First Jazz Lesson for An Intermediate Jazz Piano Student

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

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