Learn to improvise in the Gypsy Jazz violin style even if you have never

improvised before. The style is closely associated with French jazz violinist
Stephane Grappelli, who played with Gypsy jazz guitar player Django Reinhardt. Each
lesson in the book covers specific key aspects of the Gypsy jazz violin style. The
techniques are presented sequentially and the underlying music theory is introduced
on a 'need to know' basis. “Getting Into Gypsy Jazz Violin” includes charts of
classic swing tunes such as Avalon, The Sheik of Araby & After You've Gone and
includes an online recording featuring authentic accompaniment tracks and model
violin performances. Because the Gypsy jazz violin style maintains common elements
of traditional classical violin techniques such as vibrato and shifting, the book
is a perfect vehicle for the classical violinist to learn to improvise without
having to change their general approach to the instrument.
Great for Jazz Theory
March 2, 2019
Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
This is a really great learning tool for learning the Gypsy Jazz style and Jazz
Theory. It incorporates exercises for Scales, Arpeggios, Chords, Rhythm, and the
Gypsy style. The tracks that you download are great to work with because they can
be repeated over and over as you work on each facet of the Style. The book is a
progressive study just like a text book so it builds on skills from the previous
exercises. It is not a song book, even though there are songs to learn. If you are
serious about learning Gypsy Violin, this is a really great start. You might also
enjoy, Swing Jazz Violin by Jeremy Cohen and Dix Bruce. This is more song oriented
with solo suggestions to improve improvisation. If you are coming from a Classical
background both are worth a look.
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mackeagan
4.0 out of 5 starsGood value.
December 25, 2013
Format: Sheet musicVerified Purchase
Good value if you are already intermediate on violin. You will need to apply
yourself, read through and play through the lessons, preferably with the CD (put it
on your mp3 player for easy use).
Pros: well thought out, good sequence of lessons. learn you will, Luke.
Cons: you need to be able to read and play up to at least third position. Does not
cover all the keys, but see the qualifier, below:
There's really not room in a book this size to cover all the keys--you'd need
something the size of a church bible. Also, if you read through, you realize that
you need to transpose the lessons to the various other keys commonly used in Gypsy
Jazz.