mizmar
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 3,007
- Location
- Trondheim, Norway
Just dropping this here on the off chance it might give other learners some ideas. The problem I'm attacking is improving my ability to follow backing tracks. Tagged Beginner ... but maybe Early Intermediate?
So, I like to spend some part of each practice session learning a bit of an etude (as well as scales, patterns, learning by ear, noodling etc.). But I've struggled to work with the backing tracks... my ears being quite rubbish... but improving... Also, to date, I've not been that methodical and disciplined.
For what ever reason I decided, a month or two ago, that for my next book I'd get some easy pieces to try to nail the backing tracks without the other challenges of speed, fingerings etc. I picked up Bob Mintzer's easy jazz etudes... but just to make life a little more interesting, the version in concert C. For each piece, I listen to the demo, try to play (transposing) by ear a bit, play from the dots a bit with metronome, play with the demo, listen to the demo and backing for chord changes (mark the sections playback app so I can practice bit by bit) and then practice with the backing; first on Tenor then on Alto (or visa versa). And practising past pieces while learning a new one.
I really feel this has been good for me. With each new piece, I learn it a bit faster and - feel - I can follow the backing a better; blending relying on internal timing, backing rhythm and backing harmony to keep me in place. I should note this is not the only thing I do. For example I have a pile of blues in each key tracks from Jay/Better Sax with which I practice scales and licks. So I'm doing lots to improve my ability to follow backing tracks.
So, I like to spend some part of each practice session learning a bit of an etude (as well as scales, patterns, learning by ear, noodling etc.). But I've struggled to work with the backing tracks... my ears being quite rubbish... but improving... Also, to date, I've not been that methodical and disciplined.
For what ever reason I decided, a month or two ago, that for my next book I'd get some easy pieces to try to nail the backing tracks without the other challenges of speed, fingerings etc. I picked up Bob Mintzer's easy jazz etudes... but just to make life a little more interesting, the version in concert C. For each piece, I listen to the demo, try to play (transposing) by ear a bit, play from the dots a bit with metronome, play with the demo, listen to the demo and backing for chord changes (mark the sections playback app so I can practice bit by bit) and then practice with the backing; first on Tenor then on Alto (or visa versa). And practising past pieces while learning a new one.
I really feel this has been good for me. With each new piece, I learn it a bit faster and - feel - I can follow the backing a better; blending relying on internal timing, backing rhythm and backing harmony to keep me in place. I should note this is not the only thing I do. For example I have a pile of blues in each key tracks from Jay/Better Sax with which I practice scales and licks. So I'm doing lots to improve my ability to follow backing tracks.
Last edited:
