Jazz String Playing Resources (thanks to Renata Bratt of the Jazz String Caucus, whose comments are in parenthesises throughout)

I don't know most of these books, my comments in "[ ]"

[You may find that the best information for you will be found in non string player specific literature. There are numerous jazz books out there and a lot of the basic tools you may need can be found and learned in books that are for sax or trumpet players, for example. Wander in a good music store and get an idea of what presentation appeals to you.]

Aebersold, Jamey. Play-a-long books and CDs, especially Vol. 24 "Major and Minor",Vol. 42 "Blues in all keys", Vol. 54 "Maiden Voyage".
Jamey Aebersold Jazz Inc. 1211 Aebersold Dr., New Albany, IN 47150 (800)456-1388

(These CDs are invaluable for any teacher who is interested in making scales and arpeggios interesting for the student. Students at the end of most string method Books 1 and up will enjoy playing scales and scale like passages with these bouncy, jazzy CDs. Playing in correct time becomes much easier, and with these building blocks, beginning improvisation can start. The teacher can use call and response techniques with these basic tracks, either over major or minor scales, or with the blues. Vol. 54 is useful for a student or teacher who has progressed to learning tunes.)

[I recommend "ii-V7," "Cycles and Turnarounds," and "Charlie Parker" (all for int.-adv..) These are very helpful books and tapes/cd's. However, it's very important to develope time and the internalization of structure away from play-along situations. It is too easy to rely on these play-alongs and then when you get with a real rhythm section you may find you haven't done enough work on your internal clock. A jazz player's sense of time is as important (maybe more important) as what notes he/she chooses to play.]

Blake, John. Jazz Improvisation Made Easy Vol. 1, Beginning to Improvise
Jody Harmon/BlakeHarmon pub. POB 186 Westford MA 01886

Baker, David. A New And Innovative System For Learning To Improvise books for violin and cello.
Jamey Aebersold Jazz Inc. POB 1244 New Albany, IN 47151-1244

Baker, David. Jazz Bass Clef Explorations
Jamey Aebersold Jazz Inc. (above)
[Working with standard treble clef "lead sheet" books will make you a more flexible, capable reader.]

Baker David. How to Play Bebop for all Instruments, vol.1-3
Alfred Publishing Co., Inc. 16380 Roscoe Blvd., POB 10003, Van Nuys, CA 91410
[I like these...]

Duncan, Craig. Fiddling Chord Book. Mel Bay Publishing. (Helpful guide to chord voicings for the violinist)

Glaser, Matt. Jazz Violin with Stephane Grappelli
Oak Publications 33 West 60th Street, NY NY 10023

Harmon, Jody. Improvise! for violin, viola, or cello. JIME, P.O.Box 186, 301 Littleton Rd, Westford MA 01886 or e-mail: JodyJIME@aol.com
(A book and CD method utilizing one scale at a time for each piece. Good for beginning improvisors)

International Association of Jazz Educators. Teaching Jazz, A Course of Study
MENC, 1806 Robert Fulton Dr., Reston, VA 20191-4348

(This is a basic book for all teachers interested in teaching improvisation. Particularly useful is the chapter on jazz in general music, with a multitude of ideas for encorporating improvisational concepts when teaching young children)

Levine, Mark. The Jazz Theory Book Sher Music Co. P.O. Box 445, Petaluma, CA 94953

(When you are ready to learn what jazz is made of, this is the book to own. A 552 page book written in a straight forward and easy to understand style. It starts with basics and moves on. Good for teachers, advanced high school and college students)

Lieberman, Julie Lyonn. The Contemporary Violinist.

Published by Huiksi Music Distributed by Hal Leonard Publications and IPG to music and book stores or call 1-800-484-1333 and key in access code 8400 to order (Sixteen fiddle and jazz violin styles, including Cajun, Scandi, Tango, Latin, and Flamenco, preface by Turtle Island String Quartet, dozens of left- and right-hand exercises, quotes from twenty-five esteemed players, all distinguish this book . Comes with a practice CD.)

