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

[Slim Heilpern <slim@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I think we all learn differently. Transcribing solos is certainly a valuable exercise as it makes you use your ears and forces you to analyze what was played. I'm sure transcribing and trying to play what you've transcribed is extremely educational, but I think it's just one tool of many. 

I don't do it, but only because I'm very slow at it and my practice time is extremely limited. For me, over the years I've decided to focus primarily on 1: listening (when possible in a live context) to my favorite musicians -- learning what I love the most about their playing, their phrasing, the note placements that I most connect with. And 2: playing and listening to myself -- what makes me unique, where do I fall short compared to those that I love to listen to, where do I excel? And finally 3: spend extra time on the areas where I suck the most, trying to turn that around. If '3' happens to require that I transcribe some solos, I'll do it. But most of the time it involves learning my way around my instrument better and being able to play whatever I can imagine. I can't seem to force myself to learn jazz concepts quickly, they just come gradually no matter which approach I take. Gradual is OK for me, I'm not trying to race to perfection. And in the meantime, I just want to make the most beautiful music I'm capable of.

- Slim.

www.SlideManSlim.com

On Jun 16, 2014, at 7:18 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.
> 
> 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