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The New Deal! 2025

Howdy.  I thought that this first page of the new deal challenge might be a good place to collect our ideas.  What we want to accomplish and use it as a reference document...  or maybe even an overview document or index (using links) posts that we accomplish under each categories.  Might also be good to have separate posts /& film clips for each exercise.  Help me complete this list:


Goals

1. Melodic development, 

2. Language acquisition

3. Writing etudes

4. Enclosures


Before the start of a month each we decide on a lick, phrase, fragment or goal that we work through on predetermined tunes.

Also, tunes to work through.


Steps:

1. A monthly post describing the goals.  (We decide together or take turns) and 2 tunes to work through

2. Deliverables per month are ALWAYS 1 written etude (minimum 2-3 choruses) and a video of the performance.  Also include a 2 backing track (I can fix this if needed) at 2 tempos, or 2 keys

3. Deliver an improvisation video over each tune utilising the decided area of focus. ex. 3-5-7-9, or enclosures.

4. Include any development exercises that you used for the area of focus.


Ex. September

September tunes:  In you own sweet way.  When the Saints go marching in

Area: Melodic Development (include noataion or melodic or rhythmic motifs used)

Written Etude over one of the tunes using area of focus and reference to any licks harvested from solos in a seperate notation image.


What do you think about this?  Add anything you think I missed.  Can you edit this post?  Feedback?


This is from ChatGPT about melodic development:

  1. Repetition

  2. Sequence (transposition up or down)

  3. Inversion (flip intervals upside down)

  4. Retrograde (play the phrase backwards)

  5. Retrograde inversion (both backwards and upside-down)

  6. Augmentation (lengthen rhythmic values)

  7. Diminution (shorten rhythmic values)

  8. Fragmentation (use only part of the original phrase)

  9. Interval compression or expansion (narrow or widen melodic leaps)

  10. Simplification (reduce to its essential elements)

  11. Ornamentation (add trills, grace notes, passing tones, etc.)

  12. Extension (add material at the beginning or end)

  13. Truncation (cut off parts of the phrase)

  14. Rhythm change (alter rhythmic patterns while keeping pitch)

  15. Rhythmic displacement (start the phrase on different beats)

  16. Octave shift or reordering note placement

  17. Change mode or shift harmonic context

  18. Antiphonal structure (call-and-response within the phrase)

  19. Permutation or rotation (reorder or cycle motif segments)

  20. Harmonization (turn the phrase into chords or add parallel voices)


Additionally, here are a couple of concept notes from music theory discussions that resonate with these techniques:

“Re-arranging the theme’s fragments can yield something fresh yet familiar. Repeating specific notes is a surprisingly powerful way to retain identity.”
“Retrograde, inversion, transposition—and even changing mode or rhythm—are classic variation tools.”


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