| Also, one of the best ways to learn, once you get the theory in your head, is to transcribe what has come before. Jazz, like most music, is a language, so it's best learned by imitation, just as when you learned to speak as a little child. If you are studying theory, that's great, but at the end of the day, it's just grammar, which doesn't tell you much about how to express feelings of love, sadness, joy, boredom, etc.
If you can, find a teacher. Getting the instant feedback and guidance with theory are really helpful along with a good lesson plan, but it's also great to be able to play with someone who can offer perspective and a challenging musical conversation just at the right level as you learn your jazz grammar and phrases. | 
