[Brilhart Fan]

I currently Improvise a lot on jazz standards Since I want to apply for jazz studies at a conservatory.
But I’m not sure about what else to practice every day. I need to know what really brings me forward and can improve my improvisation skills. Do you have any recommendations?

I want to apply with tenor saxophone. Dexter Gordon is the style of playing that I’m trying to achieve. I’m already quite happy with my sound but technically I still need a lot of improvement.

 

[Reet McVouty]

Well, you really need to find a good teacher. One that plays jazz saxophone as his main instrument, with lots of years of experience. You say you improvise with jazz standards, which is great but without the proper foundation you will level off and just stagnate. My assumption is you play by ear, which is good because that's probably why you've obtained a good sound. Now you need to learn theory, and for that you need a good teacher. Good luck.

 

[timboniface]

One really good exercise for developing the musicality of your improvisations is to limit your improv when you practice. I know it sounds weird, but give yourself one or two notes only (ones that fit broadly with the harmony of the standard you're playing - so you want a song that's fairly harmonically un-adventurous... even a blues maybe) and play at least one chorus just using that one note - or two. This forces you to think rhythmically and tonally, and about phrasing, and not just harmonically. You can then build this up - perhaps giving yourself only the first 5 notes of the root key, so that you're still thinking about doing a lot with little material.
IMHO much improvisation teaching jumps too quickly to 'all these notes you can use!' rather than learning how to make each note really count and really feel. If you can build a good improv without many notes, then when you expand into the full range, you'll find you have a much stronger ability to really 'say something' with what you're playing.
If you're into Dexter, this is crucial - he really makes every note count.
This isn't the only thing to do, of course - but it's something I've found works well for people. I may be wrong. Don't shoot me down, guys
(dammit, the secret's out; no-one's gonna pay me for lessons anymore!)
Oh, and transcribe a couple of his solos and learn to play them. Contrary to some, this needn't necessarily turn you into a copy-cat player; it just helps you imbibe the tradition. One great one for transcription is his solo on 'Period' recorded w Ben Webster in Denmark. On the CD 'Tenor Titans'. It's a gem.

 

[Vandlay]

memorize standards
Sight-reading and transposing while sight-reading
Time feel on odd meters 5/4 7/8....

 

[sandster]

3rds in all keys, forward and backward, ie. 4ths too. For eg.: C to E, D to F..ascending and descending, turn round: E to C, F to D...to C-E, B-D etc.
One of my teachers way back told me this was a good exercise which can be used in improvising. Another: Triads-CEG,DGA etc. and backwards-GEC, AFD, etc.
in all keys. Lots of technique books available. + +1 for the above suggestions, both timboniface and Vandlay. Good brain work!

 

[Nefertiti]

I currently Improvise a lot on jazz standards Since I want to apply for jazz studies at a conservatory.
But I'm not sure about what else to practice every day. I need to know what really brings me forward and can improve my improvisation skills. Do you have any recommendations?

I want to apply with tenor saxophone. Dexter Gordon is the style of playing that I'm trying to achieve. I'm already quite happy with my sound but technically I still need a lot of improvement.

You're gonna get a huge list of things to do that will probably overwhelm you even more. The main thing I would suggest is recording yourself and listening back with a critical ear. It is amazing what you hear when you are not behind the sax. Compare what you hear to Dexter and make notes on what to work on or what to change. Be aware and listen for how many times you repeat licks. Young improviser's main issue is a lack of vocabulary and repeating licks too often. Be aware of what licks you do this with and come up with new ideas to play in their place.

The other thing I have always found helpful is to play along with recordings of the tunes. I play the recording in real time as I improvise with it and I find ideas just kind of find their way into my brain. Here is a lesson I did on it years ago where I demonstrate the concept https://www.neffmusic.com/blog/product/learning-from-the-greats-lesson/ Steve