aaronjazz.com

Class Materials

Here is the class syllabus

Sheet Music in PDF form.  Be sure to print:

Mr. PC for C instruments (piano and flute)

Mr. PC for C instruments bass clef (trombone)

Mr. PC for Bb instruments (trumpet, tenor)

Mr. PC for Eb instruments (alto, bari)

Mr. PC for drummers

As always, if you have any questions or difficulties do NOT wait for class to ask.  Email me.

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 End Notes 5/13

I wanted to congratulate you all on a great performance last week.  Take time to download, share, and enjoy the performances on the website (www.aaronjazz.com/jazz_ensemble/).  You can download the mp3s and put them on your iPOD or phone or a CD for your family to enjoy (they make good gifts!).  

I was proud hear the excellent solos and overall playing.   When things did not go exactly as we planned, everybody listened, maintained focus, and kept the music going in the right direction.  The concert was not ending point, but rather a beginning of a musical journey.  Keep practicing and listening. 

 You can always email me with any questions. 

 

 Weekly Assignment 4/30

We will be having our last rehearsal from 1-4pm on 5/6. We also are eating food.  So, the moment we get there, let’s get to work and perfect all the pieces.  Each piece needs time, but we will spend a lot of time on My Favorite Things.  Take the time between now and then to work on your solos and melodies.  Chances are that everyone will solo on My Favorite Things.  Have every piece memorized!

 

Concert Information:

1. We perform at 8:30-9:00.  Be there at least by 8:00.  Use that time to warm up your instrument.  We will also have some setup required.
2. Drums.  Need to bring set.
3. Microphone.  Does anybody have a microphone with 1/4” input?
4. Dress Code is black dress shirt and black pants or dress (guys no white socks)

If anybody needs music, please let me know now!

 Weekly Assignment  3/25

1. Play melody along with My Favorite Things.  Learn every inflection that John Coltrane plays.
2. Drummers, learn Elvin Jones drum part on My Favorite Things
3. Practice soloing with Freddie Freeloader
4. Piano:  Practice chords AND soloing
5. Free Choice Listening assignment
   

 Weekly Assignment  3/18

• Practice the play along with Freddie the Freeloader.  Get comfortable with Concert Bb blues scale. 
  
• I will post items to download and print on Tuesday.

 Weekly Assignment  3/11

• Practice Freddie Freeloader and Mr. PC
• Listen to new rehearsal tape
• Use this week to catch up on listening assignments and practicing you need to do!
  

 Weekly Assignment  3/4

• You are responsible for every previous assignment. Drama! Climax!
  
• Listening assignment: Compare and contrast the styles of Charlie Parker and John Coltrane
• Email a critique your playing on the rehearsal recording.  Positives, negatives and things to improve.
• Play along with Freddie the Freeloader recording.  Learn Melody!
• Practice Bb Blues Scale.  For Concert instruments: Bb Db Eb E F Ab Bb.  For trumpet, tenor and bass clarinet : C Eb F F# G Bb C.  For Eb instruments: G, Bb C C# D F G
• Drummers.  Practice time feel and soloing with metronome!

Weekly Assignment  2/25

• You are responsible for every previous assignment. 
  
• Who is Mr. PC?
• Practice your soloing with the play along recording. Provide and arc to your solos.  Introduction! Drama!  Climax!  Falling action!  Don't forget your scales.
• Piano:  Practice both comping sheet and soloing
• Drums: Practice playing time with ride cymbal and hi-hat and comping on the snare drum with your left hand.
  
• Email me your listening assignment.  Listen to tracks of both Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie and compare the two trumpeters.
  

Weekly Assignment  2/18

•  Melodic improvisers should have eight phrases using the C (concert) blues scale that you can play at any time.  Also three phrases in F (concert) blues scale  Have them written down and memorized.  I will be checking.  Notes from last week still apply.  Practice Chromatic scale.
• Use the play along above to practice soloing on Mr. PC.  
• Drummers practice swing feel at 90, 120, 150, 180 with metronome.  Practice soloing with hi-hat on 2 and 4.
  
• We will be working with the rhythms for last class.   
• Listening assignment choose a musician on your instrument from the list at right
• Don't wait till class to ask questions!
  

 

Weekly Assignment  2/11

• Email me immediately with both of your parents email addresses.
• Drummers download sheet music and practice swing feel with metronome.  If possible, put metronome click on beat 1 only of 4/4 measure.  Listen to Freddie the Freeloader and copy exactly what Jimmy Cobb is playing.  Listen to Mr. PC above as well.
• Melodic improvisers (everybody but the drums) have five phrases using the blues scale that you can play at any time.  Write it down and memorize.  Be able to change the ending of the phrase.  Continue practicing scales.  Play them every way you can think of.  Low to High, staccato-legato, starting on a different note of the scale, fast.....use your creativity to find new ways.  You will demonstrate in class. 
• Be able to clap rhythms discussed
• Listening Assignment.  Choose either Blue Monk by Thelonius Monk or Freddie the Freeloader by Miles Davis
• When you post your listening assignment, know that it does NOT immediately post to the website.  It comes to me for approval and then I choose when to post it.  

Weekly Assignment  2/4

• Download and print above sheet music. 
• Practice Mr. PC melody(1st 12 measures)
• Practice Scales entitled C Blues, F Blues, C Dorian, F Dorian (concert key names)
• Find patterns and new ways to play scales like we did at audition
• Drummers:  Play along with recording and learn how they play the melody. 
• Listen to recording above for Mr. PC
  
• Listening Assignment
  
• Bring music notebook!
  

Listening Assignments

Students are expected to be listening to jazz music on a regular basis.  Weekly there is a listening assignment due.  

Email me to send your listening assignment. 

To view the jazz listening message board go here.     There is an example posted.  

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A sampler list of Jazz Musicians to search for:

Trumpet: Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillispie

Saxophone: Wayne Shorter, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins

Trombone: Curtis Fuller, J.J. Johnson, Wycliffe Gordon, Conrad Herwig

Clarinet: Don Byron, Bennie Goodman

Piano: Herbie Hancock, Bill Evans, Bud Powell, Ahmad Jamal

Drums: Max Roach, Art Blakey, Tony Williams

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Free listening venues include FM 88.3 WBGO, 89.9 Columbia University at various times, iTunes, Internet radio, YouTube, and your local public or university library (e.g. Rutgers).  

The audio to your left are just samples.  Please go to your local music store, or amazon.com, iTunes to find the complete versions of these songs.