[J-Moen]

Having some fun playing Jazz Standards lately. Trying to improve my ability to read changes. Any advice or comments are welcome!

 

[swperry1]

Man, I wish I had it in me to record and post sometimes. All this work you’re putting in is great!

 

[J-Moen]

Man, I wish I had it in me to record and post sometimes. All this work you';re putting in is great!

Thanks! Your help has been very helpful and much appreciated. I'm hoping to keep improving!

 

[swperry1]

Thanks! Your help has been very helpful and much appreciated. I'm hoping to keep improving!

Anytime! One of the most important things I've figured out is that if something is frustrating you or you're having a hard time understanding and executing a concept/ idea, then it's fine to just drop it for a while and find something else to work on. I do it all the time. As adult learners with no university or work-imposed curriculum, technique, or repertoire mandate we have that luxury. I almost always find that when I circle back to something I've dropped, whether it was a couple weeks or a year ago, I can pick up right where I left off and move it to the next level rather quickly.

 

[lostcircuits]

Nice, Jared!

 

[J-Moen]

Anytime! One of the most important things I';ve figured out is that if something is frustrating you or you';re having a hard time understanding and executing a concept/ idea, then it';s fine to just drop it for a while and find something else to work on. I do it all the time. As adult learners with no university or work-imposed curriculum, technique, or repertoire mandate we have that luxury. I almost always find that when I circle back to something I';ve dropped, whether it was a couple weeks or a year ago, I can pick up right where I left off and move it to the next level rather quickly.

That is so true! I've often had frustrations and have left them, and came back later to find them much easier to advance. I will have to keep that in mind the next time I try breaking down another Charlie Parker solo!

 

[J-Moen]

Nice, Jared!

Thanks! Gotta get ready for when Jam sessions are back and I can find a band out here in COS 🙂

 

[CaneMutiny]

Establishing a melodic theme and variations, while just listening to the changes, so your horn doesn't get in the way of you creating music, is something I was taught when studying bass guitar.
Once you have something pretty in your mind you just have to find it on your horn.
When a professor of guitar/music at a major university said... white men can't play jazz... I asked what was their problem. He stated that they just play lotsa notes. My reply was... guess that's what you'll be teaching this year.
His uncle lead the Tonight Show Band in NYC long ago.
I don't have super chops but try to tell a musical story from the first note.
On piccolo it's often a Horror story.

 

[J-Moen]

As is always the case, more listening and transcribing is going to certainly help me build melodic themes in my solos! I'm slowly improving, but I definitely need work. Thanks for the advice, and some more great listening material!