[Trombone-l] Improv in daily routine

[John Burton]

Perhaps I've missed it in the thread, and I'm not sure I'm even
qualified to talk about improv... But here goes.

In additon to all we've read about learning the scales, playing with
chord structure etc etc, there's a very important part that it seems
only Trombone players do.

LISTEN ... LISTEN ... LISTEN

That's right.  Your slide may be in the correct position, you may be
playing the correct partial and loud/soft enough..  But listen to the
group around you and make sure that whatever you're playing blends
musically.  Few audiences appreciate a "Diminished ninth chord", but
nearly all audiences will elbow their date (gently?) and say "DANG that
sounds good .. Who's thay guy playing the 'trumbone'?"

Naturally, your mileage may vary...

~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~= 
 
john burton
Bach 50B3 Bass Trombone
Kanawha Valley Community Band / Slide-by-Slide
South Charleston, West Virginia

-----Original Message-----
From: trombone-l-bounces at samford.edu
[mailto:trombone-l-bounces at samford.edu] On Behalf Of Daniel Pliskin
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2008 4:02 PM
To: trombone-l at server5.samford.edu
Subject: Re: [Trombone-l] Improv in daily routine


> 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.


This is exactly where I find that theory falls on its face.  I was
improvising, long before I learn theory.  I did studio work, did a few
live radio shows, did lots of demo work, even had a top-ten R&B hit.  

Yes theory is VERY important.  But it's most important because it gives
you a context for ear training.  It's ear training that tells you where
you can take a particular phrase.  If I was charting a tune I'd be aware
that it was a I, VI, II, V, for example.  But I don't actually think
about I, VI, II, V when I'm improvising, I'm just playing something that
I think will sound good with the music.  And when you start getting into
whether the chord is from this key or that key, well, you just missed
the point.  

You're not trying to play notes of a chord.  You're playing musical
phrases, phrases that have a similar flavor to the tune.  The theory
wakes your ears up to what's possible, but it's your ear that tells you
what to play.  That's why I start people on the basics.  Start by
playing the scale of the piece you're listening to.  Alter that scale
slightly, so that it wounds better.  Now try an exercise, like a Hannon
Piano exercise, in the key of the music you're listening to.  Alter that
exercise to make it sound better, when played with the music you're
listening to.  This stuff gets your ears working on what sounds good and
what doesn't.  When your ear gets better, you should be able to play the
melody and other parts of the music you're listening to.  Start simple,
like with Kind of Blue or Sugar.  Work up to West Side Story or Giant
Steps.  

Boredom will set in many times along the way, where you're simply sick
of that same old stuff you play.  The boredom will drive you to catch up
on your theory, ear training, scales and exercises.  The boredom will
drive you to try playing other things.

But most importantly, improvisation is a learned skill.  It's not just
going to hit you some day, while you're working on technique.  You need
to practice it.

Enjoy,

DanP


 



 
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