[Dixielandjazz] Improvising 101

[Larry Walton Entertainment]

Martin - Excellent  That is what I was saying KISS keep it simple.
My next e=mail --- Not posted yet -- talks about the same things - volume - 
inflections etc.

Kids pick this up a lot faster than old guys.

Again, very well thought out.
Larry

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Martin D. McKay" <macjazz at comcast.net>
To: "Larry Walton" <larrys.bands at charter.net>
Cc: "'Dixieland Jazz Mailing List'" <dixielandjazz at ml.islandnet.com>
Sent: Monday, March 28, 2011 11:00 AM
Subject: [Dixielandjazz] Improvising 101


>
> 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
>
>
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