Improv Drill: Approach Patterns Part 1
Joe Zawinul is perhaps best known as a fusion-based synthesist, co-founder of the popular jazz-rock group Weather Report and explorer of World Music styles as leader of his band the Joe Zawinul Syndicate. But he played straight-ahead jazz on the acoustic piano well before venturing off into the varied directions of the past 30+ years. His considerable talents as a bebop pianist are on display in this lesson through an analysis of a transcription of his solo over the tune Teaneck from the 1961 classic Nancy Wilson & Cannonball Adderley for his use of approach patterns in crafting his lines. This lesson codifies four common approach patterns and demonstrates a series of drills to help you gain control over these patterns for use in your own soloing. The second installment in the Improv Drill series of lessons, this lesson builds on the fundamentals outlined in the first lesson, Improv Drill: Chord Tones.

BONUS: also included is a duo transcription of Jim Hall and Ron Carter improvising with approach patterns over the changes to Autumn Leaves from their 1972 Milestones/OJC recording Alone Together.

See all of the lessons in this series.

Lesson Stats
When added: 4/5/09; Duration: Part 1, 13 minutes; Part 2, 15 minutes.

Prerequisites
Moderate keyboard proficiency. Ability to read notation and play all 12 major scales. These lessons are good prerequisites: The Five Essential 7th Chords, The Four Components of Melodic Construction, Improvisation: The Concept, Improv Drill: Approach Patterns

Quizzes
Quiz 1: Four Components of Melodic Construction Quiz
Quiz 2: Approach Patterns Quiz

Practice Sessions & Playalongs
Practice Session 1: Improvise a line of chromatic from below approach patterns over the chord changes to Autumn Leaves.
Practice Session 2: Improvise a line of scale from above approach patterns over the chord changes to Autumn Leaves.
Practice Session 3: Improvise a line of chromatic from below/scale from above approach patterns over the chord changes to Autumn Leaves.
Practice Session 4: Improvise a line of scale from above/chromatic from below approach patterns over the chord changes to Autumn Leaves.
Practice Session 5: Improvise a line of double chromatic from below approach patterns over the chord changes to Autumn Leaves.
Practice Session 6: Improvise a line of double chromatic from above approach patterns over the chord changes to Autumn Leaves.
Practice Session 7: Improvise a line of double chromatic from below/above approach patterns over the chord changes to Autumn Leaves.
Practice Session 8: Improvise a line of double chromatic from above/below approach patterns over the chord changes to Autumn Leaves.

Includes play-alongs for practice sessions in MIDI, Band-in-a-Box™ and GarageBand formats.

Resources for further Listening and Reading
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