Jazz Improvisation Exercises - Visualization

 

Jazz Jazz impr improv ovis isat atio ion n exer exerci cise ses s - visu visual aliz izat atio ion n | ja jazz zzad advi vice ce.c .com om

ht http tp:/ ://j /jaz azza zadv dvic ice. e.co com/ m/vi visu sual aliz izat atio ionn-fo forr-ja jazz zz-i -imp mpro rovi visa sati tion on//

Jazz Advice Inspiration for improvisers Subscribe via: Email Email or  or RSS Home  About Contact Donate Get Advice  April 14th, 2010

Visualization for Jazz Improvisation By Forrest

Email this article to a friend

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS

X

feed for updates on this topic. Powered by WP Greet Box WordPress Plugin

Countless hours in the practice room and rhythm changes or a simple bridge to a tune still giving you a tough time? This is a familiar situation to everyone of all levels. I used to waste hours mindlessly practicing, thinking that there was some secret I was missing, or if I just kept improvising over the changes, I would eventually just get it. Or maybe it wasn’t the changes at all, but maybe it was something faulty with my equipment. Oh yes, that had to be it. If I could just get my hands on the right mouthpiece or that latest ligature then…that had to be it!!! This attitude is completely delusional, yet many of us continue to think this way for years! Playing over a tune constantly, hoping that eventually you’ll play well over it is a mindless pursuit, as is blaming your equipment for your shortcomings as an improviser improviser.. In actuality, actuality, the problem is not external. We hold in our mind what we will play before we even pick up our horn, therefore, to change what we are going to play, we have to change what’s stored in our mind. Sure, when you practice your instrument, your mind is altering its stored information, but what if you could simply go directly to your mind and start fixing the bugs? That is where visualization comes into the t he picture.

Defining Visualization The dictionary defines visualization as the formation of mental images. For the purposes of  this article, think of it as creating a mental image of chord tones and progressions in the mind’s eye, accompanied by a tactile and aural sense. Don’t worry if you don’t completely understand yet. It will become extremely clear as we progress.

Mental Roadblocks 1 of 9

04/12/13, 16:08

 

Jazz Jazz impr improv ovis isat atio ion n exer exerci cise ses s - visu visual aliz izat atio ion n | ja jazz zzad advi vice ce.c .com om

ht http tp:/ ://j /jaz azza zadv dvic ice. e.co com/ m/vi visu sual aliz izat atio ionn-fo forr-ja jazz zz-i -imp mpro rovi visa sati tion on//

Ok. So you’re soloing over a familiar tune and everything is going great. You’re feeling good and then all of sudden, you hesitate for a moment. Y You ou think to yourself, ““What What chord am I on?” By the time you figure it out, the chord is long gone. When your mind stumbles on a roadblock like that, your flow is broken and all sense of creativity is lost. These roadblocks that exist in our minds are made up of lapses in time. They could be the time that it takes to know the chord you’re on, the right notes to play play,, where you are in a tune etc. They could be seconds long or they could be milliseconds. The point is that if they are there, that is bad. Practicing visualization reduces the time it takes to recall elements of the tune, until they are ingrained in your mind. In time, these mental roadblocks will disappear disappear.. Then, when you do go to the practice room or the bandstand, you’ll be armed with the confidence to have a more productive, positive, and fun experience.

Removing Roadblocks Gradually, one by one these roadblocks can be removed, until all that is left is a super  Gradually, highway of your own creativity. How do you do this? Start with the exercises below and practice them diligently everyday. everyday. They really don’t take much of a time commitment and the rewards are huge. I’ve written out an entire series of exercises that I put on my night stand and for fifteen minutes before I go to bed, I simply run through them. Once you get proficient in visualization, you’ll beyou ablehave to doa itfew anywhere take advantage of the many segments throughout the day that minutesand to kill.

