Careful improvisation

No lesser musicians and arrangers than the renowned Toni Lakatos and Edward A. Partyka have worked for the Impro book by Christian Schatka - instrumental teacher, multi-instrumentalist, author and composer - has written a recommendation. These competent references lead us to expect a convincing publication, and when browsing through it, the reader is indeed very impressed by the improvisation method for beginners, its structural design and the numerous audio examples.

Over six chapters, starting from simple playing with just a few notes, Schatka leads us through technical instructions, music theory, rhythm exercises and on to relevant key studies and chord names for swing, blues, funk and rock/pop. The target audience - ambitious amateur musicians, classically trained instrumentalists and teachers as well as self-taught musicians - is not only guided through passages of sheet music, but also through written explanations and theoretical explanations on how to get started with the exercises and master the first steps of improvisation. Of course, self-study requires discipline! But if you work through it carefully, you will be rewarded in the finale on page 109. In addition, the audio examples recorded by the studio musicians, which you can also listen to in the background for your own enjoyment, will help you to get through any dry spells.

After reviewing the new teaching material, Christian Schatka's practical lessons are of particular interest: various promising offers can be found on his website. For all those who like to acquire knowledge and skills with an individual touch in dialog with a teacher, the Impro book certainly also the right companion for instrumental lessons!

Christian Schatka, The Impro Book. Improvisation method for beginners. Bossa nova, rock, pop, swing, funk; edition for alto saxophone,
D 05 487; for tenor saxophone, D 05 488; with CD, € 25.95 each, Doblinger, Vienna 2014