2026 The Teaching of Jazz

This year, the online magazine M Media Jazz invites you to delve into the heart of jazz education. Throughout the year, we will share a series of interviews with passionate jazz teachers who will open the doors to their practice and vision.

One might think that teaching jazz is the natural culmination of a musician's career. Yet, passing on jazz is not something that can be improvised. As many teachers explain, it takes much more than musical mastery to share this knowledge. Teaching jazz lies at the intersection of rigor and freedom, between discipline and creativity. Here, sheet music and manuals are not enough: jazz is learned by listening, by playing together, by experiencing the music. Teaching jazz means transmitting both a musical language and a way of being.

At the heart of this learning process lies listening. Even before playing, the student learns to hear. Active listening develops the ear, helps grasp the sometimes invisible codes of jazz, and integrates elements that aren't always notated on a musical staff: groove, rhythmic placement, and intention. Throughout this process, the teacher acts as a supportive guide, offering essential references while helping the student build their own musical culture.

Improvisation plays a central role in learning jazz. It can be a real challenge, especially for classically trained musicians. Improvising isn't about playing randomly, but about learning to construct a living musical discourse in real time. The teacher's role is then to balance the learning of technical tools with the encouragement of risk-taking, an essential driver of personal expression.

The collective dimension is equally essential. Jazz is a music of encounter and dialogue, founded on mutual listening and interaction. Workshops, ensembles, and jam sessions become invaluable learning environments where students put their skills into practice, learn to accompany, respond to others' suggestions, and find their place within the group. Thus, teaching jazz nurtures both musical and personal qualities.

Ultimately, teaching jazz means remaining open and dynamic. Jazz is a living, constantly evolving music, drawing on a multitude of influences—from rock to electronic music, including world music. Rather than imposing a single model, the teacher guides each student in building their own musical identity. Passing on jazz means providing tools, sparking curiosity, and cultivating freedom, so that each individual can, in turn, find and make their voice heard.