Basic Improvisation

Learn the solo riffs and licks of the masters: Jimmy Page, BB King, Charlie Parker and others, and how to develop you own! "What notes do I play?" is the first question that comes to mind when a musician is asked to improvise. The answer is easy: notes that are within the key! Basic Improvisation is designed to get you to develop your solos, and organize your thoughts and playing with the sounds around you through a step-by-step approach that applies to all styles and any instrument. You'll begin by looking at the 12-Bar Blues form and the pentatonic scale, and gain a greater feel for phrasing your riffs and playing 'in the pocket' by studying rhythmic, melodic, and harmonic repetition. You'll transcribe, record, and submit for instructor review excerpts of solos from legendary players from many different genres (BB King, Stevie Wonder, James Brown, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Jimmy Page, Louis Armstrong and others). You will develop an understanding of the five elements of music: melody, rhythm, harmony, form, and color. You will be able to incorporate these elements into your own playing and also relate them to other improvisers regardless of your primary instrument.

By the end of the course, you will:

• learn a step-by-step approach to improvisation that applies to all styles and any instrument.
• improve your character and tone and become more confident in your soloing ability by adding cohesiveness and variety to your playing.
• learn to transcribe other instruments and learn the techniques and nuances of the masters on your own instrument.
• become a more natural and spontaneous stage musician.
• apply harmony to your improvisation by adding chord tones and chord scales
• introduce basic chromaticism to your playing

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