Speaking Music: Approaches for Improvising over Jazz Standards in an Ensemble with Solomon Alber

This hands-on workshop explores how to communicate musically and improvise with greater clarity and confidence, treating music as a language. Participants will write out musical ideas, improvise over standard song forms, and learn techniques to strengthen both spontaneous and structured playing. Through a mix of singing, playing, and real-time experimentation, you’ll gain tools to support expressive, responsive improvisation in any ensemble setting.

Handouts will be provided, and all participants should bring their own instruments (except pianists and drummers, who may use in-class equipment). Designed for all skill levels—from beginning to advanced improvisers—the workshop offers a supportive space to try new methods and build skills you can incorporate into your daily practice.

Prerequisites: Familiarity with the chromatic scale, major and minor triads, and common blues and jazz progressions.

You may also like the following events from California Jazz Conservatory:

• Next month, 1st November, 02:00 pm, Brazilian Choro Workout: From the Practice Room to the Roda with Brian Moran in Berkeley
• Next month, 2nd November, 12:00 pm, Vocal Improvisation and Circlesinging with Bryan Dyer in Berkeley
• Next month, 9th November, 08:00 pm, ONLINE Ya Gotta Lead the Band: What Every Jazz Singer Must Know About Counting Off, Cuing, and Real- in Berkeley, California

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