Archive for year: 2017

One question that I regularly get from people is that they wonder what to do to improve their jazz improvisation.

They tell me that they are not satisfied with their way of improvising and that it does not sound like the recordings of their favorite jazz heroes.

No worries! Below you will find 5 ways to improve your jazz improvisation in no time.

# 1: Listening to jazz music

The most important way to improve your jazz improvisation is by listening to jazz music.

Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, this is often overlooked by many people. However, they study their scales, standards from a realbook and play-alongs, but forget one thing: listen. A lack of this is often the reason that it does not work with the jazz improvisation.

Listening is essential to learning and understanding the basic concepts of the jazz language. It answers questions such as: What does swing mean? How does a blues sound? How do you articulate in jazz? What is a good sound? How do you build a jazzimprovision?

In addition, listening to jazz music makes us inspired and influenced by our favorite jazz musicians. You propably recognize the moment; after listening for a long time listening to music or after seeing a concert you suddenly get better. In fact, you play exactly the same as the musician you listened to! This miraculous absorption of sound, swing, articulation is due to the power of concentrated listening.

The beauty of all this is that you do not even need an instrument. By simply listening, you will notice that this will affect your jazz improvisation in different ways.

# 2: Transcribing

Another way to improve your jazz improvisation is by transcribing. On the basis of a recording you will find out how someone plays something in order to play it yourself or write it down.

Would you like to learn a jazz standard, steal a solo or some ‘lick’ of someone? Transcribing gives you the answer.

Of course, this process is not just about copying information. You can also combine what you learn with your own creativity. In this way you can build your own style with influences from other musicians.

Also read my article: Transcribing: What is it and why should you do it? In that I’m going to take a look at transcribing more extensively.

# 3: Practice, practice and practice again

Learning to play this music requires a lot of dedication. In order to achieve something you will have to spend a lot of time. This means that if you want to become a better player and improviser, you will have to practice, practice and practice again.

‘’You’ve got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail.’’

– Charlie Parker

When you go to your exercise room, you have the choice of studying. What are you going to practice today? How long will you practice? In addition, it’s important to know what’s relevant to you to get the most out of it.

Below are some points of interest for a successful (daily) workout.

Example of a practice schedule

• Technique: Develop a good technique on your instrument. This is very important so that you are able to play anything whatever you want. You can practice technique by doing exercises like scales, arpeggio’s (broken chords), classical works and etudes. Of course, it is a good idea to use a metronome. By technique, not only is speed meant. Having a beautiful tone (pitch), loud and soft playing (dynamics) and exercises to play in tune are at least as important!
• Jazz technique: work next to the traditional technique also on techniques and exercises from a jazz context. Think of practicing II-V-I patterns, voicings, articulation and rhythm. Pianists must often be able to play spontaneous intros and ends, be able to transpose to another key and accompany themselves with, for example, a walking bass. By using different jazz techniques in your improvisation, you can make it more interesting.
• Repertoire: building a repertoire of jazz standards. Learning a jazz standard teaches you a lot about the jazz language and the history of jazz music. In addition, it helps you prepare well for a jam session; jazz standards are often played there.
• Backing tracks: Practice your jazz improvisation by playing backing tracks. A well-known example of this are the backing tracks by Jamey Aebersold’s.
• Listening: Get inspired and listen to the music you want to learn and understand.
• Transcribe: Find out music by your ears and record or write it down.
• Record yourself: To know how to sound and whether you’re making progress, it’s a good idea to make a sound recording or video recording of yourself. This can be done during a practice session, rehearsal or performance by using your phone.

# 4: Using Backing Tracks

A backing track – also called jam track or play-along – is a recorded musical accompaniment that you can use to improvise.

These are often played by great musicians. Very useful if there are no other musicians in the area to play together.

Using backing tracks allows you to practice your jazz improvisation and improvise on the chord progressions of a piece of music. In addition, they make a good preparation for performances and jam sessions.

A well-known example is are the backing tracks by Jamey Aebersold. This method is known as the most widely used improvisation method on the market.

A disadvantage of using backing tracks is that they are not always available in the correct key and pace. In this case, a program like iReal Pro may provide a result. This allows you to easily change items like chords, pace, size, and key. This program is available for computer (Mac), phone and tablet.

Backing tracks are all over on YouTube. You can of course always decide to make one yourself …

# 5: Tell a story in your jazz improvisation

Famous jazz musicians often talk about telling a story in a solo. That you as a musician must have something to say. What do they mean by this?

Telling a musical story simply means that a solo must have a logical structure. There is a beginning, middle and conclusion. It’s not so much about what you say, but how you say it. A way of playing that resonates with the heart and soul of the listener.

A famous example of this is the Coleman Hawkins saxophone solo from his 1939 Body and Soul recording. This way of soloing was revolutionary for this time. Hawkins really tells a story that speaks to the listener.

