Soloing - It Isn't What You Think It Is

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2 жыл бұрын

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Пікірлер: 401

@tyrmorris8155 2 жыл бұрын

1) I signed up to Nebula IMMEDIATELY upon viewing your video. Your motifs were SICK yet beautifully simple, and I want to be able to solo with that combination of creativity and simplicity, almost Miles Davis-like. I can't believe they were all off the cuff, but I know that they were. All tasty! 2) Is it me, or is your son getting BIG?! 3) I would have loved to have met you in person- Come back to New York! 4) I hope not to see your epitaph for a looooooooooooong time- but that is a great one! 5) You've been teaching for a while now, congrats on doing it via this new platform. You've got MY support. ****EDIT**** I just applied your motif in choosing five notes and played over the chords of 'My One and Only Love' on flugelhorn. No scales and no licks. I played the first pure improvised solo in my life and it was simple and BEAUTIFUL, and it was all mine, from my brain. THANK YOU for giving me an AHA moment with your video!

@AimeeNolte 2 жыл бұрын

I can’t thank you enough for that. I’m so glad.

@tyrmorris8155 2 жыл бұрын

@@AimeeNolte I can’t thank YOU enough! I’ve learned much from your videos, but this one REALLY resonated with me and I hope will be a seminal moment in my development as a jazz musician. I’m indebted to you.

@psi.jacquescohen1411 2 жыл бұрын

"Find a motive, see it trough till the end" - Aimee Nolte. That's so brilliant, love the two meanings that derive from this. Existencial e musical.

@sustainablelife1st 2 жыл бұрын

motif. But motive works too.

@ApartmentKing66 11 ай бұрын

see it *through* but trough works too

@psi.jacquescohen1411 11 ай бұрын

Im brazilian. Motif spells motivo in portuguese. Thanks for the correction

@Julia29853 9 ай бұрын

@@psi.jacquescohen1411dont you love the spelling police! So helpful! 🤓😉

@erymellmateo2449 Ай бұрын

@@ApartmentKing66 say it in Portuguese now... jeez, give bilinguals some slack.

@CristinaSerafy 2 жыл бұрын

How did I learn more about improvising in this video than in my entire jazz degree!? 🥳😮

@AimeeNolte 2 жыл бұрын

🙏🏼🙌🏼♥️

@halfcookedtorrilla3094 2 жыл бұрын

That’s why those degrees are worthless

@NimeuMusic 2 жыл бұрын

That's why I love George Benson so much. He's basically just scatting all the time while soloing and then you gotta breathe at some point, way more natural way to create lines.

@NeilKohlen 2 жыл бұрын

Probably the best lesspn on entire youtube

@jackharriet4814 2 жыл бұрын

This video is so true. So many improvisers need to learn to stop their fingers running around scales etc - just to fill in the gaps (as impressive as this skill is) - and instead concentrate on finding notes and phrases that mean something on a human/artistic level rather than just what our shared understanding of the geometry of music theory points to, and as Aimee stresses, bring it together into a sort of narrative that has its own internal sense - eg seeing it through to the end.

@schelsullivan 2 ай бұрын

I noticed a long time ago that jazz piano players are often humming along quietly with their solos. I was like "why are they doing that?" I started to figure it when I tried the same. My solos became more lyrical, less mechanical. Muscle memory is important but it makes solos sound like they come from the fingers only.

@lonniemoseley 2 жыл бұрын

I'm halfway through Aimee's course at Nebula on improvising. Really wonderful and so accessible. The instruction comes from HER HEART and flows effortlessly into the listener--whether the listener (me) wants it to be that easy or not. Why? Because of how clear Aimee is that I can do improve, I now can't have my favorite pity-party about not being able to improvise. Seriously, Aimee, I've been following you for the moment you came onto KZfaq and severe rheumatoid arthritis has prevented me from playing piano like I want. But using the same song of "Take The "A" Train through each teaching technique and showing simple voicings that I can manage on the piano, made it so clear that great improvisation is within my capability. I'm very grateful.

