[Trombone-l] Improv in daily routine

[Bob Koester]

Alex, Wayne, and others,
This has been a really good series of posts.  Thanks.  Let me throw out one thing that hasn't been mentioned (or at least not that I've seen) and that is the idea of chord/harmonic function particularly as it regards learning tunes and other music and improvisation.

Along with tone, scales, and chord spelling, chord function within a piece is extremely important.  For example, let's consider a A minor triad.  In the context of a piece, is it a I harmony, a VI harmony, a II of V harmony, or a V of II harmony?  Certainly it could be any or all of those things. Where that knowledge becomes helpful in improvisation is in being able to hear chordal/harmonic structure particularly in a unfamiliar, or somewhat familiar work.  Suppose you've only had a chance to learn a particular tune in C.  Knowing the names of the changes in C may not help you if you find you have to play the tune in Eb.  Knowing how the chords function in the harmony and hearing that way can help.  In short, while a A minor triad might be a VI chord in C, the VI chord function in the tune will be the VI chord function regardless of the key.

Best, and belated Happy New Year to all,

Bob




Bob Koester, President MSI Financial


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> From: alexiles at earthlink.net
> Date: Thu, 3 Jan 2008 11:21:21 -0800
> To: texastbone at gt.rr.com
> CC: trombone-l at samford.edu; slideadams at cablespeed.com
> Subject: Re: [Trombone-l] Improv in daily routine
>
> Great book suggestion!
>
> Also [probably for more advanced students], I would recommend Hal
> Crook's "How to Improvise".
>
> Another jazz musician/author who approach improv in a very practical,
> artistic and creative way is Mark Levine. His book, "The Jazz Piano
> Book" is a great read and has exercises which emphasize fundamentals
> and creativity simultaneously. He will show a theoretical concept,
> then show you how Herbie Hancock or Bill Evans might apply it. Eye/
> ear opening stuff for many students. As you read it, you feel like
> you're just hanging out with the guy, talking music!! [and it is
> great for non-pianists...like myself!].
>
> Whatever books you use, always return to what you hear and getting
> that out of your horn!
>
> Alex
> -----------------
> On Jan 3, 2008, at 11:03 AM, Wayne Dyess wrote:
>
>> I didn't know about Hal Crook's book, Jeff. I had the great
>> opportunity of hearing him live with Phil Woods at the New Orleans
>> IAJE a number of years ago. What an ear-opening concert that was!
>>
>> I'm putting "Ready, Aim, Improvise" on my list of things I need to
>> buy.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Wayne
>>
>>
>> On Jan 3, 2008, at 12:33 PM, Jeff at SlideAdams.com wrote:
>>
>>> What a great discussion!
>>>
>>> Just one thing to add.
>>> Hal Crook is a guru with this stuff and teaching his improv
>>> methods at
>>> Berklee--imagine, a bonist education sax, keyboard & guitarists on
>>> improv--awesome!!! Check out his book "Ready, Aim, Improvise." It
>>> has excellent plans to break down different aspects of improv so that
>>> you can focus here or there and see some actual improvement in your
>>> vocabulary and ideas. He also has great practice-time timing
>>> schedules to make the most use of limited practice time.
>>>
>>> Personally, prior to working with Hals methods I spent a ton of time
>>> with Aebersold and with BIAB.
>>>
>>> Cheers!
>>>
>>> Jeff Adams
>>> Jazz Chair, Jazz Ambassadors, DC
>>> www.SlideAdams.com
>>
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