Hal Crook's How to Improvise

**charlieparker** · 10-25-2025, 12:01 PM

Has anyone worked through the exercises in this book? It seems like an interesting approach to teaching improv.

**joe2758** · 10-25-2025, 12:14 PM

No, but what is the basic idea of it? I mean, what about it looks unique?

**pamosmusic** · 10-25-2025, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by charlieparker

Has anyone worked through the exercises in this book? It seems like an interesting approach to teaching improv.

Some of them!

it’s great … especially if you’re into more modern, out stuff.

I do own Beyond Time and Changes which is more specifically geared to modern improvising and that book ruled.

I had a couple friends who were Crook Heads at Berklee so got into it for a bit.

**charlieparker** · 10-25-2025, 04:59 PM

Originally Posted by joe2758

No, but what is the basic idea of it? I mean, what about it looks unique?

It has sections on 'when to play', 'how to play', and 'what to play' with specific exercises for each.

When to play focuses on leaving space with exercises like rest 1 bar play 1 bar.

How to play focuses on rhythm and what to play note choices with sections on melodic variation, guide tones, upper and lower triads.

All of the exercises are done in a variety of harmonic concepts from single chord to full tune to free improv.

It's just an interesting approach in terms of structure and the way the exercises are laid out.

**Mick-7** · 10-25-2025, 05:24 PM

Hal Crook's How to Improvise-hal-crook-how-improvise-toc_01-jpg

Hal Crook's How to Improvise-hal-crook-how-improvise-toc_02-jpg

**James W** · 10-25-2025, 06:13 PM

Looks good. And thorough.

**Christian Miller** · 10-25-2025, 07:08 PM

He’s a good man, and thorough.

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**Mick-7** · 10-25-2025, 07:46 PM

Originally Posted by Christian Miller

He’s a good man

But a crook nonetheless?

**wolflen** · 10-25-2025, 08:06 PM

Originally Posted by Mick-7

But a crook nonetheless?

Mick..

Its good to have you here. You seem to have access to many obscure and out of print materials.

And..a dry sense of humor..

**Christian Miller** · 10-26-2025, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by Mick-7

But a crook nonetheless?

That’s just like your opinion, man

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**Jimmy blue note** · 10-26-2025, 08:00 AM

I have worked with this book in detail and it's a rich, well thought out and ostensibly comprehensive approach that takes into consideration the multi dimensional skill set that is needed to be a true thoughtful improvise and not a scale based noodler.
Improvisation taps into many disciplines and Hal understands that. He's a true teacher and improvisor himself-of the highest order.
The book brings the reader through his own approach, focusing on specific areas of mastery in a progressive and interactive way so as the conceptional and technical lexicon of this language is explored, a student is engaged by actually doing and creating in an aware and engaging way.
Hal taught at Berklee for many years and many of the greats, in many instruments, sought him out because he was able to tie a sometimes scattered curriculum of knowledges into the ability to make a personal and artful expressive style for each student.
When it came to the practical and practicing threshold of knowing the art of improvisation, there were three resources that the most dedicated students were steered towards by the most serious artists and teachers at the top level:

David Liebman's book on Chromatic approach for the most rigourous reference of harmonic/melodic applications.
and the top teachers most highly recommended for study and reference of materials and learning approach: Mick Goodrick and David Liebman.

In my opinion, if you're serious, Hal Crook's book is a must have.

**Mick-7** · 10-26-2025, 09:10 AM

Originally Posted by Christian Miller

He (Hal Crook) is a good man

Originally Posted by Mick-7

But a crook nonetheless?

Originally Posted by Christian Miller

That’s just like your opinion, man.

My conclusion was perfectly genealogical.

**marcwhy** · 10-26-2025, 11:16 PM

I like his, " Ready, Aim, Improvise!"

**charlieparker** · 10-26-2025, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by marcwhy

I like his, " Ready, Aim, Improvise!"

I have heard good things about that one, also. I am not quite sure if one is a better starting place over the other.

**Jimmy blue note** · 10-27-2025, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by charlieparker

I have heard good things about that one, also. I am not quite sure if one is a better starting place over the other.

It all starts by listening.

**paulkogut** · 10-27-2025, 09:12 AM

I think "How To" and "Ready Aim" are essentially 'alternate takes' of the same basic material. You can't go wrong with either one as a starting point

PK

**charlieparker** · 10-27-2025, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by Jimmy blue note

It all starts by listening.

I always appreciate your wisdom. Feels like you have a very Zen approach to guitar teaching.

**wolflen** · 10-27-2025, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by charlieparker

I always appreciate your wisdom. Feels like you have a very Zen approach to guitar teaching.

Ahh...I also have a Zen like take when I teach. Your just one note away from Satori.

Quite a few top teachers (players)/teaching methods have a "spiritual" flavor to them.

If you really immerse yourself in a method and it unlocks some musical secrets to you..you MAY feel an energy that guides you
to delve deeper.

One of my fave tag lines Dive deep..the pearls don't come to the shore.

**Christian Miller** · 10-27-2025, 11:55 AM

I dunno I always feel Zen is quite down to earth. The zen garden in Kyoto where you can’t see the whole thing. I like the moderation and humility in it.

So yes, definitely true of JBN’s advice.

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**Tal_175** · 11-20-2025, 01:02 PM

Is "Ready Aim" essentially an updated version of "How to improvise" or do they represent two very different (well different enough to warrant whole another book) pedagogies?

**ragman1** · 11-21-2025, 03:22 AM

Great. All in the bass clef? No-o-o-o-o

**Jimmy blue note** · 11-21-2025, 05:11 AM

Originally Posted by ragman1

Great. All in the bass clef? No-o-o-o-o

Well that's what they teach fish in school.

**ragman1** · 11-21-2025, 12:16 PM

Do they also publish the book in treble clef? That would be good. Hardly anyone who wants to improvise jazz uses the bass clef. In fact, writing about such an important subject so non-trombone players can't readily access it isn't a great way to sell it.

**charlieparker** · 11-21-2025, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by ragman1

Do they also publish the book in treble clef? That would be good. Hardly anyone who wants to improvise jazz uses the bass clef. In fact, writing about such an important subject so non-trombone players can't readily access it isn't a great way to sell it.

Which one? How to Improvise, my version is treble clef.

**ragman1** · 11-21-2025, 08:14 PM

Great, at last! I've never seen the book but the index seems quite good.

Thing is, Hal Crook is a trombonist, which is a bit unusual. Doesn't mean he can't improvise, of course, but it struck me that trombonists use the bass clef. In fact, he may have written his book in the bass clef and then it was moved to the treble to be accessible to more popular instruments. Whether he did that or the publisher did it, who knows. Good move nevertheless.

I'm actually surprised no one's mentioned this before.