Jazz Ears: Aural Skills for the Improvising Musician by Thom Mason | All Instruments Music Book with Online Audio | Jazz Ear Training Improvisation Guide for Students Musicians and Teachers - Softcover

Mason, Thomas D.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0793579406 ISBN 13: 9780793579402

Publisher: HAL LEONARD CORPORATION, 1997

Synopsis

Jazz Ears: Aural Skills for the Improvising Musician by Thom Mason is a practical ear training guide for musicians who want to better understand, hear, and perform jazz with confidence. Designed for all instruments and vocalists, this book helps players develop essential listening skills-hearing pitches, rhythms, melodies, and chord progressions-and apply them directly to improvisation, sight singing, and transcription.

Focused on real musical application, the method supports musicians who want to connect what they see on the page with what they hear and play in real time. Through structured exercises and guided listening, it builds a stronger internal sense of pitch, phrasing, and harmonic movement, making it a valuable resource for both developing players and more experienced musicians refining their ear.

The included online audio provides clear listening examples that reinforce each concept, helping learners engage actively with the material. Exercises are presented in standard notation and rooted in authentic jazz vocabulary, allowing players to internalize stylistic nuance, articulation, and phrasing in a meaningful way.

What sets this book apart is its direct connection to real musical situations. Rather than relying on isolated drills, it emphasizes practical listening and response, helping musicians anticipate chord changes, recognize melodic patterns, and develop a more natural improvisational voice. This approach strengthens both individual practice and ensemble playing.

Whether used in private study, classroom settings, or as a long-term reference, this guide encourages a more intuitive connection between hearing and playing. It remains a valuable tool for musicians seeking to deepen their understanding of jazz and perform with greater clarity and confidence.

Edition details

• Publisher: HAL LEONARD CORPORATION
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0793579406
• ISBN 13: 9780793579402
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 138