I am going to university this fall to study music (eventually with a major in performance), and I have to choose what sort of ensembles I want to be in. I have two per semester and for my first year one a semester has to be some sort of chorus, so leaves the second one open for both semesters. A jazz ensemble is available, even to non-jazz majors, and I thought I would be really interested in doing that. I have never played jazz (except for one piece), mainly because I have always been too busy with "classical" repertoire, and because my teachers didn't have any experience in jazz either. The ensemble is open to anyone. Would it be ill-advised to join a jazz ensemble without ever having played jazz seriously, or is it possible to catch on quickly enough?

I think that if the ensemble is open, there'll be a number of inexperienced people ... it's likely to be quite popular, I would guess. As a pianist you might find it harder than say a saxophone player, largely because you'll have to be able to play off chord charts in a convincing way - that is, to improvise your own part.

But maybe you're used to doing that? Why not just have a go - that's what college is for, after all.

I'd take a look at some fake books (books of jazz standards) and see how you get on with playing them.

best
nick

Thanks a lot. I probably will end up in the ensemble.

I'd say yes give it a go but do try and get in a couple of jazz piano lessons before you go, or get hold of a book on jazz piano and start working through it; Tim Richards has written a brilliant jazz piano book. To play jazz piano you will most likely be expected to work from chord charts, not notation and you will be a bit flummoxed if you haven't worked from chord charts before. I'm not trying to put you off, just letting you know what to expect and suggesting you come at least a little bit prepared (jazz chord-wise), if it's an ensemble without a tutor.

The other thing I'd add, at the risk of stating the obvious, (and you probably are doing it anyway), is to listen to as many recordings of pianists in jazz enembles as you can. There's heaps of stuff on youtube - and you can start to work out the differences between solo jazz piano styles and what's necessary in a jazz group. For instance, if you've got a bass player, you won't have to worry about doing a constant bass line, etc.

Two of my favourites from big bands, who show completely different stlyes are:
Roland Hanna, who uses a very chunky chordal style, eg.:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZLvqXFddu0
and Count Basie, who plays very little, emphasising delicate melody in the right hand, e.g.:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_3a1-ay2tnE

Brian's right. To add to that I'd say you're going to have to figure out two thing - how to 'comp', which is basically putting the chords in with correct voicings and rhythmic feel while other players are taking it in turns to play solos, and then learning to improvise yourself for when it's your turn to take one.

In other words, if you don't know how to do either before you join the ensemble, and the other people in the ensemble can already improvise and will be needing you to 'comp' at the very least, then you will struggle. Definitely best to come prepared, especially with the comping side of things.

Once you've got it figured you will have fun though!

Thanks for all the advice. I have no aversion to improvising when it's necessary (like no prepared encore), but I definitely have no real talent for it. The ensemble (as all of them do) do have professors as coaches and instructors for the entire group so I should be able to get help when necessary but I like the idea of the books you recommended. Thanks all.