How to Practice - The Path to Mastery

Imitate, Assimilate, Innovate - Clark Terry

One theory of learning states that you only learn to the extent that you imitate good role models. You learned how to speak your native language at a profound level by the time you were two years old. You weren’t formally tutored, you just heard and imitated. The best way to learn the jazz language is to hear and internalize great music, live and/or recorded, and then learn how to play on your instrument what you heard/internalized. The more you can incorporate this approach, the greater freedom you will have to express yourself. Many of  the greatest jazz players did not formally study theory.

Clark Terry 3 Steps to Learning Improvisation - Imitation/Assimilation/Innovation by JazzAdvice.com