Self-assessment in jazz improvisation

Abstract

The purpose of this instrumental case study was to be able to determine ways that professional jazz musicians utilize self-assessment during jazz improvisation and to better understand how social competencies and interpersonal communication influence self-assessment practice. Participants included four experienced jazz musicians who performed together regularly and had developed deep social and musical connections with one another prior to the study. Data were collected in five phases: (1) a rehearsal observation, (2) a group interview, (3) a second rehearsal observation, (4) a journaling session, and (5) a focus group. Five themes were developed from the data—“Empathy,” “Self-Doubt,” “Transcendence,” “Prior Knowledge,” and “Self-Awareness.” Self-Awareness served as a meta-theme to which the other four themes were connected. Further analysis of the themes indicated that the participants utilized self-assessment through non-verbal communication, deep listening, connecting to their past experiences, incorporating musical constraints such as form and harmony, using Norgaard’s tools of evaluative monitoring and sketch planning, and through empathetic attunement.