Write a Solo over Autumn Leaves
Writing out solos is an important part of learning to improvise. You can take time to think about and manipulate the notes without being limited by your ability to play them in real time. Watch as a solo over the changes to Autumn Leaves is sketched out from a line of guide tones on strong beats and then filled in with arpeggios, scale passages and approach patterns.

Lesson Objectives
To demonstrate how a solo is conceived and realized using the four components of melodic construction.

Lesson Stats
When added: 7/29/07; Duration: 18 minutes; Tunes used in lesson: Autumn Leaves;

Prerequisites
Moderate keyboard proficiency. Ability to read notation. These are good prerequisites: Four Components of Melodic Construction, Improvisation: The Concept.

Quizzes
Quiz 1: Sketch out a line using chord tones on strong beats
Quiz 2: Fill in your line with arpeggios, scale passages and approach patterns.

Practice Sessions & Playalongs
Practice Session 1: Write out a solo for the first two A sections of Autumn Leaves.
Practice Session 2: Write out a solo for the bridge and last A section of Autumn Leaves.
Practice Session 3: Play the solo that you wrote out.

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

Resources for further Listening and Reading
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