@AimeeNolte 2 жыл бұрын

I’m so glad it’s working for you Lonnie! Thank you so much for coming up over to KZfaq and leaving this comment. Big high-fives from California!

@aria3443 2 жыл бұрын

You *have* been in music classes for over 11 years

@jameslockhart2223 2 жыл бұрын

Kenny Burrell is a master of playing simple thematic solos, using lots of space and well-timed phrasing. You don't have to be a guitarist to learn from him. Check out his album Midnight Blue. Stanley Turrentine plays great bluesy solos on the record too. And you can hear the changes even though there's no piano (sorry Aimee!).

@mikegordon1504 2 жыл бұрын

Thank goodness for someone who so deeply understands the difference between just being skilled and being truly musical. Thank goodness for Aimee.

@Aio-Project 2 жыл бұрын

"with the courage to hold onto it" rings true in the classical world too. Play a note and let it settle into the ensemble. Musical truth!

@rachelsmename6 2 жыл бұрын

Aimee, this is so helpful. I used to think that I didn't like jazz and it was because the solos sounded much like your first examples of using modes and scales where you could not hum or sing back what the soloist played. The melodic solos are my favorite and once I knew that they could be played that way, I found that I love jazz after all. Thank you for verifying that they can be played this way too.

@AimeeNolte 2 жыл бұрын

I’m so glad it resonated, Rachel. Thanks for your continued support. ♥️

@robertnewell5057 2 жыл бұрын

I loved what Aimee showed in this super video, but in fairness, you can cite people like Oscar Peterson, Pat Martino, Joe Pass, Clarence White, where you would struggle to hum, etc what they did because the music is just so notey; but the soul and development are in there, even in a very linear approach. That's because those people have something to say. If they play a long scale passage in 16th notes, it MEANS something. It's not just running a scale. Listening to Aimee's examples. I'm afraid she can't keep the meaning out of her scale running examples, no matter how hard she tries, because she can't stop saying something. Regretably this is not true of a lot of people who adopt that approach.

@evanloday Жыл бұрын

@@robertnewell5057 This. This exactly. And I love your choice of words, you didn't just say it's because Aimee is "just that good" (which she is). When you are so finely attuned to what you like, how it makes you feel, and how to convey it effortlessly through something like the piano as Aimee can, it's hard to purposefully "mess up" or play in a way that is not as satisfying to you. From a pedagogical perspective, this is the tiniest of tiny criticisms, Aimee. I still got your point, it just took a bit. Still wonderfully done. Your channel helps me make sense of the influx of info I receive and channel it into improvisation that is relaxed and natural, if a bit simple for now. At first, my problem with improvisation was threefold: 1. lack of confidence. 2. teacher who dumped scary-looking charts in front of me without explaining how to approach them 3. an overwhelming dichotomy between how good of a listener and how bad of a doer I am. And after a couple years of jazzing (mostly drumset), I have quite nearly conquered the first one (will any of us truly overcome this?), I am making steady progress on the second one (with the help of people like Aimee and our fellow KZfaq commenter Robert), and I frequently stagnate on the third point. I watch awesome guides, take the best notes I can take, and listen with my full attention to every slice of good music I can get my hands on, but the one thing I lack is the initiative and discipline to apply what I learn and really get it under my fingers, Consistently! And this is an ADHD thing (in part), but the more daunting the task or expansive the possibilities (ahem, it's jazz we're talking about), the more overwhelmed I get and the less likely I am to make progress. It's my own mental roadblock to truly developing. I have the knowledge in my head brain noggin thing. At least, all I feel I need to know for now. My fingers just need reps. Patient, steady, true, intentional, exercises that can be broken into manageable chunks. I'd love more advice on this. Or more videos. Or a solo I should go transcribe and arrange into some tasty big band chart or something. Best, a college student

@Julia29853 9 ай бұрын

Exactly! My husband says he doesnt like “ modern jazz”, but that’s what he’s thinking of. They are just a academic “jazz Hanon studies”, …. abstract, non melodic, not beautiful or meaningful. Just a technical excercise , blech

@derekhummerston757 2 жыл бұрын

Such wise words. The bit with Charlie nearly made me cry it was so beautiful. 😥.

