Archive for the ‘Jazz Improvisation’ Category

I had a lesson the other day with a student and I realized that he was really having a hard time coming up with melodic ideas and phrases.  I asked him “Do you ever sing?”  ”No!”  ”How about humming?”   “No!”  ”How about in the shower?”   “No!” This really got me thinking about things and are started asking my other students about this.  The thing that I’m noticing is that the students that hum and sing a lot are the ones that have an easier time improvising and creating melodic ideas.  Why is that?  Well I think the answer is that they are spending hours everyday practicing creating melodic ideas and improvising.  Hours that the other students are using.

To be honest,  when I practice something on my sax for an hour or two,  you will usually find me humming or singing what I was practicing for the rest of the day.  I noticed this last week when i was practicing a tune that I didn’t know.  It was “I remember you” I  played it for about an hour and was really trying to memorize the melody and the changes. Later that day as I was taking a shower I was humming the tune and  scatting a little improvised solo over the changes. Later in the car I was doing the same thing!  It suddenly struck me that I do this all the time without even thinking about it.  It’s a way to practice what you love all the time.  The more you sing and hum a melody the more you will internalize it and be able to reproduce it.  The more you practice coming up with melodies and scatting solos the better you will become at playing them on your sax.

I have had many students over the years that refuse to sing or even try. I think they are doing themselves a great disservice.   I freely admit and tell people that I am one of the worst singers I know.  I can sort of carry a tune and match pitches but it isn’t pleasant to listen to.  Sometimes I’m a little flat, sometimes I’m a little sharp………the point is that I don’t think that’s important.  The important thing is to practice these melodies that we are learning and to practice creating melodies by ear.  Sometimes I will sit at the piano and just play the changes to a tune I’m working on and try to sing the melody while I play.  Sometimes I sing guide tone lines to it.  After that I will try to sing a little solo and try to hit the changes. The thing is, improvising is creating  something musical from the ideas in your mind. the fastest way to do this is by singing.  It’s right there coming out of your mouth.

I have also learned through the years that if I can sing a song then I can figure it out and play it.  If I can’t then I don’t have a chance.

If your serious about music and jazz improvisation then sing a little.  Maybe you’ll like it. Think of it as self improvement and a way to improve you playing while you are away from your horn.  It will do you a world of good (even if those around you can’t stand it.)

This is the title of a new pdf book that I have written. Basically, it is a step by step introductory approach to learning all your major 7th, minor 7th and dominant 7th chords. I take you through the basics of playing just the roots and then add the 3rds, 5ths, 7ths, 9ths………. The goal of this pdf book was to give my students a starting point where they could start to really learn their chords. Once the chords are really memorized then the student will have the freedom to improvise in a greater way. In the same way that an extensive vocabulary will help a person to communicate better.

Read the rest of this entry »

Here are a few Michael Brecker licks that I have picked up and used over the years. I give these out to my more advanced students who want to start getting into this stuff. I went through a stage in the late 80’s and early 90’s where I was consumed with Michael Brecker. I had never heard a tenor player with such authority or command of the horn. I’m sad that he is gone. he has left an incredible legacy with all his recordings. I’ll always be grateful for the impact and influence he has had on my life. These licks can be used in a variety of ways. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s a free sheet I give to all my students after they learn their major scales. It’s just a sheet with all the 12 Blues Scales on it. When I teach my students to use the blues scale I teach them to try to move when playing the #4. Many student who are new to improvising will land on the #4 and just sit on it without resolving it. This is a great note because there’s tension to it but tension sounds best when you hear it resolve. For example, if I’m using the A blues scale and play an Eb many times you will hear me resolve it to E or to D which in most cases are more pleasing notes to the ear. It’s good to practice each blues scale to it’s corresponding minor chord but also to it’s relative major chord. Ex. A blues scale- practice this over an A minor and a C Major chord. Read the rest of this entry »