LEARN EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BE A GREAT IMPROVISER!

"This is one of, if not, the most comprehensive books on improvisation that I have yet encountered. The student (or professional) is led systematically into getting beyond the rote learning of patterns and cliches, into understanding the spontaneity and creativity that is true jazz improvisation." —Randy Brecker (Grammy-Award winning trumpeter who has helped shape the sound of jazz for over four decades)

Instructor

Jazz Instructor

Fred Lipsius

Fred Lipsius was the original saxophonist, arranger and conductor with the groundbreaking jazz/rock group “Blood, Sweat & Tears” (1967 to 1971). He also doubled on keyboards. While in the band, he won nine Gold Records, a Grammy Award for arranging the hit song “Spinning Wheel”, plus a Grammy for ‘Best Album of the Year”. He also arranged and co-arranged, respectively, the hit singles “Hi-De-Ho” and “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy”. Fred brought the “jazz” element to the public with his sax and piano solos and arrangements. In both the Downbeat and Playboy jazz polls he placed in the top ten of the alto sax category. Rock and Roll history books credit him as the first saxophonist to mix jazz and rock styles in his solos. Fred has composed, arranged and produced radio and TV commercials, including 2 CBS TV logos - themes introducing the season‘s upcoming shows. In the spring of 1982, he toured in Japan and Europe with Simon and Garfunkel and was a featured soloist. Fred has authored seven books /CDs on jazz improvisation and reading, published worldwide. He has performed with jazz greats Cannonball Adderley, Thelonious Monk, Zoot Sims, Eddie Gomez, Al Foster, George Mraz, Rodney Jones, Randy Brecker and many others and has written music for, and performed on, over 30 CDs as both a leader and sideman. In 2020, Fred retired from Berklee College of Music in Boston after teaching full-time for 35 years.

Course Curriculum

  1. 1

    • WELCOME

    • INTRODUCTION TO THE BOOK

    • DOWNLOAD THE BOOK
  2. 2

    • MAJOR CHORDS

    • MINOR CHORDS

    • AUGMENTED CHORDS

    • DIMINISHED SEVENTH CHORDS

    • MINOR SEVENTH CHORDS

    • HALF DIMINISHED CHORDS

    • DOMINENT SEVENTH CHORDS

    • ALTERED DOMINANT SEVENTH CHORDS

    • MULTI-USE OF A LICK - COMMON TONES CHARTS

    • CHART 1

    • CHART 2

    • CHART 3

    • CHART 4

    • OTHER CHORD TYPES

    • EXAMPLES OF OTHER CHORD TYPES
  3. 3

    • BLUES SCALES

    • MASTER LIST

    • 1. C BLUES SCALES LICKS - C Instruments (Piano, Flute, Violin, Guitar)

    • 2. Eb BLUES SCALES LICKS -Eb Instruments (Alto Sax, Baritone Sax)

    • 3. Bb BLUES SCALES LICKS - Bb Instruments (Soprano Sax, Tenor Sax, Trumpet, Clarinet)

    • 4. C Bass Clef BLUES SCALES LICKS - C Bass Clef Instruments (Trombone, Tuba, Bassoon)

    • BLUES SOLOS

    • BLUES PIANO SOLO 1

    • BLUES PIANO SOLO 2

    • BLUES PIANO SOLO 3

    • BLUES SAX SOLO 4 - Improvising Blues Licks In Random Keys
  4. 4

    • INTRODUCTION

    • ALTERING LICKS (BASED ON A SINGLE CHORD)

    • EXPANDING UPON A MOTIF

    • APPLYING TECHNIQUES

    • IMPROVISATION EXERCISES
  5. 5

    • CREATING SOMETHING GREAT

    • MAKING A MUSICAL STATEMENT

    • ANGER STIFLES CREATIVITY

    • IMPROVISING A TUNE

    • PIANO SOLO 1

    • PIANO SOLO 2

    • PIANO SOLO 3

    • PIANO SOLO 4

    • PIANO SOLO 5

    • PIANO SOLO 6

    • ALTO SAX SOLO 1

    • ALTO SAX SOLO 2

    • ALTO SAX SOLO 3

    • TENOR SAX SOLO 1

    • TENOR SAX SOLO 2

    • TENOR SAX SOLO 3

    • TENOR SAX SOLO 4

    • TENOR SAX SOLO 5

    • IN CLOSING: THE CREATIVE FLOW (Fred Reads Text)

    • IN CLOSING: THE CREATIVE FLOW (Text)
  6. 6

    • ABOUT FRED

    • FRED WITH BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS

    • DISCOGRAPHY