[Dixielandjazz] Starting Improv

[Larry Walton Entertainment]

Allan
After that then you can have them experiment with other chord tones/  I 
think avoiding big jumps might make things go smoother.   This would work 
very well if they had band in the box as a practice aid.  I use this 
technique often as I play backgrounds against another player.

Using melody and chord tones on the beats avoids "mistakes" that scares the 
player.  Almost anything can be off the beat as long as it's going 
somewhere.  By going somewhere I mean to the next chord tone (or melody 
note)

Don't forget the classic ornamentation that they may already be familiar 
with like turns, grace notes, upper and lower neighbors, passing tones and 
chromatics.

The whole idea is to keep them fairly close to the melody and have them 
experiment and not get obsessed with mistakes.   The only difference between 
them and a real pro is that the pro can make a mistake sound like he really 
meant to do it.

Another technique is to have them play the bass tone (tonic) of the chord - 
this helps them to feel the flow of the chords.

Another "Safe" thing to do is have them play the melody and add fills on 
long notes, especially on phrase ends.  Piano players do it all the time. 
Throw in a few notes here and there and maybe a turn or grace note then vary 
the rhythm and you have a nice solo.

I find closing my eyes very helpful too.
Larry
StL
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Allan Brown" <allanbrown at dsl.pipex.com>
To: "Larry Walton Entertainment" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "Dixieland Jazz Mailing List" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2011 2:48 PM
Subject: Re: [Dixielandjazz] Starting Improv


Dear Larry,

Thank you - I shall certainly give that a shot.

All the best,

Allan

On 12 Jun 2011, at 20:07, Larry Walton Entertainment wrote:

> To Steve, Allan and others who have asked about beginning improv.  I 
> talked about the difficulty of some to tear themselves away from the 
> music.  I had a thought that might help.
>
> Get some manuscript paper and write the note of the melody that falls on 
> the beat  as a whole, quarter or half note.  Do this on each chord change 
> leaving out all the other tones, rhythm and the melody.
>
> Let them play it a couple of times as written, then have them play it 
> filling in the spaces with other notes, not necessarily the melody.  Then 
> have them keep the same notes and vary the rhythm away from the melody. 
> All the while being sure that it's melodic.  After a few times take away 
> the music.
>
> It's OK if they memorize what they have done.  Memorization is the first 
> step to improv.
> Larry
> St.L
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