[Trombone-l] Improv in daily routine

[Wayne Dyess]

I don't claim to be a "jazzer" by any means, but I do teach our  
school's jazz ensemble, and have had some measure of success.  I can  
get around on a jazz solo and not embarrass myself.  Most of the  
time...  (grin)

There are a number of things one can do in order to become a better  
improviser:


1.  Learn all your scales, and I mean ALL of them.  You must know  
your instrument inside-out.

2.   Get a good "fake" book, and start learning tunes.  Most are  
written by fine jazz artists, and many will have good "licks" for you  
to work out.  Learn as many as you can and internalize them.  That's  
right -- MEMORY work.

3.  Work with some kind of music-minus-one...  Jamie Aebersold  
recordings, or Band-in-a-Box.  With BIAB, you have the advantage of  
being able to type in ANY jazz tune chord progression, selecting the  
appropriate style, and slowing the tempo without changing the pitch.   
Very cool.

4.  Good improvisation requires good ears.  Develop your ear- 
training.  Learn some piano.  It can be rudimentary, but the better  
pianist you become -- the better improviser you are likely to be.   
You need to HEAR chords rather than always dealing with the linear.   
The 2nd part of this is, learn voicings and learn tunes.  Learn to  
"comp".

5.  Lastly, LISTEN.  A LOT!  Find out what your jazz history is for  
the trombone.  Immerse yourself in it.  Play along if you can.  But  
by all means -- LISTEN and learn.

I can't stress #5 enough.

LISTEN.

And learn.

--Wayne Dyess
IAJE-TX Past President


PS ------>  Daily routine?  Learn a J.J. solo and use that everyday.   
Just pick one.



On Jan 2, 2008, at 2:48 PM, Oscar Utterström wrote:

> Here are some questions for you improvisers out there:
>
> - 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.?
>
> Happy New Year!
>
> Oscar Utterström
> Nashville, TN




Dr. J. Wayne Dyess
Professor of Trombone
and Director of Jazz Studies
P. O. Box 10044
Lamar University-Beaumont, Texas 77710
Visit our alumni jazz band website @
http://www.ndotex.com