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Lesson overview:How do improvisors communicate when performing in a band?

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  • In this lesson, we will consolidate our learning about band musicianship by examining how blues bands communicate with each other. We will learn about what makes a great blues musician and improviser, and how to improvise our own phrases within a structure.
  • In this lesson, we will consolidate our learning about band musicianship by examining how blues bands communicate with each other. We will learn about what makes a great blues musician and improviser, and how to improvise our own phrases within a structure.
Project In Class
Project In Class

Band Musicianship 2: The Blues:

  1. How can we play a 12-bar blue bass line in may keys?
  2. Where does a bass line come from?
  3. Which rhythms are heard in the blues?
  4. What is a blues 'head'?
  5. How is a blues scale constructed?
  6. Are you feeling blue?
  7. How can you keep going in a long improvisation?
  8. How do blues singers communicate emotion?
  9. Inspiration from "All Blues"
  10. How can we create a stylistic blues accompaniment?
  11. How is a blues melody structured?
  12. How are instruments used to communicate the blues tradition?
  13. How do improvisors communicate when performing in a band?