One of my personal favorites is the fantastic piano solo by Michel Petrucciani from his 1989 Looking Up recording. In his solo you can hear a clear story that immediately speaks to the heart.

Tell a story in your jazz improvisation and you’ll see people responding positively.

Also read my article: Why Storytelling is Important for Your Jazz Improvisation

Start today to improve your jazz improvisation!

Use these tips today, and you’ll see that you’ll improve jazz improvision in a short while.

Success!

What do you think of the tips above? Do you use them already or do you have a question?

I’m curious! In the comments below you can tell everything about it.

Making jazz transcriptions is a great way to improve your playing and understanding of jazz music.

It helps to bring improvisation ideas of top musicians into your own improvisations and you are actively engaged in learning the jazz language. In addition, it’s very good for the development of your musical ear. This is because you are concentrated on listening to the musical elements such as pitch, rhythm, dynamics and timbre (sound color).

Making jazz transcripts is not always easy. What do you need to keep in mind when making a transcription? Here are 7 tips for making awesome jazz transcriptions that you can apply immediately.

#1: Use tools to slow down the music

When you are transcribing a piece of music you will find that the recording is often too fast. This will really be a problem if there are many notes played at a high tempo. Fortunately, there are some tools to slow down the music:

• Transcribe! is probably the best-known program to slow down the music. In addition, the program has many possibilities, such as changing the pitch and looping certain sections within the track. This way you do not have to manually rewind every time. Transcribe! Is available for an affordable price.
• Audacity is a free program to record and edit music. You can also use this program to slow down music and loop certain sections, but it is not specifically intended for transcriptions.
• Youtube has a handy feature to slow down the music of videos. You simply search for a video on Youtube that you want to slow down or speed up. Then click on the control bar ‘settings’ at the rightbottom of the video. Click on ‘speed’ and now you can choose between 0.5 which is half the speed or 1.0 which is the normal speed.

#2: Take your time to listen!

Making a transcription can be a real challenge. Finding the right notes of a particular solo or the right rhythm can take hours before you get it right. That’s why you really need to take your time.

Do not just listen to which notes are played, but also to how the notes are being phrased. Phrasing is the way in which a musical sentence is articulated. This allows you to get a lot of information and a better understanding of the musician that you are transcribing.

In the long run, this process will go faster because you train your musical ear. Transcribing will be easier the more you do it.

Also read my article: Transcribing: What Is It and Why Should You Do It?

#3: Listen to the bass tones and tonality

Determining the tonality can greatly help you when finding out a piece of music. By doing this in an early stage, you can understand the rest of the piece much better. You find the tonality by listening carefully to the bass tones that determine the foundation of the harmony.

Make sure you have a good sound system, so that all bass tones are easily hearable. Another possibility is to use headphones.

#4: Make use of a notation program to notate transcriptions

Of course it’s fine to notate your transcriptions on paper, but it works much faster if you use a notation program. In addition, you can immediately listen back to the work you have done. This is useful, for example, if you want to find a complicated rhythm. You can convert the recorded music to midi or audio files and print it directly. There are many different notation programs, but the most well-known are Sibelius and Finale.

Also, this immediately looks a lot more professional. You will definitely impress the audience with your own transcription.

#5: Check if it is feasible

Before you start making a transcription, it’s a good idea to see if it’s at all feasible what you want to transcribe. In some cases it’s just too much work or almost impossible to do. So be sure you can do it.

For example, a very long piece of music or an unclear recording. In this situation, you can always consider making a shorter or adapted transcription of the piece of music.

#6: Provide an ergonomic work environment

Making a transcription can sometimes be a demanding task. Often you have been focused on listening and writing for a long time. Always take care of an ergonomic work environment. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

• Position your chair so that you are in a straight position behind the computer or piano. It can help to lean backwards in a greater angle than 90 °.
• Put your shoulders in a relaxed position and try not to pull them up.
• Make sure both feet are comfortably placed on the ground. The position of your feet ensures that your body and posture are in balance.
• Use a long headphone cable when working with headphones. This way you do not have to turn your head in order to keep in a good position. As a result, you reduce neck problems and work more efficiently.
• Take a break regularly. It can really do well to walk for a moment after 50 minutes, move a bit and give your eyes and ears some rest. Drink or eat something. It is advisable to do something completely different during the break.

#7: Be critical, but not too critical

Of course, it’s good to be critical of your work, but being too critical can delay everything unnecessarily. Sometimes the recording is unclear and then you can not hear everything right. First, try working on the simpler sections and wait with the difficult sections. You can always pay attention to this later.

It’s almost impossible to transcribe something perfectly with just a sound recording. Making amazing jazz transcriptions is not always at your fingertips. But with some experience you will notice that you will get closer every time!

What do you think of this article and these tips? Do you use them already?

I would like to hear from you in the comments below!