Re: [Harp-L] Muscle memory versus conceptual awareness

[Joseph Leone <3n037@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Jun 16, 2014, at 10:18 AM, Michael Rubin wrote:

> Dear Harp-l,
> I have spent the last year learning jazz saxophone solos note for note on
> the chromatic.  I have always felt that I was faking it when I played a
> jazz gig.  Recently I spent a couple of years studying theory and even took
> about 10 lessons from Wim Dijkgraaf who I recommend and perhaps will study
> further with later.  I would have continued but our schedules were not
> matching.
> 
> In any case,  although I could play notes that made sense with the tune, I
> still felt like I didn't sound like jazz.  At SPAH last year I went to Jens
> Bunge's (Spelling?  I feel I am way off) class on jazz improvisation and he
> talked a lot about transcribing solos note for note.  This was not the
> first time I heard this information but for some reason I got inspired.
> 
> What is strange to me is I have transcribed hundreds of blues solos and
> other music as well.  I spend LOTS of time transcribing with my students.
> Why didn't I connect the dots with jazz?  Perhaps I felt daunted.
> 
> In any case,  I seem to spend around two weeks per song.  I learn the
> entirety of what the sax player does on a song, so some songs are very
> complex and I spend longer.   What I notice is I tend to be able to play
> the song at 60% speed and then find it very hard to get faster and I also
> lose my attention span.

Michael, my main man, the ONLY reason why it is taking you time to recreate these solos is because they are not you're solos. The person who first did them, did them extemporaneously. It surprises me that Wim or Jens  (2 of the very best) would even think of doing someone else's solos? Frankly, I'm surprised. Because one mouth can never keep up with 10 fingers. OR in the case of trumpet, 3 fingers..BUT because of the criss crossed air passages, roughly equivalent to 9 fingers. Take the recent tune posted: "Song for my Father". This tune is sometimes wrung out for upwards of 18 minutes. The solos from the trumpet, sax, and piano would take many many pages of written manuscript. This isn't done. I have heard the tune countless times and it only has a basic structure.  All the rest is played ON the moment.  lolol. I have never heard it done the same way twice. 

smo-joe
> 
> So it would seem to me if I dedicated myself to memorizing every tune at
> speed,  I would have much more muscle memory, but each song would take much
> longer and I would get bored.
> 
> Whereas my current method gives me SOME muscle memory and feeds me new
> information with every song improving my conceptual awareness of how people
> play jazz.
> 
> I sense my way is better for the way I learn but I am wondering if anyone
> has opinions and reasons why I should work harder on memorization and
> playing up to speed.
> Thanks,
> Michael Rubin
> michaelrubinharmonica.com