Beginner to intermediate transition

[sinebar]

I know progessing is different for everyone but approximately how long does it take to go from beginner to intermediate?

[jazzbluescat]

I know progessing is different for everyone but approximately how long does it take to go from beginner to intermediate?

Depends. Do you intend to practice? How many hours per day? Do you know what you want to play/do?

[fballatore]

Depends. Do you intend to practice? How many hours per day? Do you know what you want to play/do?

Cat -

Are you saying you can't get to intermediate from beginner without practicing??

Frank :D

[Brendan Muse]

It really depends. Hopefully, you'll know when you move up. There aren't sharp distinctions.

[Dentarthurdent]

There is an excellent study book published by Aebersold called Intermediate Jazz improvisation - by George Bouchard - which gives a detailed description of the attributes of an intermediate player. If I recall right he says that an intermediate player knows most of his scales well but may be a little shaky on a few, can play comfortably over say, a blues but may struggle making the changes on an AABA standard.
It really is down to the individual and how much you practise AND how effective your practising is.
I'd say that for an average ability person spending an hour a day practising well and with good teaching support you might be in the position to describe yourself as intermediate after, say 3 years or so.
I think its probably more difficult to say when you have made the transition from intermediate to advanced. I've been playing for 15 years now but I'd still regard myself as intermediate.
Don't worry about comparing yourself to the progress of others. Take pleasure in your own progress and remember that the fastest learner may not end up being the better player at the end of the day - 'slow and steady wins the race'.

[BlueNote]

The better you get, the longer it takes to get better. When you're going from a beginning stage to an intermediate stage, the changes are noticeably better. However, once you get to the advanced level, or even the intermediate level, the changes are less noticeable, as well as taking longer to improve.

I would say an "intermediate" player does not have a strong grasp on the chord changes of a tune, uses licks all too often, and is relying more on scales and books to try and create a nice improvised solo, rather than by what you hear. When you get to the "advanced" level, you forget all about scales and all that jibberish and play music-- what you feel, and are able to communicate it through your horn to your full potential -- and simply use scales and licks as a tool, not as a primary resource for the basis of your solo.