Just the beginning....

For my daily practice, I have opted to transcribe 4 to 8 bars of a jazz solo each day, eventually amounting to a full solo. By the end of the school year, I should have a plenitude of solos under my fingertips. For those of you who don't know, transcribing entails listening to a song, learning how to play it by ear, and then writing it down. In jazz, this generally means listening to a player's solo in a jazz song, and then learning it. This technique is essential in improving improvising and becoming a professional jazz musicians. What better way to learn how to solo better than by listening to the pros who really got it right? A musician not practicing transcription would be as foolish as a writer never reading a book! Stay tuned for further posts as I update on this difficult but rewarding endeavor!