I believe the primary parallels are interactional, in the performative
and collective nature of both language and music. Yes, language is
primarily performative; only recently (and especially in
modern/industrial societies) has language been thought of as "written."
Semioticians speak of three aspects of sign usage: syntax, semantics, and
pragmatics. Parallels can best be identified at the latter level.
The problems come primarily when "music" is conceived to be a _score_ on
a page, divorced from performance context, and when "language" is
conceived to be a _text_, divorced from usage in social context. The
parallels with Vygotsky and Bakhtin should be clear.
Sudnow's book is very difficult to read and enjoy, I find. Also, it is
focused on learning jazz piano in _isolation_; leaving out the most
important, unique aspect of jazz, that it must be performed as an
interaction with other musicians.
P.S. My _Semiotica_ article elaborates on these points, with extensive
reference to prior literature on this topic.
Keith Sawyer
UC Santa Cruz