It seems that the received wisdom is that shedding transcribed solos is an important part of improving improvisation skills and vocabulary. I have tried this many times but always feel like I am not getting anywhere and then stop. I've tried listening to the recorded solo over and over, I've tried just playing the solo over and over, I've tried picking out phrases. But I'm not making any headway.
I am primarily self-taught, but took a lesson a few months ago with a great sax player I know down in the Caymans to get my improv skills evaluated, and his advice was (of course) that I needed more ideas and to shed transcribes solos. So I really want to try to make it work.
What successful techniques/approaches have any of you used in shedding solos to expand your vocabulary?
I am primarily self-taught, but took a lesson a few months ago with a great sax player I know down in the Caymans to get my improv skills evaluated, and his advice was (of course) that I needed more ideas and to shed transcribes solos. So I really want to try to make it work.
What successful techniques/approaches have any of you used in shedding solos to expand your vocabulary?