Lieberman, Julie Lyonn. Improvising Violin. Published by Huiksi Music Distributed by Hal Leonard Publications and IPG (above)

(this book is a comprehensive guide to the art of violin improvisation in blues, jazz, swing, folk, rock and New Age. Preface by Darol Anger.)

Lieberman, Julie Lyonn. Planet Musician. Published by Huiksi Music Distributed by Hal Leonard Publications and IPG (above)

(A little of everything...With mental and technical exercises, words of wisdom from renowned world musicians, and a practice CD, this publication makes the musical imagination of the world available through world rhythms, ornamentation, scales, and practice techniques. Preface by Paul Winter.)

Lieberman, Julie. You Are Your Instrument: the Definitive Musician's guide to Practice and Performance
Huiksi Music dist. in music stores nationally or call 800-33-TAPES

Ligon, Bert. Comprehensive Technique for Jazz Musicians
Houston Publishing Inc, distributed by Hal Leonard

(Mr. Ligon is director of Jazz studies at the University of South Carolina where he also leads their jazz strings ensemble. As the title suggests, this book is extremely comprehensive in scope. It is most useful for a musician with some basic understanding of jazz tunes and materials.)

Lipsius, Fred. Reading Key Jazz Rhythms, (with violin CD, cellos use trombone CD)
Advance Music, available through Aebersold Jazz Inc. (above)

(Mr. Lipsius has created a set of etudes each using a basic jazz rhythm as its focus. Each etude is based on a standard jazz tune chord progression utilyzing an easy or more advanced version featuring the same rhythmic material. The accompanying CD features tracks with and without the melody. This book is particularly useful for an intermediate or above student or a professional exploring jazz syncopation.)

McFarland-Johnson, Jeffrey. Tonic to Chromatic, Tonal Structural Patterns of Stringed Instruments tuned in 4ths and 5ths, Vol. IV-Violoncello, Johnsong Music, P.O. Box 3646, Napa, CA, www.johnsong.com

Mr. McFarland-Johnson presents a section of basic jazz theoretical knowledge, a section of a "lexicon of intervals, chords, and scale forms as they fit on the cello fingerboard" as well as a third section of observations of the cellist Arto Noras' teaching techniques. A very interesting and informative book for the jazz cello student.

Norgaard, Martin. The Jazz Fiddle Wizard,

currently being edited and printed by MEL BAY, new step by step jazz violin instruction book and CD. It is scheduled for release in the spring of 2000. At that time it may be purchased directly from his web site (www.jazzfiddlewizard.com)or at your local music store. A Music-Minus-One CD is included with the book. It provides full rhythm section accompaniment for each exercise and tune.

Sabien, Randy and Bob Phillips. Jazz Philharmonic, Alfred Pub.

will be in print this spring but not into their string promotion blitz until the summer. It will have a play along CD and is geared for students who are learning their instruments and at the same time learning basic jazz concepts. It is written to accommodate a wide range of ability in the classroom as teachers often have mixed groups. The parts are for string orchestra -violin, viola, cello, bass, and there are easy piano parts for the teacher or student plus very simple drum patterns. I believe, ( and I hope I'm not being too optimistic) that this will be the missing link to starting all this stuff from the get go.

Turtle Island String Quartet Workbook(Anger, Balakrishnan, Seidenberg, Summer, Silverman). Jazz String Workbook

Available at TISQ workshops.(And why not available for all, I wonder. This book contains some great teaching tips and advice)

White, Chris. Getting into Jazz Cello, Viola, or Violin, a book and CD method

(These jazz tunes are standards which have been arranged with intermediate strings in mind. The tunes on the CD are played first with the solo cello, or viola, or violin on the track, then with just the accompaniment. The tunes are easy and fun to play and learn. A lot of good advice on improvisational techniques and information about jazz string history is also included.)

Cello Works, 501 Linn St., Ithaca, NY 14850
toll free (877)665-5815 (phone/fax with credit card) or from the NDCA web site at
www.newdirectionscello.com (go to Store)