How to Learn Jazz Music

Learn the history. To begin to appreciate the genre, you should study a bit of its past. There are online resources, books and courses available. The 10-part documentary film "Jazz" by Ken Burns is an excellent visual source detailing the music's different players and movements. PBS also has a good list of links to various informational sites on the genre's history. There is also a wealth of books on the subject. Popular ones include "The History of Jazz" by Ted Gioia, "Jazz" by Gary Giddins and Scott DeVeaux and "Jazz 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Jazz" by John F. Szwed. All of these are available at online and retail book stores.

Listen to the music. To truly get a sense of what jazz is, you should listen to it as much as possible. There are the well-known players, the innovators of new forms, different genres and the jazz standards. Local libraries usually stock a good selection or you can purchase just about any song via CD or digital download. Amazon has a list of what they consider they greatest 100 jazz albums of all time.

The best way to listen to jazz, though, is going to a live performance. There are jazz clubs and performances in every major city in the country. Radio station WNUR has a list, or you can do a search on Yelp.com for reviews of clubs in your city.

Take a course. There are online courses, classes through a university's extension program and community college offerings. Check to see what is available in your area. You can search online courses through eLearners.com.

Learn the basics. How you learn to play jazz depends on your previous experience in music, your preferred learning style and your personal ambitions. Consider taking one-one-one instruction from an experienced jazz musician. Check with local universities or music stores for recommendations. If you prefer to teach yourself, there are numerous books and online courses. Popular books include "Beginning Jazz Guitar" by Jody Fisher, "The Jazz Piano Book" by Mark Levine and "Jazz Composition: Theory and Practice" by Ted Pease.

Enroll in a school. If you dream of learning to play jazz like a professional musician, you should apply to one of the top music schools. The best music schools include Berklee School of Music and Julliard, but it all depends on your personal preferences. A list of collegiate jazz schools is provided by JazzTimes.com. Most of the top schools require a solid background in musical experience. Check with each of the school's admissions departments for their recommendations.

Play the music. Practice makes perfect, of course, and you should find other jazz musicians to help you perfect your skills. Cities with a lot of jazz musicians include New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston and Miami. Visit your local jazz club, put up a notice at music stores and check online ads at such sites as Craigslist to find other musicians.