I jammed. With tons of people and tons of scenarios.
But as far as me alone, I played along with records.
And on the educational side, I took some lessons with Jamie Faunt, a really interesting, innovative teacher out here in LA. He focuses on fundamentals...but fundamentals that go quite a bit more "basic" than what you would normally consider fundamental. Such as:
- clapping with a metronome 1/4 notes at 100 bpm until beats effortlessly disappear without effort or thought. Then, changing 2 bpm down, doing the same thing, 2 bpm up, doing the same thing, essentially "fanning" around the metronome until you are a master of 1/4 notes. This is done with clapping only, mind you. THen the same drill with 8th notes, within reason (some tempos too fast). Same with 16ths, then various rhythms. THEN, doing the same on the bass. This exercise alone can take months to master, and I still do it. Really fun, really gives confidence.
Ear-training wise, same sort of principle: practicing only SINGING tones to match them with a keyboard or bass or something, then improvising melodies that you sing first, THEN playing them. Lots and lots of exercises in this realm, the whole goal being that you hear things before you play them. In principle, the purpose being to get people out of the "bad habits" of letting your hands make shapes and regular patters which circumvent an actual original thought of creating a note, a rhythm, a melody.
Anyway, that's the tip of the iceberg. Interesting, eh?
Jamie has now become really hard to see because he has a waiting list, but someday I hope he writes a book because he's a total genius. I found that stuff very formative and inspiring.
JMJ
