HOW TO PRACTICE IMPROVISATION

  Given below is an example of a schedule that may help you to organize your practice time. This schedule is based on a seventy-five minute period (1 hr., 15 min.), but it could be changed proportionately to fit a shorter or longer period or modified to allow time to take up instrumental studies (long tones, dexterity exercises for the fingers, range studies, reading, etc.).

A DAILY PRACTICE SCHEDULE:
       Topic Sequence                             Minutes Spent

• 1)  A SLOW MELODY (tune)       (5m)
• 2)  SCALES AND PATTERNS     (15m)
• 3)  PATTERN APPLICATION      (10m)
• 4)  IMPROVISATION EXERCISE (5m)
• 5)  TRANSCRIBED SOLO          (15m)
• 6)  SPECIAL DISCIPLINES        (10m)
• 7)  LEARN A TUNE                    (15m)

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TOTAL                                                 75minutes


A new set of melodies, patterns, exercises, transcribed solos, disciplines, and tunes should be taken up each week. Such a turnover in materials will help insure a steady rate of progress. Items 3 through 7 should be played with recorded accompaniment. "SPECIAL DISCIPLINES" refers to studies aimed at resolving weakness in areas such as playing fast tempos, time-feeling, use of all rhythmic levels, building intensity, or cultivating a melodic sense. The learning of a tune should encompass melody, chord progression, appropriate ingredients, and familiarization with the most significant recordings of the tune.

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