“Function Theory Was Terrible” – From Function Theory to Figured Bass: A Real Improviser’s Method

🎥 Recorded using Ecamm Live — my favorite all-in-one Mac app for podcasting, recording, and live streaming. 👉 Try it here (affiliate link): https://bit.ly/4osrvBk Full Interview:    • Ep. 195 | How to Learn Classical Improvisa...   In this segment, Szymon Jakubowski explains why traditional function theory actually slowed down his improvisation training. After studying harmony through dense functional analysis — notebooks filled with symbols that “looked like chemistry” — his teacher told him something radical: “Forget everything.” Instead of stacking functions and over-labeling every chord, he shifted toward a simpler and faster model rooted in figured bass and practical harmonic patterns. He then demonstrates the difference live at the keyboard. Using a chromatic progression built around diminished seventh chords, he shows how improvisation thinking can be reduced to one clear guiding idea: Every second chord diminished. Release. Tension. Release. From there, he connects each diminished chord, not by heavy analysis, but by immediate auditory decision-making. No functional speculation. No harmonic over-theorizing. Just fast musical reaction. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by harmonic labels, this clip will completely reframe how to think at the keyboard.