Improvisation Tools

JV's Blues Worksheet #1

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FILES FOR BLUES WORKSHEET #1

This sheet gives you the blues scale (2 separate octaves) as well as 1 variation of the 12-bar blues progression.  In addition, there are 8 sample rhythms that can be used for beginners to improvise with using the notes of the blues scale.

**Additional Lesson Material**  CLICK HERE to see my blog with instructions designed for band directors on how much they can do with Blues Worksheet #1.  You can use this blog as your own instruction manual to create your own practice routine at home.

 

JV's Blues Worksheet #2

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FILES FOR BLUES WORKSHEET #2

Take your improvisation to the next level!  This sheet adds the concert Bb Mixolydian, Eb Mixolydian, F Mixolydian and C Dorian scales into the mix and gives you 8 scale technique practice patterns to work on using the same chord sequence as Worksheet #1.

 

JV's Blues Worksheet #3

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FILES FOR BLUES IMPROVISATION WORKSHEET #3 - READING CHORDS

Blues worksheet #3 dives a little deeper into how to read chords and connect them to the most accurate sounding scales that match up with them.  Additionally, there are 8 more scale practice patterns available, each of which begin on something other than the root.

 

JV's Blues Licks - Volume 1

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE FILES FOR BLUES LICKS VOLUME 1

Often, students are afraid to improvise because they just don't know the language.   Improvising a full jazz solo is very similar to writing an essay.   The notes are just like letters.  Learning a scale is important, but only teaches you the alphabet.  How to use the alphabet is a whole different story.  This sheet give you 16 different blues "sentences" that you can memorize and pull out of your bag of tricks when it's their turn to improvise and begin to create their jazz essay.  (the good news is that in jazz, it's ok to steal people's licks and use them.  In fact, it can be seen as a form of flattery!)  As you gain experience, you will add more and more licks to your repertoire and be able to mix and match them more fluently.  You can practice this along with the Jamey Aebersold Bb Blues Track from volume 1 or find any other playalong track for the Bb blues on Youtube.

 

 

*More improv tools coming soon*