Martin Norgaard Jazz Fiddle Wizard: A Practical Guide to Jazz Improvising for Strings

Jazz Fiddle Wizard is designed for students of classical and fiddle background equivalent to first year of college. It is recommended that the student is fairly fluent on the instrument and have good reading abilities. I recommend the Junior series for middle school an high school players though I have used the original JFW with some advanced high school students.

Jazz Fiddle Wizard  is a work book and CD for string players that want to learn to improvise within the jazz tradition. It teaches the reader/player improvising by using tunes and chord structures from the standard jazz repertoire. Though the book has some theory it is not theory for the sake of theory. It introduces rhythms and scales that quickly are put to use. After completing lesson 1 through 25 the complete novice will be able to sit in at any blues or jazz jam session.

Jazz Fiddle Wizard  requires an open mind, an inquisitive spirit and a willingness to learn. It is presumed that the reader/player has a basic command of the instrument and elementary knowledge of music notation. The book has been "tested" on college students and other players of various technical ability and with backgrounds in classical and/or fiddle music. IT WORKS !!!!

Jazz Fiddle Wizard  is organized in tunes and lessons. It is recommended that all players, even the ones with prior experience improvising, start with lesson 1 and work their way through the book. It introduces concepts progressively and requires that the terms from the previous lessons are understood. Each lesson is organized in a theory and exercise section. One should try to make sense of the theory but then quickly move on to the exercises. The theory will make sense sooner or later. The main goal is to make music. A Music-Minus-One CD is included with the book. It provides full rhythm section accompaniment for each exercise and tune.