Jazz Improvisation in a nutshell

[AaronWeinstein]

While this isn't mandolin-specific, most jazz isn't. But maybe someone will find this "jazz improv in a nutshell" explanation helpful...or maybe not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcrV3...e=results_main

[CES]

While this isn't mandolin-specific, most jazz isn't. But maybe someone will find this "jazz improv in a nutshell" explanation helpful...or maybe not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcrV3...e=results_main

Aaron, thanks for posting! Interesting concept, and it makes sense. Of course, there are those who are very articulate and capable of conveying what they mean quite well, and then others who have to work quite hard to communicate. I'm in the process of building my musical vocabulary, so to speak, with music theory, and still find it hard to get what's in my head to come out correctly. My teacher has the vocabulary (theory) down to the point that he can spontaneously play pretty much whatever he wants to or is able to think...I want to get to that point!

As for those who just "get it," even without understanding the theory, well, they're just jerks...JUST KIDDING!

[250sc]

Improv - re-aranging something you already know.

[Gerry Hastie]

Aaron, as soon as I saw title of this thread, your post and the responses I was formulating a reply based on a language analogy before I even watched the video. Thanks for having the guts to add to the demystification of improvisation. What I would add to your language analogy is that we use words and phrases in new ways at almost every turn in conversation or thought everyday. That would seem to be the essence of improv. using the language you know in new/interesting/unique ways that fit in repsonse to the moment/mood/whatever is going on around you.

[catmandu2]

"...just as well as you can on the violin, or oboe or, bag...pipe....if you...were (NUTS)"

Love it Aaron! The only part of the presentation where you seem a bit unsure

I'll tell you one thing, playing "jazz" on an oboe is damn difficult...wouldn't want to try it on the pipes, myself

"pulling things out of thin air" makes me think of an "Old Testament" take on improvisation...you know, like a jazz dybbuk...or something

Thanks Aaron--an awesome job

[catmandu2]

Aaron, btw, I'm sincere--well done

[AaronWeinstein]

Apropos of not much except maybe a moment of potentially mild amusement, here's a video of the question and answer session from the same evening as my "improv in a nutshell" explanation.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BVKjdV9Skw

[pickngrin]

While this isn't mandolin-specific, most jazz isn't. But maybe someone will find this "jazz improv in a nutshell" explanation helpful...or maybe not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcrV3...e=results_main

Great presentation - would love to see it as a full-blown TED talk, replete with playing examples of how you as an artist build your vocabulary and put it use. For the average non-musician (and many musicians) it seems like dark magic. Completely agree with the language analogy.