Partimenti began in the conservatories of Naples as a playful, listening-based approach to learning harmony, improvisation, and composition. Rediscovered today, this tradition offers powerful insights into musical fluency, creativity, and how musicians have historically learned to speak the language of music.

Quincy Jones’ extraordinary career spanned jazz, film scoring, popular music, and orchestral arranging — and included study with Nadia Boulanger, connecting him to the partimenti tradition. This post reflects on his legacy, musical versatility, and why his training still resonates today.