Part 5/9:
Practicing counterpoint over the progression not only improves technical skills but also helps internalize directionality—knowing when to ascend or descend melodically—and relation of lines to the bass, creating more compelling improvisations.
Slow Practice for Clarity
Bato emphasizes the importance of slow practice at first. Playing the progression slowly and deliberately allows the player to hear each chord change and target the appropriate chord tones precisely, making the harmonic shifts obvious to the listener. As proficiency grows, speed can gradually increase until the lines flow naturally at performance tempo.