[Trombone-l] Improv in daily routine

[Wayne Dyess]

That's one reason that Nashville developed their number system for  
session players.  Makes it real easy to change keys for those sangers.

W


On Jan 3, 2008, at 1:54 PM, Bob Koester wrote:

> 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


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