Why Visualization is so Effective When you are visualizing, your mind doesn’t know that your body is not actually engaging in the real activity. By working directly with your mind, as opposed to your body and tthen hen your  mind, you are going straight to the source. Check out what Jerry Bergonzi says in his wonderful book which I highly recommend for anyone at any level, Melodic Structures: Structures: “With the use of visualization, the mind actually teaches the body and the mind remembers what the body is more apt to forget. The mind visualizes what the body does in multi-dimensional fashion. It practices the fingerings and the notes, it hears the sound and the content, it feels the intention, the emotion, and the nuances of what is played. The body then follows suit. The body teaching the mind is actually a backward process and for this reason through the use of  visualization we are able to learn more quickly quickly.. Wherever you have a difficult time mentally is where you will encounter problems playing on your instrument. Work it out mentally and you will no longer have these problems. With practice, whatever you are able to visualize you will then be able to play” (Bergonzi, 32). Not convinced yet? Well you should be, but if that’s not enough, Bergonzi adds that “Very often ten minutes of visualization is equivalent to two hours of physical practice”

(Bergonzi 32). With a return on your time like that, why wouldn’t you want to spend as much time doing this as possible?!

Getting Started with Visualization It may take a few days to get comfortable visualizing, but after the initial phase, it will be easy.. Start out with this simple exercise: easy 2 of 9

04/12/13, 16:08

 

Jazz Jazz impr improv ovis isat atio ion n exer exerci cise ses s - visu visual aliz izat atio ion n | ja jazz zzad advi vice ce.c .com om

ht http tp:/ ://j /jaz azza zadv dvic ice. e.co com/ m/vi visu sual aliz izat atio ionn-fo forr-ja jazz zz-i -imp mpro rovi visa sati tion on//

1. Sit somewhere comfortable where you will not be disturbed. Later you will be able to do this anywhere, but right now use all the help you can get. 2. In your mind’s eye, see the chord symbol for C Major (I try to keep things as simple as possible, so even for C major seven, I would just visualize the image below)

3. Congratulations you just visualized! Easy right? Ok enough, celebration we’ve only just begun. Now see a music staff below the chord symbol

4. Once you can clearly visualize the chord symbol with the staff, add the root of the chord to the picture.

5. Now you are going to add an aural sense to the equation. Hear how you think that root sounds on that C Major chord. Often I hear piano and I try to hear a solid pitch. Don’t worry about the absolute pitch. I do not have perfect pitch, however, through these exercises, coupled with daily ear training, you will develop the necessary relative pitch to hear chord motion As you get more advanced, you will want learn how to hear the while chordvisualizing. in the background of the pitch you are focusing on astowell. 6. Next add a tactile sense. Feel exactly how it would feel to play that note on your  instrument. If you play saxophone like me, at this point you will be seeing the image of  the C Major chord symbol above a staff with the note ‘C’ on it, while you are hearing the note ring in your head, and feeling how it would be like li ke to push the key down with your left middle finger. So that is basic visualization. Here are some variations to try before moving on: See, hear, hear, and feel (all at tthe he same time) different chord tones on the C Major chord. For example, after you have done the root, try the third, and then the fifth and so on, until you have visualized all the chord tones. Try visualizing pairs of notes. A valuable pair as you would have guessed is threeseven. You You could see them as a block chord or try seeing a half-note of tthe he third and a half-note of the seventh.

Experiment with groups of three, four four,, or even ffive ive notes. The possibilities are endless. Be creative! Practice these steps until it is second nature to be able to see, hear, and feel chords and chord tones in your head simultaneously. When you feel confident, begin to apply these steps to some progressions.

Applying Visualization to Common Chord Progressions

3 of 9

04/12/13, 16:08

 

Jazz Jazz impr improv ovis isat atio ion n exer exerci cise ses s - visu visual aliz izat atio ion n | ja jazz zzad advi vice ce.c .com om

ht http tp:/ ://j /jaz azza zadv dvic ice. e.co com/ m/vi visu sual aliz izat atio ionn-fo forr-ja jazz zz-i -imp mpro rovi visa sati tion on//

Since the ii-V-I is so common, it is always a good place to start. In this exercise, we are going to visualize a ii-V-I in C major major.. Follow these steps to get a handle on visualizing through progressions: 1.  Again, sit somewhere where you won’t be bothered to avoid distractions w while hile you are first starting out. 2. First, see the chord symbols in your mind’s eye. 3. Next add the staff 

4. Now add the roots of the chords to the picture

5.  Add the sound of each note and and this time try to hear the chord in the background background as well. Keep the note on the staff the prominent sound though. 6. Feel the notes under your fingers as you progress from one chord to the next in time. (Y (Yes, es, eventually you want to keep a consistent tempo through the progression) visualize notes of the andattention seventh to of the each chord, progressing in time 7. Now from one chordhalf to the next. Paythird special transitions as the seventh of  one chord goes to the third of the next.

