Jazz Improvisation 1 | Blueflow Micro Course
Dive into the world of jazz blues with our focused micro course designed for guitarists. This course introduces you to the essential techniques and concepts of jazz blues improvisation, helping you build your soloing skills and develop a deeper understanding of the genre. Perfect for beginners and intermediate players, you'll learn how to craft expressive solos, navigate chord changes, and incorporate classic jazz blues elements into your playing. Join us and start improvising with confidence!
Enrol Now: jazz@newparkmusic.ie
Course Information
Jazz Improvisation 1 | Bluesflow is specifically tailored for guitarists who wish to develop their blues soloing and establish a firm foundation in jazz theory and improvisation. It is tightly focused on systematically acquiring tangible improvisation skills and the knowledge underling them. Students will be guided step by step through several skill trees, each a series of practice tasks designed to develop a given area of skill: theory; chord-arpeggio-scale; comping vocab, and soloing vocab.
These skills can then be applied to each ‘harmonic block’ or chord progression of the 12-bar blues until ready to be applied to the full form. Over the course, students will record and uploaded a portfolio of skills culminating in an informal assessment and feedback session in the final week.
At every stage, students may opt to take on more advanced or basic levels of these tasks to ensure they are being appropriately challenged. Throughout, students will be guided in establishing an efficient routine of ‘deliberate practice’, engaging with theories, concepts and strategies drawn from performance pedagogy, psychology, philosophy and cognitive sciences to become self-directed learners.
Learning Outcomes
Theory
Develop fluency (in speech and thought) in jazz harmony as applied to a 12-bar blues.
Comping
Develop several core comping approaches while improving your underlying technique, rhythm, and musicality.
Soloing
Develop and apply a core set of scales, arpeggios and lines to clearly outline each important transition of a 12-bar blues in a jazz blues idiom.
Develop a better understanding of and facility with your instrument, mapping out your fretboard and developing your musical ear.
Who is this course for?
The course is designed to accommodate learners at varied levels of instrumental development. It is best suited to intermediate player with some facility with chords, scales, arpeggios, etc. As such, it is not recommended for absolute beginners. Preparatory individual lessons are available for those wishing to begin in the strongest position, while interested applicants can also avail of a list of useful materials to prepare.
What type of students have completed the course?
From intermediate rock players breaking a learning impasse; classical
players gaining a foothold in soloing; or advanced jazz students
mastering the 12-bar form and blues idiom, students of all levels
have passed and reported benefiting from the course. The key to
success in each case is deliberate and effective practice.
“If you are undecided about doing this course - do it! It is the antidote to chaotic improvisation learning and practice…Having messed around for years, I now have the knowledge and momentum to take my playing to the next level. Go for it!” - David
“I've started this course from a place where I knew the blues form and how to improvise, thinking I'd have a few easy "refresher" weeks! It turns out I was wrong, and this was almost like a 12-week masterclass on the blues form” - Sergio
Do I need music theory or know how to read music notation?
No. There is no notation in the course, and every aspect of music theory will be built step by step and applied to your instrument.
What materials will we use?
What do I need to bring?
Materials are custom designed for the course and include demonstration and tutorial videos of skills tasks: a comprehensive PDF of blues chords-arpeggio-scales: intuitive theory models: vocabulary, as well as short essays on learning and music theory and more.
Real lasting progress results from high-quality, targeted practice.
As a practical course the best asset a student can bring is the motivation,
determination and time to apply themselves to the course material, we'll do
the rest. Also, your guitar. And a lead.
Any advice from previous students?
Yes sir.
Here’s some from our student feedback forms:
“Do the work as advised. The material is super and expansive, do some one-on-one lessons to cement the material. Oh and have a heap of fun”.
“Make time to practice! Use a phone timer for 20-minute focus and go again. Record videos to check how well you know the material”.
“Try to believe in the process and it will work out!”
For further information about the course content, please contact Daniel Soro (course designer / tutor) at dsoro@newparkmusic.ie