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The acquisition of jazz improvisation skills in South African jazz musicians : an IPA study

Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2015.

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Other Authors: Panebianco-Warrens, Clorinda Rosanna
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2015
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Panebianco-Warrens, Clorinda Rosanna
author_browse Panebianco-Warrens, Clorinda Rosanna
author_facet Panebianco-Warrens, Clorinda Rosanna
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2015 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2015.
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
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license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2015
publishDateRange 2015
publishDateSort 2015
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/50779 The acquisition of jazz improvisation skills in South African jazz musicians : an IPA study Panebianco-Warrens, Clorinda Rosanna phutisepuru@yahoo.com Sepuru, Phuti UCTD South African jazz musicians Jazz Acquisition of skills Collective case study Practice Improvisation acquisition methods Expression Black South African church setting Self-theories Unique voice Music theses SDG-04 SDG-04: Quality education Music theses SDG-08 SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth Music theses SDG-10 SDG-10: Reduced inequalities Music theses SDG-11 SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities Dissertation (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2015. The study aimed to explore and understand how six South African jazz musicians acquire and practise the skill of jazz improvisation. Formative influences and practice methods were studied with the hope of identifying factors that are unique to the South African jazz context. The study followed a qualitative research paradigm, with a collective case study design. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews which allowed the researcher to probe issues of interest that arose during the course of the interview. The interview questions focused on the musical background, formative and ongoing influences, practice techniques, and improvisation acquisition methods of jazz musicians. The sample consisted of six expert South African jazz musicians with national and international performance, as well as recording, experience. Following the collection of the data, the results were transcribed, thoroughly analysed and then triangulated to ensure a reliable result. The data revealed three superordinate themes: 1) early and later influences; 2) motivation; and 3) processes in acquiring improvisational skills. This set of South African jazz musicians revealed that early and later influences include a combination of being self-taught and formal lessons, the black South African church setting, family members, active listening, transcribing, imitation, working with various musicians, and, the limitations of the apartheid era on the development of black musicians. Intrinsic and extrinsic motivators shape the manner in which South African jazz musicians view and approach jazz improvisation. It was found that their attitudes and values play a significant role, pertaining to improvisation, factors that affect the transition from general to stylistic improvisation, and, the issue of musical integrity in relation to written or memorised solos. The study revealed that the processes in acquiring improvisational skills include and encompass organic versus structured methods of learning, which includes formal and informal practice, and the importance of issues such as understanding the fundamental jazz rudiments and techniques, developing an identity, authentic self-expression, using mistakes as an opportunity to learn, and the transference of knowledge from an aural to cognitive understanding. The research leads to the conclusion that although each musician has a unique musical journey, there are elements in the acquisition of jazz improvisation skills that are inescapable such as honing a good technique, intrinsic motivation, active listening, effective practice routines, formal and informal learning, formal and informal practicing, and the development of a unique ‘voice’. The research identifies unique self-theories, experiences and cultural components that guide the ways six South African jazz musicians acquire improvisation skills. tm2015 ae2025 Music MMus Unrestricted SDG-04: Quality education SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth SDG-10: Reduced inequalities SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities 2015-11-25T09:53:29Z 2015-11-25T09:53:29Z 2015/09/01 2015 Dissertation Sepuru, P 2015, The acquisition of jazz improvisation skills in South African jazz musicians : an IPA study, MMus Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/50779> S2015 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/50779 en © 2015 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
South African jazz musicians
Jazz
Acquisition of skills
Collective case study
Practice
Improvisation acquisition methods
Expression
Black South African church setting
Self-theories
Unique voice
Music theses SDG-04
SDG-04: Quality education
Music theses SDG-08
SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth
Music theses SDG-10
SDG-10: Reduced inequalities
Music theses SDG-11
SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities
The acquisition of jazz improvisation skills in South African jazz musicians : an IPA study
title The acquisition of jazz improvisation skills in South African jazz musicians : an IPA study
title_full The acquisition of jazz improvisation skills in South African jazz musicians : an IPA study
title_fullStr The acquisition of jazz improvisation skills in South African jazz musicians : an IPA study
title_full_unstemmed The acquisition of jazz improvisation skills in South African jazz musicians : an IPA study
title_short The acquisition of jazz improvisation skills in South African jazz musicians : an IPA study
title_sort acquisition of jazz improvisation skills in south african jazz musicians an ipa study
topic UCTD
South African jazz musicians
Jazz
Acquisition of skills
Collective case study
Practice
Improvisation acquisition methods
Expression
Black South African church setting
Self-theories
Unique voice
Music theses SDG-04
SDG-04: Quality education
Music theses SDG-08
SDG-08: Decent work and economic growth
Music theses SDG-10
SDG-10: Reduced inequalities
Music theses SDG-11
SDG-11: Sustainable cities and communities
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/50779