IMPROVISING

“Dress that song up a little, will ya?” - Father pleading to his son after listening to the same old song played the same old way from a sheet of music during daily practice sections. - TRUE STORY

Improvising is when a musician fabricates an arrangement of music using techniques such as scales, arpeggios or various other riffs. For example, playing a spontaneous solo, or weaving a counter-melody that adds color or helps frame the main melody.

There are instructors, books and web pages that can provide intelligent, step-by-step guidance to assist in developing this skill. This workshop suggests three keys that contribute to success:

• Practice Scales and Arpeggios (Major, Melodic Minor, Harmonic Minor, Pentatonic(s), Diminished, and Augmented.)
  
  




• Learn some techniques (Passing Tones, Turnaround Chords, etc.)
  
  




• Play from “memory” - toss your music aside.




 

NOTE: Don't be overwhelmed by the “jargon”. Some musicians learn it, some don't. With practice, the techniques become second nature and the jargon means little except to the purists.

RETURN TO MAIN

SONG SELECTION

USING THE ACCORDION'S CAPABILITIES

ARTISTIC TECHNIQUES

ADDITIONAL ACCOMPANIMENT

ACCORDIONS GONE WILD