Once again, the line rules! Practicing making lines work without chords, then when you add the chords you're not using them to hold the fort down!

Too many players need the chords in there because they don't have their lines totally together. When you can really move the harmony via the line, the chords come in when you have time and when they're absolutely needed. Also you can be much more creative with the chords.

Hi all,

This morning I got an unexpected and great message in my mailbox: Gerry Grosz from our sister site thevibe.net:

___________________

"Hi, Marie-Noëlle!

It's fixed! Both Bruce and John are now unblocked and have been notified. I can't believe it took me this long to figure out the problem, but I did get it.

Thank you for your keeping me notified and on my toes. :)

In other news, I broke my arm & had surgery just last week, so I'm a little out of the game right now, but feeling so good that I was finally able to fix this longstanding problem.

http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/msg/1523390669.html

wow! 1650. doesn't that sound WAY TOO HIGH?

One of my favorite tunes!

And I love the lyrics. I definitely think that age of music produced the best lyrics especially in comparison with what came after. I LOVE rock and roll but to me that's the deal. I always want to learn the lyrics to all those old tunes and play the melody more from the lyric. I don't do it nearly enough, but I occasionally bring that to the front of my practicing and try.

I have a buddy married to a singer and he knows ALL the lyrics of all those tunes, and I'm very jealous. I think knowing the lyrics will make you a better tune player.

OH MAN my buddy just turned me on to this cat. Is this swinging or what!! Oh man!

It looks like we're over the 3000 mark with posts! That's a lot of information on the vibraphone!

Just thought I'd announce that.

When I saw Dana's post of his 'Un-structured improv I thought that's cool. We have a little wave of free improv going.

I posted that electronic stuff and now Dana posted this. Then I thought that would be cool if others just played whatever on their instrument and posted the outcome.

Playing free and using your ears to move the harmony is a great way to grow musically!

So the challenge is to post your own 'Un-structured improv'.

Merry Christmas!