Books by Ned Bennett

Although aimed at beginners up to Grade 4 standard, could equally be used as a starting point for the many advanced players who have never learned to improvise. The accompanying play-along demonstration CDs include tracks transposed for B flat and E flat instruments, so that these books can also be used by other instrumentalists. Even better, the books include examples of 'how to' and 'how not to' play. The text is light and the titles jokey but never childish. Enterprisingly, the Getting Started with Improvisation volume starts without any music at all, instead inviting continuations of a narrative story or a simple pencil-line on the page. Even more imaginative is the approach from a non-Western standpoint, whereby the first exercises copy Indian and Far Eastern styles - not nearly as difficult as they sound. Harmony and modulation are painlessly introduced en route, and players who work carefully through, rather than skimping over, each book will feel infinitely more confident as a result.