Bossa Nova songs are often quite brief. You sing the clever melody over some nice chords, and repeat as required. You can add an instrumental solo in the middle if you like.
The songs invite some interpretation and variation. It is up to the artist to arrange the song in their own unique way.
I've started learning how to improvise. Over the years I've listened to a lot of jazz music, but until now I've never analysed what they are really doing.
Now I am learning some improvisation techniques. You can vary the tune, vary the rhythm or replace the words with sounds. I've never been a great fan of scatting -"Doo bee doo whah, bink ee skiddeleedoo" - what is all that for? But my teacher suggests some other sounds that would be more suitable.
I begin quite timidly, first adding a grace note here and there, then inverting the melody by going up where I would normally go down, and vice versa. Sometimes I toss in a phrase I've heard in a recording. But generally I play it pretty safe.
My teacher urges me to be brave and take some risks. I've already figured out that it's all scales - find the scale and pick out notes from it. I begin to venture further away from the melody, both up and down.
She assures me that I choose good notes, but I should do it with more conviction. So instead of individual notes, I try to form a phrase.
But I'm still inventing for the sake of invention. I feel that my efforts are not adding up to much.
Then two things happen.
First, I attend a Flamenco dance show. It's fiery, dramatic and emotional. I once read that the dancers improvise their solos, and it is believed that in certain moments they are inspired and driven by a spirit within. Perhaps that's why the musicians shout their approval, urging the dancer on.
My teacher says I sometimes produce good "moments", and I should aim to create more of them.
Watching the flamenco dancers, I suddenly get it - they produce some very exciting "moments". I should improvise in a similar spirit.
Secondly, I acquire a Jamie Cullum CD from a friend who is moving away. Cullum is a young British jazz singer and pianist; he is wonderfully creative. Listening to this CD, there are lots of great "moments". He really "feels" the music and the lyrics. I should be doing that too.
I suppose you have to learn the techniques before you can use them artistically.
Now it's time to use those techniques, to create some "magic moments".
The songs invite some interpretation and variation. It is up to the artist to arrange the song in their own unique way.
I've started learning how to improvise. Over the years I've listened to a lot of jazz music, but until now I've never analysed what they are really doing.
Now I am learning some improvisation techniques. You can vary the tune, vary the rhythm or replace the words with sounds. I've never been a great fan of scatting -"Doo bee doo whah, bink ee skiddeleedoo" - what is all that for? But my teacher suggests some other sounds that would be more suitable.
I begin quite timidly, first adding a grace note here and there, then inverting the melody by going up where I would normally go down, and vice versa. Sometimes I toss in a phrase I've heard in a recording. But generally I play it pretty safe.
My teacher urges me to be brave and take some risks. I've already figured out that it's all scales - find the scale and pick out notes from it. I begin to venture further away from the melody, both up and down.
She assures me that I choose good notes, but I should do it with more conviction. So instead of individual notes, I try to form a phrase.
But I'm still inventing for the sake of invention. I feel that my efforts are not adding up to much.
Then two things happen.
First, I attend a Flamenco dance show. It's fiery, dramatic and emotional. I once read that the dancers improvise their solos, and it is believed that in certain moments they are inspired and driven by a spirit within. Perhaps that's why the musicians shout their approval, urging the dancer on.
My teacher says I sometimes produce good "moments", and I should aim to create more of them.
Watching the flamenco dancers, I suddenly get it - they produce some very exciting "moments". I should improvise in a similar spirit.
Secondly, I acquire a Jamie Cullum CD from a friend who is moving away. Cullum is a young British jazz singer and pianist; he is wonderfully creative. Listening to this CD, there are lots of great "moments". He really "feels" the music and the lyrics. I should be doing that too.
I suppose you have to learn the techniques before you can use them artistically.
Now it's time to use those techniques, to create some "magic moments".
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