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Public domain scale books. Free download. No registration required. If I can help you learn to play these properly, call me. David
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This is a description of a 1st lesson for a new online student from the USA. He comes to lessons with a music degree under his belt. Exercise 1. Jazz is rhythm and rhythm is learned by ear. We discussed the “scat” syllables of Baa-ooo, and 8th note interpretation. I encouraged him to listen to the following tracks on YouTube at half speed and sing these syllables. (As you can see in the score below, the “baa” starts on the “and” of 4.) He will discover how close the 8th note interpretations by these jazz artists maps on these syllables. Jordu by Clifford Brown Now’s the time by Charlie Parker Bessie’s Blues by John Coltrane Autumn Leaves by Kenny Barron. Exercise 2. Exploring swing rhythm. He learned to swing his major scales by starting on the leading tone, or a half step below the 1st note of a scale and playing and singing the scale below. Note the fingering!  Exercise 3. Listening to Jazz by transcription, 1st steps” Road mapping. We explored how to draw a visual representation of a jazz recording by noting the instrumentation, solo order, number of choruses, etc. I directed him to this free online lesson: How to create a roadmap. Being able to hear the form is an important step to playing jazz and memorising music.   Exercise 4. C jam blues and 1st step to playing by ear. C Jam Blues has 2 notes: G and C. D. was directed to another free lesson on this important tune. His task? Play the 1 note melody, by ear, along with the recordings and marvel at how many variations are possible.
Exercise 4. Play the chords along with a recording or two and stay in place for the entire track. I encourage you to try this. Do be afraid to count aloud. I do it all the time in orchestra. The point of these exercises is two fold. One, to get the student out of their heads and into the music. Two, to learn to trust their ears because trusting your ears is an important step in memorisation, a concern of his. If I can help you, call me. David Jazz Terms Of course, music making is healthy for older adults because joy is good at any age. However, can music make any other claims?
The McMaster Optimal Aging Portal, October 2024 has an evidence-based article, with references, of the current state of knowledge on music making and its cognitive benefits. They offer some encouragement that we can take to heart. For example, active music making may, note the underlining, improve cognitive function in older adults with mild to moderate dementia. But it will not cure it. If this is a concern of yours, I invite you to explore their blog and look up the references and then talk to your doctor. However, if I can help you in the music making department, call me. David People ask me, "who do you teach, what do they play, where do they live." Without naming names or revealing other identifying information here is the list.
Classical
This is the homework assignment for a current student. She plays regularly with a bassist in the Toronto area. She is aiming to build her jazz chops and sophistication at the piano. I'm encouraging her to abandon the books and embrace the ear. Honest communication = happy productive students
This is a practice plan created for an advanced jazz piano student. (She earned her Royal Conservatory of Music ARCT as a teenager.) Jazz warmups and technique Over the course of a week, she will review the major and minor scales, modes, and left-hand voicing systems: Bebop shells, rootless chords, and occassionally modal or quartal voicings. The scales can be played straight or swung starting on the leading tone upbeat. (see below) She will play these etudes with the metronome playing on beats 2 and 4. This builds an acute sensitivity to the jazz pulse.  Repertoire retention and development She reviews a piece or two to retain it. Furthermore, as she learns to techniques, she can apply them to her existing repertoire. Aural Training Aural or "ear" training is the most important part of practice because jazz is an aural tradition. The training jazz musicians since 1917 has revolved around playing with recordings and "stealing" or lifting interesting ideas. One exercise it to play the melody, for example Satin doll, along with the recording and try to match the rhythm. This is trickier that it sounds. Sightreading Randomly open the fakebook and sight read along the chords and possibily the melody to a recording. Slow the recording down if it is tricky. Keeping the left hand alive Jazz piano is not kind to the left hand because in most styles of mainstream jazz it doesn't get much of a workout. So, she keeps the left hand strong by returning regularly to some favourite classical piano tunes. In her case, Chopin. (For me it is Bach. ) If I can help you design a personalised curriculum call me. I will assess your skills, consider your goals, and plan a path forward for you too. David |
You've got to learn your instrument. Then, you practice, practice, practice. And then, when you finally get up there on the bandstand, forget all that and just wail. AuthorI'm a professional pianist and music educator in West Toronto Ontario. I'm also a devoted percussionist and drum teacher. Categories
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