About

I’ve always struggled to find a jazz ensemble method that engaged every section at the same time. Something that built fundamental skills together: improvisation, vocabulary, chord theory, piano & guitar voicings, bass lines, and drum patterns.

The result is a set of flexible exercises that work for any instrumentation, designed for middle and high school groups. A practical, connected approach to learning jazz as an ensemble from the most inexperienced to the most advanced levels.

This will be an ongoing process, originally intended for my high school bands at Shawnee Mission East HS. They are no means comprehensive and I will be continually updating these resources. If you have any feedback, questions, or exercises you’d like to see, please reach out.

-Alex Toepfer
High School Band Director & Saxophonist, Overland Park, KS
jazzedresource@gmail.com