CONTRIFACT

Hoday,

Yes, There is music in everything you do. Walk the down the street and march to a tune you just heard on the radio. Can't figure out how to fix something - so improvise. Have to close an important deal - use past experience. Have to write a paper - collect resource material. Must make a putt - envision.

I guess it's not really all about music but more like using human elements to just figure things out. Improvising, however is a big part of our lives no matter what it is you do. In music, we improvise by using riffs or resources from other songs. Sometimes we actually play other songs within a song - this is what is called Contrifacting.

Take for example, in most 32 bar jazz songs you could play parts of other 32 bar songs that are in the same key and use the same chord changes. The formula is all set up and all you have to do is find one that works. Contrifacting is a great way to improvise and it also pays tribute to past composers in a musical form. Professors and musicians alike will respect those who use their knowledge of music history and implement it into a song.

Some other forms that are good are found within rhythm changes. More on that, next time.

Later,

John