Why did you start learning jazz? · Learning Jazz Violin

Why did you start learning jazz?

Why is sometimes not the easiest question to answer.

I know that I got into playing jazz because my grandfather helped me at the start.

However I think the “why” is that when I was a teenager I played the violin, but I wasn’t great at reading music and I naturally preferred learning by ear and just sort of playing around with music.

I went through lots of music obsessions when I was young. Metal, hip hop, classic rock, country, folk.

I remember being at youth orchestra rehearsal across town with a bunch of kids who I didn’t know and not really feeing like I fitted in with anyone. I wasn’t really interested int he music we were playing at the time, I was the worst violinist there and I didn’t really feel any motivation to become the best.

I played drums at school too, I would give up my lunch break to go to a rehearsal room with my friends and make noise.

Learning to improvise on the violin gave me the opportunity to use my natural skills in learning by ear. It meant I could jam with other people and made me feel like I could really CREATE, but I could do it with the violin this time.

I still feel out of place in an orchestra but I’m at home in a rehearsal room trying to work out a nice arrangement for a jazz tune.

What about you?

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