From Melody to Improvisation - 3 Beginner Exercises on Blue Bossa (Free PDF)

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Exercise 1 - Call and Response with the Melody

In this exercise, I work with the classic call and response concept, using the melody as my reference point.
I play one bar of the original melody (call) followed by one bar of improvisation (response).

At first, I write these short responses down and practice them like mini composed solos. This helps build vocabulary and strong melodic connections to the tune.
After writing and learning several examples, I stop writing and begin to improvise freely, keeping the same idea:
melody → response → melody → response.

This exercise develops phrasing, structure, and a natural dialogue between melody and improvisation.



Exercise 2 - Improvisation Shaped by the Melody

Here, the melody acts as a structural frame for the improvisation.
I start from the first note of the melody and improvise for two bars.
Then I land clearly back on the melody for the next two bars, creating a four-bar phrase.

The melody always provides a clear starting point and a clear landing point, so the improvisation never feels random or disconnected.
This is a great way to practice longer phrases, tension and release, and staying oriented inside the form of the tune.



Exercise 3 - Melody Inside an Eighth-Note Flow

In this exercise, the melody is placed inside a continuous eighth-note line.
Each melody note stays exactly in its original rhythmic position, but is treated as part of an eighth-note flow.

I simply fill the space between the melody notes with additional eighth notes, connecting them smoothly.
This approach helps bridge the gap between playing the melody and improvising lines (bebop-style), while still staying very close to the theme.

It’s an excellent way to practice improvising directly on the melody without losing its shape or identity.


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Always remember: replace your written solos with your own improvisation.
Use writing as a practice tool, not a goal. The goal is to improvise freely using the same musical logic.

If you find it useful, leave a short comment and let me know which exercise you liked the most. It really helps the channel grow - thank you! 🙌

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Arek 👋

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:18 Accordion Exercise 1 - Call and Response with the Melody
01:49 Accordion Exercise 2 - Improvisation Shaped by the Melody
03:33 Accordion Exercise 3 - Melody Inside an Eighth-Note Flow
05:26 Outro


This video is part of the project:
"An English-Language Series of Educational Jazz Accordion Videos
as a Form of Professional Development for a Music Educator in the Digital Space.".
Project implemented with the financial support of the European Union under the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

Gear used:
accordion – Bugari 580
mics – Neumann TLM 102 (RH), ATM 350 (LH), Rode Wireless PRO
audio interface – Audient iD44
camera – Sony ZV-E10 II
lights – Amaran 100xS