[Trombone-l] Improv in daily routine

[Daniel Pliskin]

> - What material(s) do you use to develop your improvisation skills (such as Crook, Bergonzi, Neumeister etc.)?
> 
> - Do you incorporate improvisation as part of your daily routine? If so, what do you work on? Standards, licks, progressions, free, etc.?


Oscar,

Practicing improvisation improves your improvisation.  Sure technique will make your improvisation sound better, but most importantly, you need to have real-time musical ideas that you want to play.  Those real-time ideas are developed by playing along with music; either with other musicians or with the stereo.  

  Start by playing scales and exercises, in the key of the music you're listening to.  

  Gradually alter those scales and exercises, so that what you're playing sounds a bit more musical than straight scales and exercises.

  Work on playing things that you think sound good with the music.  

  Work on playing melodies and harmonies.

  At various points along the way, you'll figure out what needs work.  Incorporate that either into your improvisation time, or into your reading time.

  Also get a hold of the Real Books.  Read through them for licks and learn those tunes you like.  But also learn those standards, which are being played by others in the genre you'd like to play. 

  Listen to lots of music and don't feel shy about stealing whatever licks you like.

  Have fun.  If you're not having fun, nobody who hears you will have fun either.


DanP




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