Michael Brecker on what he practiced, how he practiced and who he listened to for inspiration.
Noteables…
- Make up your own exercises.
- Avoid writing (reading) exercises in all keys. Instead, jot down the idea and manipulate it mentally. It’s important to develop the skill of moving things around in your mind, not relying on wrote repetition of things you’ve practiced reading in all keys. We’re in the midst of an in-depth 12-week course on Visual Technique for Improvisation that’s all about this skill.
- Gary Campbell’s Expansions is an ass-kicker and a good template for this technique.
- Work on something diligently. Then leave it alone for awhile. Come back to it in a few weeks or months.
