The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: William
Date: 2000-12-16 23:50
Jamie Abersdole (sp-???) has a lot of materials for practicing impro in different styles. I liked the Charlie Parker transcriptions. The best method for learning "licks" however, is to listen to all the jazz you can and learn what the masters do "by ear." In other words, listen to others, try to imitate what they do by ear, and then develope your own licks and style and, as in the sports world, "Just Do It!!!" Finding a local jam session to sit in with is also a great way to learn. Nobody ever learned to swim without getting a little wet. Good luck.
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-12-17 02:45
Abersold is a good series. However, I like the Jerry Coker book "Patterns for Jazz" (Studio/PR) and the Lenny Niehaus (Professional Drum Co, pub) series. Coker gives you the fundamentals and more and Niehaus give you examples of licks you can apply to music... all you have to do is play and absorb them, once you've done these two books then Abersold is a lot easier to do. I would start out with the Coker which depending on your playing level and practice time could take you several months to get down, then start on the Niehaus books. I still like going back to them as a "refresher" once in awhile. An aquaintance of mine also has a book out but I can't remember who publishes it. His name is Kelly Dean. I've seen it in stores but not purchased it. He would probably appreciate the plug since he just had twin girls this past year (his first and first).
Good Luck,
John
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Author: Daniel Bouwmeester
Date: 2000-12-17 17:33
I use Barker's modern concept for jazz improvisation
Basically it's a scale book... but which is pretty good because it includes pathatonic scales... and variation on those
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2000-12-17 17:38
Most of the books I've looked at really drill you on fundamentals. Learning to play scales, chords, and arpeggios, and simple patterns and progressions based on scales, chords, and arpeggios IN ALL KEYS FROM MEMORY with facility gives you the tools that make the work easier. I agree with the previous posts about just doing it too. I have a question that perhaps someone can answer: "How do you keep track of where you are at in a tune if you can't hear the melody?" I find that I get lost easily when only the chords are being played.
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Author: Bob Sparkman
Date: 2000-12-17 18:30
To Ken - I "sing" the melody in my head, particularly over "modern" chords. With "traditional" (root) chords it's easier to keep your place, but with chords that don't even state the 3rd or 5th (much less the tonic), it's harder to do, I find. Some chord players are so "far out" that playing the melody sounds terrible over them, but that's the modern way, I guess. My favorite practice device for getting inside the harmony of a tune is to play it straight in every key from, say, Db to G (concert) - seems to nicely reveal the relationship between the melody and harmony in a way that makes improvising easier. Try it on the blues - around the circle of fifths; it's fun, and good practice. I'm still working on Body And Soul! Best regards.
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Author: Allen Cole
Date: 2000-12-18 01:22
A terrific book to work with is Jazz Conception by Jim Snidero. It contains quite a few etudes written over the harmonies of standard songs, and includes a play-along CD featuring Ken Peplowski on clarinet.
It's available from Jamey Aebersold or direct from the author at http://www.jimsnidero.com
Depending on your previous experience with jazz, some of the following might be helpful:
Improvising Jazz by Jerry Coker
Patterns for Jazz by Jerry Coker
Patterns for Improvisation by Oliver Nelson
These are the items most directly associated with licks. Jamey Aebersold also has a fine video called "Anyone can Improvise" and many have started out with his play-along set "How to Play Jazz and Improvise." He has a website at http://www.jajazz.com
Hope this helps...
Allen Cole
allencole@richmond.com
http://allencole.tripod.com
http://www.jamschool.net
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