Creative Beginnings by Scott Reeves

 
Creative Beginnings Creative Beginnings: An Introduction to Jazz Improvisation 
By Scott Reeves
Published by Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Designed for beginning and intermediate students of jazz improvisation, Creative Beginnings is a comprehensive and enjoyable course of study for high school and college students, as well as adult beginners. 

Special features include:

  • Chapters devoted to specific chord progressions and scales frequently encountered in jazz improvisation. Each chapter contains an explanation of jazz theory which assumes little prior knowledge, warm-up exercises to enable the student to gain facility with these scales, and a jazz composition on which to practice improvisation. 
  • All warm-up exercises and compositions are transposed for treble-clef, B-flat, E-flat, and bass clef instruments, allowing for simultaneous usage in a classroom, or jazz ensemble setting, as well as private instruction. Rhythm section parts are provided for all compositions. 
  • The accompaniments to the warm-up exercises and the compositions are contained on a companion CD play-along recording, making practice a fun and inspirational experience. 
  • Additional chapters on Whom to Listen To, How to Practice and Teach Jazz, Jazz Rhythms, Basic Music Theory, and Jazz Theory, are also included.
    •
    Creative Beginnings was created as an entry-level companion to Scott Reeves' widely used text, Creative Jazz Improvisation, now in its second edition from Prentice-Hall, Inc. The thorough format and ease-of-use which characterizes his first book is also found in Creative Beginnings and makes it a valuable resource for students of jazz improvisation.