A practical and imaginative guide to improvisation for instrumentalists and pianists of any age, from beginners to approximately grade 4 level. The Improvisation book takes students on a journey around the world, exploring music from other cultures as well as developing improvising skills and building confidence. The book is designed to be be used alongside instrumental/piano lessons, in preparation for Trinity College London/ABRSM exams or in the Key Stage 2/3 classroom. The enhanced CD features audio tracks to play along with and piano accompaniments to download.
Table of Contents:
Alap Of Honour; Bombay Mix;Tuk Tuk Time; Yangtse Doodle; Bamboo Dreams; Fuji Fantasy; Topkapi Twilight; Minor Minaret; Kebab Kebop; One To Mull Over; McHugh’s Troos; Five For Fife; Mini Mambo; Salsa For Sam It’s Hot In Havana; Steamboat Blues; Chicago Shuffle; Mad In Manhattan
Review :
Although aimed at beginners up to Grade 4 standard, could equally be used as a starting point for the many advanced players who have never learned to improvise. The accompanying play-along demonstration CDs include tracks transposed for B flat and E flat instruments, so that these books can also be used by other instrumentalists. Even better, the books include examples of 'how to' and 'how not to' play. The text is light and the titles jokey but never childish. Enterprisingly, the Getting Started with Improvisation volume starts without any music at all, instead inviting continuations of a narrative story or a simple pencil-line on the page. Even more imaginative is the approach from a non-Western standpoint, whereby the first exercises copy Indian and Far Eastern styles - not nearly as difficult as they sound. Harmony and modulation are painlessly introduced en route, and players who work carefully through, rather than skimping over, each book will feel infinitely more confident as a result.
International Piano Magazine, July 2008
These two books have been published to help people preparing for Trinity Guildhall exams but they will be useful for anyone who is interested in jazz or improvisation. Each book is clearly set out and comes with an enhanced CD which includes backing tracks and piano parts in PDF format so you can print them out. Really nice publications.
Flutewise, Summer 2008
...The improvisation book covers world music styles and focuses (not surprisingly) on improvising...... Designed to sit with the ABRSM Trinity Guildhall jazz exam curriculum.
MI pro Magazine, May 2008
The idea is a simple and fun one as well. Beginners to approximately grade 4 level are taken on a journey around the world. The accompanying CD feature exotic tracks from India, Turkey, the Far East, Cuba, the USA and Scotland. Information on each page serves as part travel guide, part musicologist, and part music teacher. Each improvisation is based on an appropriate scale or mode (the Aeolian, harmonic minor, pentatonic, the Mixolydian etc.)……these “springboards” could serve as a good beginning for students to experiment, perhaps inspiring young composers as much as young instrumentalists.
Stringendo, Vol 30
