{"id":64841,"date":"2026-07-12T23:06:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-12T23:06:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/saxophones.nz\/site\/?page_id=64841"},"modified":"2026-07-12T23:06:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-12T23:06:55","slug":"improvisation-getting-started","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/saxophones.nz\/site\/practice-studio\/tips-tricks\/improvisation-getting-started\/","title":{"rendered":"Improvisation: Getting Started"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The style of improvisation you choose will depend on the genre of music you are playing, such as blues, bebop, funk, Latin American music or Baroque. These suggestions are general and basic, but for this very reason, they are useful for approaching the study of improvisation in different styles. For simplicity, I have organised this set of exercises into three areas that correspond to the Motor Skills, Music Language, and Ensemble Project sections of the Suggested Practice Session.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Motor Skills<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Step 1 (2\u20133 days):<\/strong> Study the scale(s) that you will use in your improvisation within one octave. For the first two to three times only, practise without a metronome to familiarise yourself with the notes and fingerings. Then, use a metronome as suggested in the ‘Motor Skills’ section in the Suggested Practice Session.<\/a> *<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2 (3\u20134 days):<\/strong> Extend your study of the scale to two octaves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: <\/strong>Continue with the extended scale. Aim to play at least two notes per beat of the tempo of the music in which you will be improvising. For example, if the music is in 4\/4 at a tempo of 120, play the extended scale in eighth notes at that tempo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

* For blues scales, practise just the scale itself. For major scales, practise the scale, arpeggios and thirds. For minor scales, practise all three variants (natural, harmonic, and melodic), as well as arpeggios and thirds using the harmonic minor scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Music Language<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Step 1:<\/strong> Start when you reach step 2 of Motor Skills above. Using a reference recording<\/a>, improvise short segments of two to four bars, followed by an equal amount of silence. You can start with one, two or three notes. The aim of this stage is to develop a precise understanding of the underlying music of your improvisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: <\/strong>Once you are fully oriented, start observing what you are playing (you can record yourself). It is important that you start making decisions. Ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n