Which sentence best introduces a precise claim for this topic?


The music we know today as jazz started over 100 years ago in New Orleans, Louisiana. While jazz has changed a lot since then, the main idea is the same. The musician must know how to improvise. It takes a lot of practice to be able to do this.

When jazz first started it was a blend of blues, ragtime, and marching band music. Musicians, many of whom did not read music very well, played familiar songs for people to enjoy. People listened to music as a daily part of their lives. Songs were played at town events, family picnics and even at funerals. As these songs were played, the musicians would improvise by adding extra notes or changing the rhythm. These impromptu changes allowed the music to evolve as more musicians performed it.