@parkourchrispk 2 жыл бұрын

i always watch your vids when im having a difficult time staying motivated to practice. it never fails to renew my urge to get on the piano again!

@AimeeNolte 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Parkour Chris!

@chrisfazio9934 2 жыл бұрын

The bit with your son was so beautiful. And what a quick learner he is - caught on to that modulation in All The Things You Are right away! Anyway, I have always instinctively played what I hear in the moment as beautiful, even if it’s not technically impressive. Still, as I’ve been becoming more competent in jazz and bebop, I’ve felt a pressure to get flashy. At a certain point I realize that whatever happens to be expressive and organic is what matters.. if flashiness happens, then wonderful! If not, then wonderful! it’s best not to let one’s ego push oneself around. The best music comes from somewhere other than the one who wants to look impressive. :)

@yougianfir 2 жыл бұрын

He remembered me young Chet Baker voice and expression. Thanks for this great lesson. Cheers

@robertnewell5057 2 жыл бұрын

Really interesting, Chris. Your comments are so true, but instantly made me whistle the first solo on Miles's 'So What'. OK, I've heard it many times, but there's hardly any notes in it and it's recognisable after a couple of notes and memorable forever. No pressure, as they say.

@AimeeNolte 2 жыл бұрын

That’s a moment I cover in the nebula class, ironically enough. One of the greatest solos of all time! Good call. :)

@rorshack23 2 жыл бұрын

Yep, epic cameo, Charlie :)

@erikhenchal2088 Жыл бұрын

Those of us who took classical music lesson first - now need this kind of therapy.

@adde65 2 жыл бұрын

Hands down one of the best music educators on KZfaq.

@alanhowell3646 Жыл бұрын

I agree with everything you said Aimee. The improvisation I hear from students coming out of one of the best Jazz colleges in UK is very technical and over engineered. They seem to struggle to be able to play anything relatable to a listening audience as their studied knowledge has gone way beyond most people’s appreciation and understanding.

@ACMusic 2 жыл бұрын

What a lesson. The best theory teacher on YT!

@saxd0ct0r 2 жыл бұрын

Aimee, your son blends so perfectly and naturally with your singing! A delight for that alone, and then we get some great jazz on top of that!

@dizgil6881 Жыл бұрын

Charlie singing like Chet!! haha thats so awesome!

@samferguson9171 2 жыл бұрын

ornette coleman and don cherry were masters of this melodic, motivic approach, and they don't get enough credit for it!

@arxaaron 2 жыл бұрын

Hearts. Lots of hearts. FEELING outside the box! Wonderful observations on how emotion of Jazz so often gets lost in the technical presentation and displays of virtuosity.

@TrombaSolo 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Aimee. I love your approach to improvisation. As a 40 year career classical trumpet player who played "jazz" in college (my idol - Clark Terry), this really speaks to me. I'm tired of hearing jazz solos that, first they go up, then they go down, then they go up, etc etc etc. As you say, there's a time and place for that but.... I once told Warren Vaché that I loved his solos because he didn't just play scales up and down ad nauseum. He appreciated the compliment and the observation. Anyway, I'm gonna sign up for your Nebula thing. Can't wait to get started.

@donschneider7953 2 жыл бұрын

WOW! Just WOW...speaking Truth and spreading Beauty in a world that needs it...melting hearts, opening minds, building character...all as an expression of your most authentic self. Go you!

@fredssaxes 2 жыл бұрын

This old sax player thinks that this video has the best advice I've heard in years! Thanks, Aimee.

@AimeeNolte 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Fred

@TonyThomas10000 2 жыл бұрын

Love this....concentrate on emotion (motifs) rather than intellect (scales)!

