Practice Corner
Embedded Files
How to think about the work it takes to become great (or a failure)...
I am your constant companion,
I am your greatest helper or heaviest burden,
I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command,
Half the things you do you might as well turn them over to me
And I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.
I am easily managed, you must merely be firm with me
Show me exactly how you want something done,
And after a few lessons,
I will do it automatically.
I am the servant of all great people
And alas of all failures.
Those who are great I have made great.
Those who are failures I have made failures.
I am not a machine,
Though I work with all the precision of a machine
Plus the intelligence of humankind.
You may run me for profit or run me for ruin
It makes no difference.
Take me, train me, be firm with me
And I will place the world at your feet,
Be easy with me
And I will destroy you.
Who am I?
I am habit.
Steps to learning how to IMPROVISE!
Memorize your first blues scale in the key of concert Bb! See the scales below!
Get comfortable making jazz sentences with your first blues scale. Use the Jazz Rhythms Chart below for ideas!
Practice playing these jazz sentences over a 12 bar concert Bb blues progression.
Repeat this process with a concert Eb blues scale.
Repeat this process with a concert F blues scale.
Tips for making jazz sentences!
Listen to the jazz sentences played by professional jazz musicians on the Listening Corner page!
Try mixing notes from The Blues Scale with The Jazz Rhythms Chart!
THINK REPETITION! Audiences like to hear jazz sentences repeated.
TRY TO IMITATE THE JAZZ GREATS! Try to make their sound your sound!
*The above picture of The 12 Blues Scales and the below pictured Jazz Rhythms are taken from the Jamey Abersold Red Book. It was a 56 page booklet produced for the benefit of jazz musicians. Jamey Abersold's play-a-long books have helped countless jazz musicians learn the language. I can't more highly recommend checking out these resources for yourself. They are invaluable.
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