Improvisation Scope
Teaching Improvisation improvisation is too large a subject and not the focus of this research so I’ll only refer to my collection of documents and methods on how to teach improvisation and post the synthesis documents here.
Methods I’ll reference include:
- Sikora, F. (2017). Neue Jazz-Harmonielehre: verstehen, hören, spielen; von der Theorie zur Improvisation. Schott Music.
- Crook, H. (2001). How to Improvise. Advance Music.
- Siron, J. (2004). La partition intérieure : jazz, musiques improvisées. Outre Mesure.
- Levine, M. (1995). The Jazz Theory Book. Sher Music.
- Goldsby, J. (2002). The Jazz Bass Book: Technique and Tradition. Backbeat Books.
- Goldsby, J. (2009). Bowing Techniques for the Improvising Bassist. Jamey Aebersold Jazz.
- (Goldsby, J. Bass Player Magazine articles)
- van de Geyn, H. (2007). Comprehensive Bass Method For Jazz Players (Book 1 & 2).
- Brown, R., & others. (1999). Ray Brown’s Bass Method. Hal Leonard Corporation.
- Sabin, R. (2020). Progressive Jazz Double Bass Repertoire.
- Balse, H. (2005). L’evolution du role de la contrebasse dans le jazz jusqu’en 1960. De Jimmy Blanton à Scott Lafaro. Université Paris 4 - La Sorbonne.
- Sher, C. (1979). The improviser’s bass method: For electric and acoustic bass. Sher Music.
- Sher, C., & Johnson, M. (1993). Concepts For Bass Soloing. Sher Music Company.
- Galper, H. (2005). Forward Motion. Sher Music.
- Ligon, B. (1996). Connecting chords with linear harmony. Hal Leonard Corporation.
- Levine, M. (1989). The Jazz Piano Book. Sher Music.
- Pratt, G., Henson, M., & Cargill, S. (1998). Aural awareness: Principles and practice. Oxford University. (relevant topics for improvisation)
Overview
The following is a plan on teaching improvisation that I designed for a final assignment in Martine Bertemes' pedagogy course at the Luxembourg Conservatory:
Parameters Mindmap
Jazz methods summarized in this mindmap I use as a study guide for students:
Compositional and improvisational Techniques in Jazz
Saxophonist Dick de Graaf gives an overview1 of advanced compositional and improvisational techniques in the domain of contemporary jazz in “Beyond Borders. Broadening the Artistic Palette of (Composing) Improvisers in Jazz."
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de Graaf, D. (2017). Beyond Borders. Broadening the Artistic Palette of (Composing) Improvisers in Jazz. https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/354613/377339/0/0. (Thanks to Matthias Akeo Nowak for pointing out this reference). ↩︎