Hi,
I have been learning to play the trumpet for the last six months. I am primarily drawn towards Jazz. (I appreciate classical brass too, but lean more towards Jazz) However, my teacher is proficient in classical (with little experience in Jazz) and has been instructing me from the classical perspective.
I recently went thru the ABRSM Jazz trumpet syllabus (I intend to take these exams some time).
I saw that there was a marked difference in the skills tested for in Jazz trumpet when compared to classical trumpet.
Coming to my question - Should I continue to learn classical and may be take upto grade 3, and then go in for the Jazz exams when my fundamentals are on a solid grounding?
Also, another factor to consider is that the Jazz exams are not offered where I stay at the moment.
The alternative that my teacher has suggested is to add a lot of theory that is relavent to Jazz (eg-modes) to my current studies.
Another coupla questions
Is it necessary to do exams? I feel that my learning will be more focused and well paced if I have something to aim for. Opinions??
About Improvisation - Where do I start?

Thanks,
Pavan
PS - I live in India. I am working full time, always wanted to learn music, and I have finally got down to taking classes. Very happy about it. Amazing feeling to be able to play music.

Hello Pavan

Definitely continue with your classical training and practice every day, take the exams that your teacher recommends, and alongside that listen to some of the great jazz exponents of trumpet - there are so many, but Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Clark Terry spring to mind.. Also maybe there are recommended recordings in the A.B. syllabus, at the bottom of the page of every piece.

And practice the mode scales your teacher has suggested - he is right there - that is what Miles Davis did. Learn the blues scales - up and down, in bits, all sorts of combinations of the notes.

Jazz exams? The A.B. is developing all the time so maybe these will arrive.

Find out whether there is anyone in your locality who plays jazz piano, bass, or drums. Start a trio, quartet if possible. Start a Jazz Club.

Learn easy Jazz tunes. The possibilities are many. Learn the head and then "worry" the tune. Mess about with it. And keep counting.

Improvisation - get the A.B.Book - Jazz Piano from scratch -although piano based some good chapters on improvisation that would be interesting for any other intrumentalist.

Hope this all helps.

Stay cool.

Paul.