JAZZ IMPROV 1

COURSE Description: No Audition Necessary for Jazz Improv 1. Students in this course will study improvisation basics. Topics covered will include blues form, major, minor and dominant 7 chords, blues, mixolydian, dorian and major scales, rhythm reading, jazz articulation, motivic development and composition. All students will compose music which will be the basis of our student composition concert in term II. All students will have a chance to work with a professional jazz musician in preparation for our annual jazz night concert. Mixed ablility levels for students with up to 6 years of playing experience. Private lessons highly encouraged.

John Coltrane, "Blue Train"

Transcribe Curtis Fuller's trombone solo from this YouTube link. Use the slow down feature when you run into trouble. Work on going beyond just notes and rhythms in your solo and imitating the phrasing, articulation, and other nuances.

Here is a playalong track. Use it for practicing:

  • blues scale phrases
  • jazz articulation
  • repetition
  • playing in time (think time train)
  • leaving space
  • finding your voice