When you first started learning jazz violin, what practical thing held you back? Swing feel, learning tunes, improvising, technique… something else?

Something that @Nicola Milne mentioned on one of my posts got me thinking about coming from a classical background… If you’ve come from classical music to jazz, it might sometimes feel like you are in a different world with jazz, and whilst that’s sort of true, here is how you can use that background to your advantage. A lot of new jazz violinists come from classical. People often feel like they have to forget or undo that background, but I don’t think it’s a hindrance at all. Actually I think it can actually be a massive advantage, and one that many fiddlers and folk players might even envy. Classical practise takes a very focused mind when it comes to detail and perfection. Use that. Don’t throw it away. I’ll chat about the bigger differences in other posts, but for now I want to give you a tangible way to actually use your classical mindset in jazz. Say you are working on a transcription. Treat it like a piece of music you had to learn for a performance to be played without the page, like a concerto you were getting ready to perform or audition with. Learn it in full and don’t move on until you have it right. Intonation, execution, feel and expression. One of the ways you can do this is intense listening and playing along with the recording of the solo. This isn’t quite how we do it in classical music, but keep that classical mindset and focus on detail and perfection. It’s not a hindrance. It’s a strength, if you direct it properly. Do you think your classical background gets in the way, or does it help?

Welcome to Learning Jazz Violin. This is a place of support and community for people who are, well… learning jazz violin. Please introduce yourself to the rest of the group by posting in the community discussion board. I’m Matt Holborn, a jazz violinist based in London UK. A lot of what I do is within the Django and Stéphane style, but I’m also passionate about straight ahead, swinging jazz, and different forms of folk music. I also play in musical comedian Bill Bailey’s live band. In this community you will find: • A free discussion board for posting about anything jazz violin related • 2 free courses in the Classroom section (Bowing, and Learning Honeysuckle Rose) There are also lots of different paid courses (which you can currently access by signing up to a paid tier). Each of them is designed not only to give you information but to help you get into the mindset of a jazz violinist. I teach by ear with videos, technical exercises based on jazz language, and assignments based on opening up your violin playing with harmony and improvisation. I don’t have a one-size-fits-all method because that just isn’t how jazz works for me. My teaching is about showing you how many jazz musicians think, and how you can use that to shape your own musical voice in jazz. I hope you enjoy using this space with us! Matt