Jazz Improvisation: Stumbling Blocks & Stepping Stones Curtis Winters, featuring Improv Pathways Stumbling Block 1: I can’t talk about chord tones because of transposition confusion. Solution: Use numbers to represent chord tones. Stumbling Block 2: After working on scales & arpeggios the students still play random notes when improvising. Solution: Practice and develop muscle memory with good jazz patterns. Jazz Pattern 1 Jazz Pattern 2 Jazz Pattern 3 Stumbling Block 3: My students are uninterested or afraid of improvising. Solution: Have conversations with scale/chord tones and do Group Improv exercises. Stumbling Block 4: Since improvisation is a soloistic act it cannot be regularly experienced in a large class. Solution: Let them all solo at the same time or in small groups. Stumbling Block 5: All the chords and scales are confusing! Solution: Start with one chord/scale until MASTERED, then add another and focus on connections between them. Learn each new chord/scale in a systematic, step-by-step fashion. Finding the “IV Chord” Scale Stumbling Block 6: The theory and skills required to play over chord changes is too confusing and difficult! Solution: Develop full understanding of essential vocabulary and concepts. Practice and memorize Multi-chord Group Improv Exercises, Interchange Patterns, and Guide Tone Patterns. Stumbling Block 7: The Blues Scale. Solution: Don’t start with it, because it is not “tonal” and does not lead towards “playing the changes”. The Blues Scale Blues Scale Pattern 1 Altered Mixolydian Pattern Stumbling Block 8: Each rhythm section instrument requires uniqe skills. Solution: Teach everyone basic comping skills. Provide basic voicings for piano & guitar. Include the drummer in Call & Response exercises. Guitar Chord Voicings Ensemble Comping Exercise Comping Rhythm 3 Whatever chord tone you are playing here Play the FLATTED version here And the SHARPED version here Piano 3-Note Voicings Drum Set Timekeeping Patterns Timekeeping 1 Timekeeping 2 Timekeeping 3 Timekeeping 4 Stumbling Block 9: My concert and festival schedule does not give me enough time to work on improvisation. Solution: Start with a focus on improvisation and cover the essentials in the first 4-5 months. Stumbling Block 10: I can’t model improvisation for my students. Solution: Model prepared patterns and exercises...until you learn to improvise yourself. 7C Stumbling Block 11: Transcribing is too hard! Solution: Find simpler solos that use the same chords you are studying and transcribe them as a class. Stumbling Block 12: Our performance songs don’t have the same chords that we have been studying. Solution: Study chords that correlate with the current year’s repertoire, or choose repertoire based on the chords you want to study (book: Teaching Improv in Your Jazz Ensemble by Zach Poulter). Bonus Solution: At-A-Glance Fingering Charts Guitar At-A-Glance Charts Piano At-A-Glance Charts Alto Sax At-A-Glance Charts Trombone At-A-Glance Charts 2 Sample CD Call & Response Patterns Black numbers ( ) = I Chord (Concert B b7) Striped numbers ( ) = IV Chord (Concert E b7) White Numbers ( ) = V Chord (Concert F 7) In each pattern, numbers are used to represent the scale tones of the I, IV, and V Chords. Each level of patterns is presented in a Call-and-Response format on the CD. Level 1 - I Chord: 3 Notes 1A 1B 1E 1F 1C Track 1 1D Level 3 - I Chord: 6 Notes 3A 3B 3E 3F 3C 3D 3G Level 5 - I Chord with Altered Tones 5A 5E 5B Track 2 5C 5F 5D 5G 3 Track 3 Level 6 - IV Chord: 4 Notes 6A 6B 6C Track 4 6D 6E Level 7 - I Chord to IV Chord 7A 7B 7C 7D Level 11 - V Chord: 4 Notes 11A 11B 11C Track 5 Track 6 11D 11E Level 12 - I Chord to V Chord 12A 12B 12C 12D 4 Track 7 Practice Tracks Track 8 Track 9 I Chord - Concert Bb7 Track 10 IV Chord - Concert E b7 V Chord - Concert F7 Head Charts & Solo Sections Track 11 Track 12 I Chord Swing Solo Section I Chord Rock Solo Section Track 14 I Chord Swing Chart: It’s a Figure of Speech Track 15 Track 13 I Chord Rock Chart: One For The Road Track 16 Blues Swing Solo Section Blues Swing Chart: Backseat Driver Blues All instrumental parts may be downloaded from www.improvpathways.com for a limited time. Solos for Transcribing I Chord Swing Solos Track 17 - Alto Sax Solo Track 18 - Trombone Solo Track 19 - Guitar Solo Track 20 - Bass Solo I Chord Rock Solos Track 21 - Tenor Sax Solo Track 22 - Piano Solo Blues Swing Solos Track 23 - Tenor Sax Solo Track 24 - Trumpet Solo Track 25 - Piano Solo Improvising Pathway Samples Track 26 Improvising 2: Rhythmic Playing 1) Use scale tone 1 to echo the sentences On Your 2) Use scale tones 2-3 to echo the sentences Instrument: b 3) Use scale tones 7-1-2-3 to have a conversation Track 27 Original Pattern Different Rhythm 1st Half of the Pattern 2nd Half of the Pattern Improvising 4: Single Pattern Track 28 Improvising 6: Telling A Story Scenario 2 Scenario 1 You see someone you want to meet, but don’t know what to say. You had a miserable day, and must tell us ALL about it! Track 29 Improvising 9: Fixing Mistakes Fix These “Wrong” Notes By Moving Up or Down: 5 Scenario 3 You just scored the winning goal in the final seconds! Transcribing Pathway Sample Track 30 Transcribing 4: Trumpet Solo 1 Use your ear-to-hand coordination skills to figure out the notes for the Trumpet Solo. Transcribe the first 8 measures onto the worksheet below and check your answers. 55 Transcribing Answer Key Blank Transcribing Worksheets may be downloaded from www.improvpathways.com on the PDF Downloads page. Group Improv Pathway Samples Track 31: Group Improv 1 Track 32: Group Improv 3 Riff 1: Riff 1: Riff 2: Riff 2: Bass: Bass: Guide Tone Pattern Sample 6 Track 33: Guide Tone Pattern 2