@PianoWithJonny 2 жыл бұрын

Love this Aimee! Really solid advice, and I love the way you demonstrate so many motifs over the tunes. Keep up the great work 👍

@Muzikfreak37 2 жыл бұрын

This is perfect timing. Whenever it’s time for me to solo I tend to get anxiety and my mind is no longer at ease but starts to run a million miles a minute. So much so that I can’t even think of what I want to play. More often than not I feel most of my solos aren’t me but just the skill and talent if that makes sense. So listening to your approach on soloing seems like something I can definitely use to help me start my solos and go from there and even solo from a authentic place vs a place of nerves and anxiety.

@pteddie6965 2 жыл бұрын

I loved watching and listening to Charlie. That was fun and touching. Thanks for sharing this video and for featuring Charlie again.

@idiavworeefetoborejeremiah2618 Жыл бұрын

Find a motif, and see it through to the end. This is an endless possibility of melodies and originality. Thanks Aimee!❤

@ronc1231 Жыл бұрын

I played that way my whole life, followed my ear and head. Then someone who went to .using college told me I had to learn scales and modes. After this video I'm goi going back to my old way. It's more fun. And more satisfying.

@lightbluedev 2 жыл бұрын

“Draw your audience into what you’re doing..” Difference between watching someone soloing versus being on a musical journey with them. Actually feeling, even if unconsciously, that you are a part of the musically creative experience. Thanks for this. This was very enlightening.

@MetaphysicalMusician 2 жыл бұрын

This is real music.. Beautiful lesson,..kind of reminds me of what Scott Henderson has said and Kenny Werner is doing...thank you for this Aimee.. GREAT

@markdonnelly6921 2 жыл бұрын

That Autumn Leaves example hit me deep down. one is just notes following the progression and the other is using notes to evoke the feeling of a song

@warrenwilson7836 2 жыл бұрын

Wonderful - it’s awesome that you can play that scalar, arpeggiated style (that admittedly always sounds bookish to me) to put your more melodic, musical motifs into context. It seems some folks are compelled to fill every bar with as many notes as they can stuff in there - your more gracious and elegant shapes are so much more pleasing to me that I am glad you are making the point of legitimizing lyrical play.

@barbaraleequez4054 8 ай бұрын

I love your tenderness, thats the most meaningful thing for me in a teacher

@bendanielspercussion 2 жыл бұрын

Charlie killed it!

@welliamism 7 ай бұрын

1:20 is such a profound and beautiful truth to me, and i come back to the video since watching it the first time just to remind myself. of course the greater lesson of the video is something a little beyond this anecdote, but "they always do" is really the root of it i think. i don't think i'll ever forget this lesson for the rest of my life!

@kakesapanemporium1747 2 жыл бұрын

Winner winner...like all things great and beautiful; simplicity!

@Dericulus 2 жыл бұрын

The best part about this is that it's literally one of the chapters in the first half of a classical theory textbook I have from when i first learned theory in colleges. This is why Bach and Beethoven are great, but modernized and jazzed up. But everyone already knows this without realizing they know it. Love it.

@Tanauan 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Amazing as always

@dubris8881 Жыл бұрын

Great vid. I’m just a beginner but you illustrated how important it is to leave some space.

@adriancosta4664 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you algorithm.... I can learn many things from her. Loving the intuitive vibe

@bungalowbluesman 2 жыл бұрын

Love this - thank you Aimee. 😊

@KalebPeters99 2 жыл бұрын

Great stuff as always, Aimee 🙏✨

@benoittissier58 2 жыл бұрын

Great content here, thanks Aimee !

@kentwood9821 2 жыл бұрын

Great, great lesson, thanks!

@williambunter3311 2 жыл бұрын

Truly inspiring, Aimee!

@edwardbraun2057 2 жыл бұрын

This was really, really helpful. Thanks Aimee.

@fabiancosster8848 Жыл бұрын

hi for me its a pleasure to follow your classes because at this moment i following your class of the secret of quartal voicings and sometime i am a little confused over this topic but now you are showing me if i rearrange the notes its called a quartal voicing i am very grateful with your class god bless you for ever long i am comimn from the lovely island curacao

@chrissimpson3122 2 жыл бұрын

Great lesson and insight Aimee!

