Free: 5-Day Jazz Targeting Starter Kit for Band Directors

Help your students stop guessing and start improvising with direction.

Get the Starter Kit

Get five short, rehearsal-ready activities that help students create more confident jazz phrases using rhythm, target notes, pentatonics, and simple chromatic approach.

Each activity can be taught in about 10 minutes.
Download the free starter kit

starter kit
Play



THE PROBLEM


Telling Students “Use This Scale” Usually Isn’t Enough
Many beginning jazz students are told which scale to use, but they still struggle to create a solo that sounds musical.
They may:
freeze during solo sections
run scales up and down
play too many notes
avoid space
lose the form
sound like they are guessing
have no idea where the phrase is going
The issue is not always that they need more theory.
Often, they need a clearer musical task.

starter kit



THE SOLUTION

Give the Phrase a Destination

Jazz Targeting teaches students to create improvised lines by choosing a musical target and building a phrase toward it.

Instead of asking only:

“What scale should I use?”

students learn to ask:

“Where is my line going?”

That one shift helps students create phrases with more confidence, direction, and purpose.



What’s Inside the Free Kit


What You’ll Get
The free starter kit includes:
a 5-day rehearsal sequence
five 10-minute improvisation activities
director scripts
student tasks
what to listen for
exit questions
a student worksheet
a quick assessment checklist
a path for moving students into more complete improvisation study



5-Day Preview

Day 1: Rhythm First

Students create a short improvised phrase using one note and clear rhythm.

Day 2: Choose a Target

Students learn that a target is the musical destination of a phrase.

Day 3: Pentatonic Targeting

Students use a small note set to create a phrase that has direction.

Day 4: Chromatic Approach

Students use one chromatic note to create tension that resolves to a target.

Day 5: First Targeted Solo

Students combine rhythm, target notes, pentatonic material, and chromatic approach into a short solo.



Who It’s For

This Starter Kit Is For You If…

You are a:

  • middle school band director
  • high school band director
  • jazz ensemble director
  • combo coach
  • private lesson teacher
  • college music education student
  • teacher who wants a practical way to introduce improvisation

This kit is especially helpful if your students are nervous about soloing or if you are not sure where to begin teaching improvisation in rehearsal.

Download the Starter Kit HERE

FAQ

A: The 5-Day Jazz Targeting Starter Kit is a free resource for band directors, jazz ensemble directors, private teachers, and music educators who want a practical way to introduce jazz improvisation. It includes five short rehearsal-ready activities that help students use rhythm, target notes, pentatonic material, and chromatic approach to create more intentional improvised phrases.

A: This starter kit is designed for middle school band directors, high school band directors, jazz ensemble directors, combo coaches, private lesson teachers, and music education students. It is especially helpful for directors who want to teach improvisation but do not have a lot of rehearsal time or are not sure where to begin.

A: No. The starter kit is designed to be practical and director-friendly. You do not need to explain advanced jazz theory or demonstrate complex solos. The activities give students small, clear improvisation tasks that can be taught in short rehearsal segments.

A: Each activity is designed to take about 5–10 minutes. You can use one activity per rehearsal, combine multiple activities into a longer class period, or spread the sequence across several weeks depending on your schedule.

A: Students will learn how to create short improvised phrases using rhythm, target notes, limited note sets, and simple chromatic approach. The sequence introduces the idea that improvisation works better when students know where their phrase is going.

A: The five days are:

  1. Rhythm First
  2. Choose a Target
  3. Pentatonic Targeting
  4. Chromatic Approach
  5. First Targeted Solo

Each day gives students one clear improvisation task that builds toward a short targeted solo.

A: Yes. The starter kit is designed with beginning and developing improvisers in mind. Students can start with one-note rhythms, two-measure phrases, and limited note choices before moving toward short solos.

A: Yes. More advanced students can use the same activities with additional targets, more complex rhythms, chromatic approaches, different keys, or application to current jazz ensemble charts.

A: No. A rhythm section is helpful, but not required. You can use a drum loop, metronome, play-along track, classroom keyboard, backing track, or simple ensemble vamp. The activities can also be adapted for sectionals or private lessons.

A: Yes. The starter kit includes a student worksheet and a quick assessment checklist so directors can guide student reflection and track basic improvisation skills such as steady time, clear rhythm, target-note awareness, use of space, and confidence.

A: No. The starter kit is a free introduction to the Jazz Targeting approach. The full Jazz Targeting for Band Directors course includes complete modules, student worksheets, classroom PowerPoint slides, PDFs, video lessons, group rehearsal exercises, assessment rubric, and deeper material on pentatonics, chromatic targeting, rhythmic targeting, blues, minor, diminished and altered sounds, etudes, transcription, and next steps.

A: Jazz Targeting is an improvisation method that helps students create lines by aiming toward musical destination notes. Instead of only asking, “What scale do I use?” students learn to ask, “Where is my line going?” This helps them create phrases with more direction, resolution, and musical purpose.

A: A scale gives students a set of possible notes, but it does not automatically teach them how to create a musical phrase. Jazz Targeting helps students choose a destination note and build a line toward it using rhythm, note choice, tension, and resolution.

A: Yes. The starter kit can be used with a simple vamp, blues, play-along, or a solo section from a current jazz ensemble chart. The goal is to help students apply the targeting idea to real musical situations.

A: Enter your name and email address on this page, and the 5-Day Jazz Targeting Starter Kit will be sent to your inbox.