[nickrees]

Perhaps this has been addressed in a lesson on the site already in which case maybe somebody can point me to the location. If not perhaps this could be a topic in Willie Answers.

I'd like to get some advice about how to go about actually performing a piece in public. So recently we had a great lesson on intros and outros but now what about that bit in the middle?

I have been getting the occasional gig and I'm expected to fill about 2 hours with playing. I can't remember more than a few pieces currently so I rely a lot on lead sheets but I try to make the song last about 3-5 minutes probably so that means playing a number of choruses as well as any intro and outro. So what advice can you give about number of choruses to play and how to vary them etc? I tend not play more than two or three choruses because I feel it starts to sound the same and i may think that i am using the same devices, reharmonization etc. Should I try to plan a structure for my solos in advance? My jazz musician friends play completely off the cuff because they want to sound spontaneous but they have years of experience. What do you think we should be doing when starting out to play in public, Willie? Let's say this is about solo piano performance rather than a combo. It's all a bit nerve-wracking but thanks to your lessons I have been able to give it a try in modest circumstances.

[jhernandez]

Hi nickrees,

There are 20 lessons currently that focus on soloing techniques from all different genres and styles. I have picked a few of my favorites:
http://www.mylessonclub.com/students...son?dvd=DVD402
http://www.mylessonclub.com/students...on?dvd=DVD1004
http://www.mylessonclub.com/students...n?dvd=ROCKSOLO
http://www.mylessonclub.com/students...on?dvd=FLYMOON

If you use the search button http://www.mylessonclub.com/students/search-chapters you can type "solo" and get the rest of the lessons that deal with solos. You can also use the new voting system http://www.mylessonclub.com/students/vote if you are looking for particular type of solo or if you have a particular song. I hope that helps and you will be fine just take your time.

[nickrees]

Well thanks for the reply, Joel but I think I didn't express myself very well.

I'm not asking about how to play solo style, I am asking how do you go about creating a solo performance. In many lessons Willie has shown how to take a song, reharmonize it and improvise and more recently he has done a lesson on introductions and endings. But I feel that a solo is something more than just an introduction, once through the tune, an improvisation or two and then an ending (or is it?). I am asking if Willie has any pointers on how to create a solo performance or whether this should just be spontaneous. So if I play a number of choruses that are improvisations how do I make each chorus sound fresh and perhaps how do I or should I vary the improvisation in each chorus. A group will play a number of choruses of a tune where each member will perform an improvisation of a chorus which will obviously be unique to that member but how do I as a solo performer go about creating innovation and variation when I improvise several choruses in sequence. And should there be some structure to this? I haven't seen Willie talk specifically about creating a complete performance as a solo player. Perhaps this is more of a Willie Answers type question than a lesson request (not sure).

Thanks

[procky1845]

This is also something I would be interested in finding out more about. I play a lot of solo blues, and trying to keep the playing interesting with fresh ideas is one thing that I particularly struggle with. The blues as a genre already suffers from the fact that its all largely the same chord progression so the improvisation is really the only way to differentiate and keep thing interesting.

[jhernandez]

I have added your suggestion to Willie's list basically a complete solo performance on what to expect and do in the studio or live. I hope that helps and I think this is going to be a great lesson for all.

[nickrees]

Thanks, that does help. Live performance is a good way to sum it up.

[bucci186]

Excellent question, well articulated ...I'd love to hear some of Willie's insight on this too! Personally, I sometimes start a piece as a "ballad" style, then do a swing chorus with a walking left hand bass line, another chorus with a little improv stuff, etc. ...but you're right... it IS nerve wracking trying to play multiple choruses and use enough variety so that it's not boring ! THANKS for asking this question !!