8. Loop step 7 until you can instantaneously ‘feel’ the chord tones, even before you arrive to them in the exercise. For instance, you are thinking of D-, yet you feel, see, and hear G7 before you even get there. Visualizing theear. thirdAfter and practicing seventh asthese in step #7 is essential to hearing a progression in your mind’s resolutions, your ear will guide you throughoperate the changes much more smoothly. Your dependency on background tracks or comping instruments will diminish and you will feel much more confident.

Visualization Drills Based on Common Chord progressions progres sions Here are some drills based on frequently encountered chord progressions. They are selected from the exercises that I run through each night and they continue to help me tremendously.

4 of 9

04/12/13, 16:08

 

Jazz Jazz impr improv ovis isat atio ion n exer exerci cise ses s - visu visual aliz izat atio ion n | ja jazz zzad advi vice ce.c .com om

ht http tp:/ ://j /jaz azza zadv dvic ice. e.co com/ m/vi visu sual aliz izat atio ionn-fo forr-ja jazz zz-i -imp mpro rovi visa sati tion on//

Endless Possibilities of Visualization This is just a starting point. After working on these exercises for a while, start to create your  own. Try experimenting with: Differentchord chordtones, tone combos  Altered b9, #9, b5, b13 etc. Other chord progressions that you encounter frequently  Any progression that gives you you a tough time Blues changes Rhythm changes Standards you are working on The possibilities of applying visualization to help you become a better improviser are literally endless. Have fun trying it out and stay tuned for plenty more about visualization in the future!

Post to Twitter  Post to Facebook

5 of 9

04/12/13, 16:08

 

Jazz Jazz impr improv ovis isat atio ion n exer exerci cise ses s - visu visual aliz izat atio ion n | ja jazz zzad advi vice ce.c .com om

ht http tp:/ ://j /jaz azza zadv dvic ice. e.co com/ m/vi visu sual aliz izat atio ionn-fo forr-ja jazz zz-i -imp mpro rovi visa sati tion on//

If you've found this website helpful, please click the Donate button. The average donation is about $14. We greatly appreciate your support! Related Posts:

Ingraining Jazz Language Through Visualization 10 Visualization Exercises To Boost Your Chord Progression… Visualizing Musical Progress Visualization One Key At A Time How Thoughtful Off Time Can Help You Become The Player You… Understanding Chord Tones Free Jazz Visualization Ebook Hey, Do You Know That Tune? 5 Solutions to Improvisation That Are Hidden In Plain Sight Resetting Your Your Mindset About Jazz Improvisation I mprovisation Fundamental Ear Training: Seventh Chords 100 New Years Resloution Ideas to Get You Amped For 2011 Ear Training For One 5 Essential Skills for the Performing Improviser  Where to Start Learning Jazz Improvisation type, hit enter

 

Search

About Us

We are Forrest and Eric. We’ve learned from a ton of great musicians (Mulgrew Miller, Rich Perry and many more). We are sharing anything that continues to inspire i nspire us as musicians and creative individuals alike. Enjoy. Enjoy.

Donate to JazzAdvice We sincerely hope our articles help you. If you've found this website helpful, please click the Donate button. The average donation is about $14. We greatly appreciate your support!

