What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life Part 3
In part 3 of this tutorial on Michel Legrand’s “What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life” we will explore some alternative ways that we can play through the A section.
The tune follows and A-A-B-A form and so it’s nice to enhance the chords and melody for the final time through these changes.
We’ll start by doubling the melody to create more impact and we will utilize the higher and lower registers of the piano to create fuller arrangement.
We will finish by analysing some transcribed material from the Bill Evans recording of this tune.
Related Lessons
We explore the voicing options for major chords under each note of the Lydian Mode which is a common scale to play over major chords.
We explore voicings for each note of the dorian mode. Watch this and never again get stuck on what to play for minor chords!
Upper structure triads are complex sounding altered dominant chords. They will add texture and sophistication to your playing.
Practice Tips
The Bill Evans recordings of this tune are definitely worth checking out. He plays the tune with such depth and maturity and there is a lot of emotion in his playing.
Hi Hayden,
I am wondering if there is a transcription of the Bill Evan’s version that you share as an alternative for this section? It sounds like you allude to it—but I don’t know where to find it. That would be awesome.
Thanks so much,
Amy
Hi Amy,
Currently we just have the transcription of the arrangement which is listed in the downloads section.
I would highly recommend trying to transcribe some parts of the Bill Evans recording yourself so that you get the benefit from the exercise. Here are a couple of videos on the importance and benefits of transcription:
– https://www.pianogroove.com/community/t/the-importance-of-listening-transcribing/2737
– https://www.pianogroove.com/blues-piano-lessons/tips-insights-from-jon/
Listening to our favourite records and working out the fills by ear is a very important part of our development as jazz musicians. It’s from the process of transcribing a recording that we get the most benefit ourselves. Perhaps just start with the melody, or some of the fills that Bill Evans adds.
The first stage is to identify a recording that you like, so we’re already there, and then the next stage is to listen to it and really study it, then finally try to emulate it and play along with it.
Transcription is difficult to start with and the key is to do a little each day.
We also have transcription exercises in the forum to help get your ears up to speed, check those out here: https://www.pianogroove.com/community/c/improvisation-exercises/30
I hope that helps Amy.
Check out the videos and links above and let me know if I can help further.
Cheers,
Hayden
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to my request. I appreciate the videos and links you suggested and will check into them!
I am experiencing a lot of pleasure from your lessons and greatly appreciate your style of teaching, and the support of transcriptions.
Warm regards,
Amy