Re: When you first started learning jazz...

On 24 Feb 2006 09:59:57 -0800, "kagejs" <w.sager1@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote
in message <1140803997.516775.245430@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> :

Kevin, when you say you played along with records, what did you do?
Learn the solos? Comp changes? Melody? All of it?

I think jazz has to be learned like a language, the best way to learn
any language is immersion. Almost everyone will tell you to listen,
listen, listen. Playing along with records combines listening with
emulating and practicing. So generally I'm not talking about
learning solos or heads as much as just improvising along with the
great players on the record. We've discussed this here before, but
what I'm talking about doing is to try to absorb the nuance of the
language; the phrasing, the contours, the rhythmic devices, the
spacing, etc.. Some of the time it's simply listening and and
tryiing to copy loosely on the fly, but maybe here and there a
particular lick or device will catch your ear and you try to work it
out. The main point is that you are immersed in the real thing and
practicing improvising (ie making music).

Whatever time you spend on other things, learning tunes, working out
fingerings to heads, practicing scales (shudder), try to supplement
that by playing along with at least one record a day and I'm pretty
sure you'll feel a difference pretty quickly.
_________________________________________
Kevin Van Sant
jazz guitar

http://www.kevinvansant.com
to buy my CDs, hear sound clips, see videos, and get more info.

Visit my new Instant Download Mp3 Store at:
http://www.onestopjazz.com/mp3-store.html

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http://www.soundclick.com/bands/kevinvansant_music.htm

.

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