask some ?s to see your view on things...

rather than giving you a detailed summary that probably wouldnt make any sense anyway- try ths site it has everything you could possibly want to know
http://www.jazzbank.fr.fm/

good luck!

In response to Chris`s response in accordance to Jacqueline`s comment on keys, chord progression`s and such:
I believe that the V note in the key of C is G7 which creates the Jazz Sound.