Postclassical Violin - Book 1

Book excerpt: An instruction manual for the modern violinist in how to improvise solo and accompianament lines over jazz and folk music. Postclassical is a term used to descripe music genres and musicality which players investigate after a prolonged period or immersed career of playing exclusively classical music. It is a great way to utilise your existing knowledge and technique in other genres. The objective of this book is to guide string players through a structured and sequenced path to becoming a more fluent improvisor and a more effective ensemble member. You will achieve this by also expanding your role as an accompaniment instrument in an ensemble setting. This book is aimed at players who are already reasonably fluent with their instrument and musical vernacular and who can read sheet music, chord charts and lead sheets. There are eighty tunes from the swing Manouche style used in this system; the idea being that you increase your repertoire whilst developing your knowledge of playing through this genre. It is essential to learn and memorise the chord progression and form of each tune BEFORE you memorise the melody. If you only learn the melody, then you only know half of the tune. Be like a conductor, be aware of what everyone in the band is doing, what all the other roles are in a tune. Immerse yourself in a genre and remember; you are what you listen to. The skills presented are not specific to jazz. These concepts are easily transferrable to bluegrass, old timey, swing, folk, trad and other genres with elements of spontaneous creativity and mixed instrumentation. I chose Manouche jazz as the medium for these techniques as I have the most experience in this genre and there is an abundance of repertoire and recordings. As a style it features the violin quite prominently, it is great fun to learn about and play and I really enjoy it.