SUMMERTIME - A Primer for Improvisation

(Why Summertime?)

1. LISTEN to the tune! (Ella & Satchmo, Miles, Chet Baker) - most important aspect!
a. Melody Style/Rhythmic emphases - nuance (pentatonic folk melody)
b. Form (16-bar ABAC)
c. Harmony (key centers)
d. Lyric

(*PLAY IT - imitate, assimilate, alter, embellish, trial/error)

2. Conceptualize/Analyze the tune! (Some theory and 'nuts & bolts')

a. Harmonic progression - how it works and landmarks to listen for...
b. Chord spellings, inversions (extensions/color tones)
c. Scale choice - some basic relationships ('blanket scales') - Melody choices

(*PLAY and PRACTICE them!)

3. Apply #2 above to the tune itself - in real time

a. Learn what each of these choices SOUNDS like on the tune
b. VOICE-LEADING principles (tension/resolution)
c. Playing the "changes"

(*PLAY)

4. Write a Solo, or portion, or both!

a. Time to think (erase and re-compose)
b. Good voice connection (good resolutions, strong vs. weak beats)
c. Consideration of rhythmic momentum - start with a rhythm idea, maybe?

(*WRITE & THINK!)

5. Time to Improvise! (What we've been working toward!)

a. Stay SIMPLE and MELODIC (architecture of phrasing) - 1st idea critical
b. Good Rhythmic Choices (with GROOVE) - 1st idea critical
c. Voice-leading in play
d. NUANCE & SOUND! (Extremely important!!)

(*IMPROVISE) - fun!!

6. Some Further Concepts:

a. Motives, and motivic development - story telling and cohesiveness
b. What about chromatics? (Targeting and surrounding, tension/release)
c. All 8th notes - especially A Capella!
d. Vertical versus horizontal playing
 Lyrics

Summertime
And the livin' is easy
Fish are jumpin'
And the cotton is high

Your daddy's rich

And your mamma's good lookin'
So hush little baby
Don't you cry

One of these mornings

You're going to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll fly to the sky

But till that morning

There's a'nothing can harm you
With daddy and mamma standing by

One of these mornings

You're going to rise up singing
Then you'll spread your wings
And you'll fly to the sky

But till that morning

There's a'nothing can harm you
With daddy and mamma standing by