@trapfactory8600 2 жыл бұрын

This is such an incredible video and resource. Thank you!

@russkalen2337 2 жыл бұрын

I love your motif idea. I have been wondering why I rebelled against so much jazz and it's because the solos I heard were often mere gymnastics and not for the listener. The motif idea is why Miles Davis is sooooo cool. Thank you for making music so accessible.

@coastercook 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Amy. Great lesson

@santinunez1678 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing this, much love to you 💚

@randommuiscchannel1049 2 жыл бұрын

Just wonderful….. thanks.

@rawkzilla2319 Жыл бұрын

I am a long time guitar player finally dipping my toe into learning the piano. The artists that always grabbed my attention early on were Nat King Cole, Vince Guaraldi & Dave Brubeck. I subbed to your channel a few months ago & really love your easy to understand explanations & teaching style. Thank you! ❤🎹🎶

@naranpol Жыл бұрын

Fantastic vid, thanks!

@PosidoVega 2 жыл бұрын

yassss! wonderful lesson Aimee!

@sabrinashea198 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Aimee! This is brilliant! 🎷🎷🎷

@stubbzzz 2 жыл бұрын

Yes! What a great lesson, Amy. This is crucial.

@aldofonseca6909 2 жыл бұрын

Keep going Aimee , enlightened me. Thanks.

@LaurentMelnyk 2 жыл бұрын

That is passion . Cheers from Belgium

@enternamehere5498 2 жыл бұрын

Woot, always a good day with new content! Love the channel and always learn something new

@bubbajoe72 2 жыл бұрын

This is such great information!

@fanienaude9409 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Aimee

@boulderink 2 жыл бұрын

This is an amazing lesson.

@saz123ful 9 ай бұрын

What a beautiful leson!!

@theponderingplumb9790 2 жыл бұрын

Beautiful, elegant teaching, thank you so much!

@419mafia Жыл бұрын

Love this video!❤

@leandrodeangola 2 жыл бұрын

loved it.

@lorenvguitar614 2 жыл бұрын

Great information, thank you

@jesseimpersonal 2 жыл бұрын

Enjoying your new course, congratulations are in order!

@luxolontamo4440 2 жыл бұрын

This is good I'm so impressed Amy

@morefiction3264 2 жыл бұрын

This might be the best thing I've seen on improvising.

@jazznw 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much

@jopo6388 Жыл бұрын

Amazing demonstration Amy love you

@jamesewanchook2276 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent, thanks from Vancouver!

@thadphillips 11 ай бұрын

Really nice explanation- Thx!

@lrowlands53 2 жыл бұрын

Aimee, I love you! You have just allowed me to let go of the guilt that I don’t have a savant’s ability with ripping out scales/modes/arpeggios, etc. My composition style is very much like the heartfelt generation of melody/harmony that arises rather than drawing on my theoretical knowledge. In my improv settings I am really just doing it by instinct - and mostly it works well. Celebrating my own voice rather than trying to sound like someone else is liberating and affirming. Thank you, thank you (tearing up).

@WhitneyJohnson 2 жыл бұрын

Great lesson! You are such a gifted teacher and coach!

@geddylifeson5136 Жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@mncheng 2 жыл бұрын

Aimee you are such a treasure thank you these incredible videos

@New_in_jazz 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much.

@cornerbandit 2 жыл бұрын

I find it part of the process..."you go to the theory, but creativity comes to you."

@ZeugmaP 2 жыл бұрын

This might be the best improvising lesson I've ever seen

@MagicGamer117 2 жыл бұрын

This actually helps alot! I always get so stuck on voicings and scatting over chords and trying to do the same runs and motions. As helpful as knowing how jazz voicings are played and sound, your process of thinking of improv as melodies is amazing! Love this vid and hope to see you at Mt. Sac again next year!