Fan & Follow Jazzadvice

6 of 9

04/12/13, 16:08

 

Jazz Jazz impr improv ovis isat atio ion n exer exerci cise ses s - visu visual aliz izat atio ion n | ja jazz zzad advi vice ce.c .com om

ht http tp:/ ://j /jaz azza zadv dvic ice. e.co com/ m/vi visu sual aliz izat atio ionn-fo forr-ja jazz zz-i -imp mpro rovi visa sati tion on//

Fan Jazzadvice on Facebook here Follow Jazzadvice on Twitter here Follow Eric on Twitter here Follow Forrest on Twitter here

Get Some Advice In need of some jazz advice? Feel free to suggest a topic. Make sure to read Questions first.  first. through our Most Frequently Asked Questions Get Advice Here

Recent Posts Overcoming Mental Limitations in Music Write Jazz Tunes Like a Pop Star  The Philosophy of Learning Jazz Improvisation: Thinking like a Composer  10 Exercises to Practice When You’ve You’ve Run Out of Ideas Jazzadvice Needs You!

Recommended Products Transcribe Software Zoom Recorder  Wittner Metronome Training the Ear vol.1 Training the Ear vol.2 (See all recommended products…)

Popular  Piano Basics: Necessary Skills for the Non-Pianist Building Your Your Repertoire Part II: 10 Key Tunes How To Practice Scales For Speed Visualization for Jazz Improvisation 6 Disastrous Mistakes You’re Making in Learning to Improvise 5 Tunes To Know & Why You Should Know Them 4 Ways to Use the Melodic Minor Scale Where to Start Learning Jazz Improvisation I mprovisation How to Hear Chord Changes Master Your Intervals in 28 Days 5 Steps to Mastering Sight-Reading How to Practice Improvisation Less and Improve More Keys to the Altered Scale Basic Bebop Reharmonization Practice Everything in All Four Directions How to Not Suck at Half-Diminished Chords Scales Are Not the Secret Short-Cut to Jazz Improvisation

7 of 9

04/12/13, 16:08

 

Jazz Jazz impr improv ovis isat atio ion n exer exerci cise ses s - visu visual aliz izat atio ion n | ja jazz zzad advi vice ce.c .com om

ht http tp:/ ://j /jaz azza zadv dvic ice. e.co com/ m/vi visu sual aliz izat atio ionn-fo forr-ja jazz zz-i -imp mpro rovi visa sati tion on//

Fundamental Ear Training Exercises Playing Longer Lines in Your Solos How to Put Chord Tones At Your Fingertips 50 Jazz Education Clips That Rock Using Triads in Your Solos 10 Visualization Exercises To Boost Your Chord Progression Recall  Articulation: 3 Tips for Horn Players Players How to Acquire Useful Language: The Building Blocks of Your Your Solo Transcribing is NOT Transcribing: How This Misnomer Has Led You Astray Improvising With Chromaticism 5 Ways to Practice Anywhere Mastering Sus Chords: Adding Options to Your Arsenal 10 Jazz Improvisation Tips to Remember 

Transcribe!

8 of 9

04/12/13, 16:08

 

Jazz Jazz impr improv ovis isat atio ion n exer exerci cise ses s - visu visual aliz izat atio ion n | ja jazz zzad advi vice ce.c .com om

ht http tp:/ ://j /jaz azza zadv dvic ice. e.co com/ m/vi visu sual aliz izat atio ionn-fo forr-ja jazz zz-i -imp mpro rovi visa sati tion on//

Topics Everyone (53)  (53)  Advice For Everyone Chords Chords (37)  (37) Composition (3) Composition (3) Concepts (56) Concepts (56)  (35) Ear  (35) Inspiration Inspiration (43)  (43) Jazz Education (22) Education (22) Jazz Language (28) Language (28) Myth (8) Myth (8) Perspective (66) Perspective (66) Players Players (11)  (11) routines (39)  (39) Practice routines Rhythm (9) Rhythm (9) Scales (12)  (12) Scales Time Time (8)  (8) Tips (107) Tips (107) Transcribing (34)  (34) Transcribing Tunes (21) Tunes (21) Uncategorized (5)  (5) Uncategorized Videos (4) Videos (4) Visualization (11) Visualization (11) © 2013 jazzadvice.com Log in

9 of 9

04/12/13, 16:08