Lachine Concert Band musician's resource

Music courses - Cours de musique
starting/débutant 2019-01-26 @ 10-12 AM
10$ per person par semaine/par personne per week

Improvisation focused Jazz class

• Being able to tell what key (Major or minor) a tune is.
  Being able to tell the scale degree based on Major scale.
  Chords and changes: What are chords? Triads and 7th?
• Able to identify chord symbols and learn how to play and spell out triads
  Major 6, minor 6, Dominant 7, Minor 7, Major 7, Minor major 7, Half diminished 7, and diminished 7 chords.
  Listening and Transcribing: How to listen, how to transcribe simple lines
• Learn how to transcribe short length of easy solos.
  Learn to sing along with the recording then play along with it. (using Amazing slow downer app optional)

• 5 minutes of each class will be spent on simple clapping exercise.
  We will begin with as simple as clapping 2 and 4 with recordings.
  Polyrhythm (2 vs 3, 3 vs 4, etc) exercise will be added later.

• These tunes will be the repertoire for everyone.
  The end of semester goal will be jamming on these tunes with everyone during the improv class.

• For about every 3~4 months, everyone should have one full chorus of transcribed solo of their choice.
  For those who needs extra help, we will book a little time after class.

• Everyone should memorize at least one blues melody and rhythm change melody at the end of semester. (3~4 months)

• The essential listening list for the class.
  These are the classic jazz that I highly recommend to put on while dishwashing, cleaning, driving, or drinking a glass of wine.

• The goal the end of semester is everyone comfortably take a solo on Blues in F and Bb for 2 choruses.

• Learn how to play classics such as 'Autumn Leaves' and 'Take the A train'.
  Using the knowledge from the basic theory, class will focus on what notes to use while soloing, and how to play melody more musically.

• 'So What' by Miles Davis will be used as example. We will analyze his solo and examine his soloing approach. (Linear vs Vertical) Also contrasting to the previous section, rhythm, rather than the harmony, will be emphasized in soloing.

• We will focus on the work of Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie. Contrafacts and Parker's altered blues changes will be studied. Idit Shner's Bebop exercise worksheet will be handed out and tried out together in the class.
  Also we will look at the 'Rhythm Change' and try out a few easy approaches.
  These three chapters are going to be the key component of the class. The other two chapters that follow are optional depends on how well students follow.

• Jazz melodic minor modes offer more advanced and colourful sounding scales. We will look at Wayne Shorter compositions and identify what chord scales we can use. Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers and Miles Davies' second quintet will be looked at as well. Furthermore, John Coltrane's well known compositions such as 'Giant Steps', 'Naima', and 'Moment's notice' will be studied.

• We will learn how to play straight 8th notes. (Contrasting to Swing 8th notes) If it works out with Aldo Mazza, we will go down to his music school and have a Afro Cuban percussion class. Antonio Carlos Jobim and his classics such as 'The Girl from Ipanema', 'Corcovado', and 'How Insensitive' will be studied.

• Background information about these tunes. What made them distinctive, who played in the recordings, why are they important, etc.

• We will discuss about the Swing and Big Band era. From 1930s~1940.

• We will discuss about the Bebop era. From 1940~1950.

• My favourite time of Jazz history. 1960s and Hard Bop era.

• We will talk about the era of electric fusion and back to the acoustic jazz in 80s.