End of Phrases
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Those that have been following know how big I am into the concept of targeting (or aiming at a goal note with purpose). In today’s tip, I wanted to talk about the concept of targeting and the importance of the end of the phrase. I believe if we focus on how we want our phrase to end before we start it-we will find that our ideas will not wander because we’re aiming at a goal ( in this case the end of the phrase) with purpose.
Students often struggle with wandering in their early stages of learning how to improvise. Their phrases/ideas start out great, but they aren’t sure how they will end it. Instead of making a musical statement, they have a run-on sentence (or paragraph for that matter) that lacks cohesiveness.
I find I have more creativity if I build my ideas backwards. If I know where and how I’m going to end my phrase, I now have different options of how I’m going to get there. Let’s take a look at a quick example. The idea below is what we will use as the end of our phrase:
The end of the phrase is targeting the 5th of the Cmaj7 chord. It has a definitive end. Now I have options of how I’m going to get to the ending phrase. Below are a few different options that you could choose from:
The above are just a few of the many options available going to the end of the phrase ( in addition, this tip opens up more creative options to the beginning of phrases too). This process is done in real-time and is something that you have to develop. However, the end result of this practice will pay off. You will find that you (and your students) will be making more cohesive musical statements and there will be less wandering. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tip and that it adds value and benefit to your playing in some way!
The end of a phrase can be defined in two ways:
1. Determine the last note before beginning of the phrase, and then the entire phrase will work as the approach to the last note;
2. Start a phrase , continue to play it, trying to gradually determine the final note, which is becoming in the inner ear more and more clear.
Right on Nachum. #1 is good for beginners and intermediate level players to aspire to as it helps to keep them from wandering. #2 keeps a flow of connected thoughts and is more like storytelling instead of fragmented statements.
Construction of improvisation requires both principles of musical thought: planning and spontaneity, just as the speaker to the audience .
I couldn’t agree more 🙂