Transcriptions
I took down the transcriptions on this page (Spring 2007) because of possible copyright violation. Instead, I'm working on providing a set of licks "in the style of" certain composers (I got this idea from Mike Steinel, years ago). I'll get to this later in the Summer, right now I've been busy recording!
Tips For Transcribers
Why Transcribe?
Reading music is a critical skill, and being able to play by ear is as well. Transcribing couples these two activities into one effort, and the result is that your ear improves as well as your ability to read--it's a two for the price of one deal! Being able to notate what you hear also helps you analyze what's going on and incorporate those ideas into your own creations. It hooks in the objective part of your mind and lets you understand the music better. Transcribing the most important thing you can do with your practice time (and it's also the hardest too, sometimes!)
- Start easy. Fluency comes slowly, and it's best to start out doing things you're comfortable with and increasing the difficulty gradually. Maybe do just the "head" of a few standards, then progress to doing some easier choruses.
- Start small. Don't start by transcribing "Tarkus" or some other 20-minute piece, you'll find it's really easy to lose interest over time. If you're doing a difficult chunk, 8 bars may be enough to occupy your time for several days!
- Start big. Don't lose sight of the "big picture" either. There's real value in studying the form of larger pieces, so be sure to spend some time getting a 'big picture' diagram in place for some of these larger works. It'll help you understand form and architecture (always important for the jazz artist)
- Keep a notebook. Write down your own favorite licks and riffs, and keep a little catalog stashed away of written examples showing the stuff you can do. Refer to it from time to time-- you'll be surprised how this grows, and how much you can learn from yourself!