Vibraphone

I've been spending a little time each day with Ed's book 1. The early info on passing tones is great. I figured for accountability's sake, I would just record a short segment of my practice this morning...

Clearly one of MY biggest issues as I work on becoming an improviser is creating pleasing melodies and lines that have a momentum to them - and that are interesting to listen to. The great players make this look so easy, right? In fact, almost everyone ELSE I listen to makes it look easy. haha.

I'm a week behind because I was out of town last week and didn't figure it was worthwhile to post a video of me playing on the towel. (see pic attached).

I put together a few different lessons here and then in the end, tried a little "play along" to bring some of the concepts together. It's a work in progress. haha. Meaning, this is all a little rough (understatement?) but that's what practicing is all about, right? :)

The lesson(s): A few of Behn's blues lessons. (Thanks Behn!) 3rds and 7ths, dominant lines, etc...I explain it all in the video.

Sometimes ya gotta just open the book and play whatever tune turns up. So that's what I did. No practicing, just play.
I've always loved this tune as a ballad. I'd never read through it before this (and it sorta sounds like it! haha). I did try to bring in some of what I've been working on recently though...

This is for you, Tony. Thank you for ALL you do for the us here at Vibesworkshop! You're the best...

To get it to this point I practiced longer than I thought I'd have to. I still messed up a little bit, and I'd like to take it twice as fast. Also working on pedaling... At this stage I'm happy if I don't smear the notes or sound staccato, and play with some phrasing. In the video I notice that I'm using my left arm too much.

"God Bless The Child" - one of my favorite ballads composed and sung by the great Billie Holiday. Some exploration with dampening and solo playing techniques that will be covered in the two books (solo vibraphone playing and dampening) that I've been diligently writing. The books will include etudes and exercises well as solos on such standards as Mandel's "Emily" and Gershwin's "Someone to Watch over Me". It's a lot of work but rewarding at the same time. I'll be working well into the Fall since I'll be on a sabbatical from Berklee.

So here are some pics of the blocks I use.

The quick and dirty ones that I keep in my case (and a spare set in the car) are easy to make and cheap. Cut (4) 4" sections of a 2x4, then staple some non-skid pads to the bottom and nail a caster cup to the top. Looks ugly, but works like a charm.

Hi vibes friends,
In this lesson I'm going to show you an easy and effective method to harmonize the melody of "Georgia on my Mind".
Make sure to download the pdf before watching the video.

Your homework is to use the same method to harmonize the B section of the standard (there's is a free staff for you to complete in the worksheet)

“Shuffle Vibe Blues” – a fun little song that I composed to play with a left-hand shuffle feel. It’s an AAB form with the A section being a 12 bar blues. It's a bit reminiscent of something the late great Dr. John (Mac Rebennack) would play. I enjoy his music and was listening to some of his songs recently. Gary Burton had told me about Dr. John when I was studying with Gary in the 70s.

Finally was able to play it by ear in 12 keys, thru circle of 4ths. Great exercise!
Next I want to do it in Harmonic Minor. I am teaching myself to hear chord qualities, like the ii7(b5) and minor(Maj7).