[Dixielandjazz] Improvising 101

[Gluetje1 at aol.com]

Thanks for posting again, Mart.  I'm on the missed-it-the first-time  list 
who appreciates it now!
 
Ginny
 
 
In a message dated 3/28/2011 11:05:27 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  
macjazz at comcast.net writes:

I've  posted this before but will run it this second time as there seems to
be  lots of interest right now.

As a school band director, I had great  success teaching improvisation and
ended up with lots of kids who could do  it at one level or another.  I got
the basic premise from Clark Terry  and developed into a series of lessons 
in
connection with the Jr High  band.  The idea is to limit the number of
variables as much as  possible. Get the first level down pat.  (not just
"doing it" or even  just "good."  Get the single note thing where they are
making  comprehensive ideas that hold together.  The solo must have  an
improvised beginning, a middle, and an end etc. before you move on to  the
next level.
Here are some of them basic ideas, all played on one  note.  

What can you vary using just  one note:
Duration
Patterns
Tone
Pitch bending
Dynamic(s)
(add what you would)

I would have them kids  compete for the best (most interesting) solo they
could devise just using  one note
I would also have student B "pick up" them solo from student A and  show how
he/she would further elaborate on some specific aspect of it,  etc.
I spent a lot of time (several sessions) just using one note

I  would then lay down a blues chord progression (in any key) and let  them
improvise on "whatever single note sounded good" as I played each  chord.

Next they could play two notes with a chord (remember, we are  working these
in different keys all the time.)

Eventually, we added  fill notes between them "chordal notes" and lo and
behold they had a blues  solo.

You developed from there based on them ability of the kids you  were working
with.


Worked for me!

Mart

Martin D.  McKay, Designated  listener