I am a freshman in high school, and have been playing jazz trombone for about 3 years now. I love jazz but this year I was very disappointed to make the lower jazz band at my high school, I didn't make the top one mostly because my solos are weak and the older trombone players took all the spots. I have always been first chair and gotten the solos in our songs so I have really never had anyone to compare my solos to and now my jazz class is more of a jazz work shop and I am the only trombone player. So I am wondering what is the most effective way to make my improv. solos better?

By the way I am new to 8notes.com but think it is great, oh and krispy kreme is the nickname my tuba section leader gave me in marching band this year

Thanks guys

The best way to get better at improv is to listen to the greats. Get some cds. Then get some practice of your own. I suggest buying some aebersolds to play along with. Good luck.

The CDs I'd recommend are Absolute Trombone and anything with Urbie Green, Bill Watrous, or Michael Davis in it.

Ask your conductor to start off each rehearsal or at least some rehearsals by the rhythm section just going through a 12 bar blues progression and everyone does a solo. Bb blues is usually a good one. Nice and easy but you can do a lot with it. Try taking rhythms from some of the songs you're working on and making a solo that complements that nicely then you'll have a better idea of what you want to play when the whole band is playing the song instead of what I suggested above. A lot of it too is just your attitude. I know I have good nights where I'll really like my solo then I'll be in a real nice jazz groove for the rest of the night. Then other nights I'll have a completely horrible solo and it will be very discouraging but you gotta keep it in your head what kind of attitude you want your music to have displayed.