[Dixielandjazz] My experiences with improvisation (was: Teaching Jazz improv to a new band memeber.)

[Bob Smith]

I've played trombone for many years, but had difficulty in improvising, so I 
experimented with a tenor recorder, and here I made fairly rapid progress. I 
think the problem with the trombone is that the slide positions are not 
logical in respect to the varios scale intervals. For example Low and middle 
G are at the fourth position, whereas high G is best at the one and a half 
position, and low F is at the sixth position, whereas middle and high F are 
at the first postion, (and less useful at the sixth position). On the 
recorder, the positions and intervals are logical, as they are on a piano 
keyboard.

Otherwise I agree with the observations of other listmates regarding EARS, 
practice, and overcoming the fear of making a mistake. Listening to the 
chords, and thoroughly learning the tune are also excellent ways of becoming 
proficient.

Cheers

Bob Smith