Introduction - Learning the Language of Improvisation

Advanced Improvisation Course for String Players

Hi, my name is Zach Brock, and I'm here to do a course for string players that want to get into more advanced improvisation.

Getting Started

Of course, some of you may have never improvised at all, or perhaps you have only played off of sheet music. We will discuss things that can help you:

• Get off the page
• Ignite your imagination
• Have more fun on your instrument
• Become more expressive

Trusting Your Ear

So, how do you get off the page? For many of you, especially those who started playing your string instrument via the Suzuki method, which is something that I did, all you have to do is:

• Go back to the beginning
• Remember how you actually started to play your instrument, which is by ear.

For some, this is going to be a leap of faith. But trust me, if you've been doing this for several years, it's all in your brain. You just have to start accessing it and realize that you don't need the page to validate what you're doing on your instrument.

Building on Prior Knowledge

It's also important to realize that you don't have to throw away any prior knowledge in order to build on your skills in improvisation.

• It's about accessing what is already there.
• You can build new technique while doing this, but you will be using a slightly different part of the brain.

Improvisation vs. Sheet Music

I like to think of improvisation as being more analogous to learning a language that's maybe not your native language.

• When you play from the page, as a classical musician, it's like you're delivering a monologue from Shakespeare, tried and true, a piece of genius work.
• For instance, if you're a classical violinist playing Bach, it's similar.

This concept is crucial, as I know it was also an issue for me when I began to improvise. It's about being okay with whatever comes out of your instrument.

Target Audience

This course is for all string players, particularly those who play:

• The bowed string family
• The violin family

We have certain strengths and weaknesses built into the way we traditionally learn our instruments. For example:

• Strength: We are melody machines and gravitate toward melody.
• Challenge: Harmony and how to approach an instrument like this without frets.

Understanding Your Instrument

When looking at the instrument, it's not always easy to see visual points of reference.

• You need to connect notes and stack up harmonies.
• We will also discuss rhythm, including mapping out our instrument and understanding what we're doing.

Learn how to:

• Identify where all the A naturals are
• Find them in different octaves and pitches

To be honest, I've got probably 10 or 20 more years of work to do in that department as well. It's not easy.

Course Content

We will cover ways to:

• Lay out scales
• Explore arpeggios (also referred to as voicings)
• Practice double stops and certain rhythmic elements

This will include:

• Groove rhythm exercises
• Developing time feel
• Techniques related to your bow

I look forward to guiding you through this journey of exploration and growth in your improvisational skills!