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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,608
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,608 |
Hi, My 8th grade child wants to play jazz piano in her middle-school jazz band. She's had lessons since she was 7 and is fairly adept for her age. Her current teacher is classically trained with emphasis in sacred/hymnal music, and may not be able to give her many pointers on jazz music. We like this teacher very much and don't really want to switch. Adding more lessons could be possible, maybe but... everything adds up. I play decently well and can improvise, etc. but I've never played jazz piano either. Any tips for how I can help her with the music she's brought home? I can usually sight-read on the spot, but it's very different from what I'm used to playing/reading, and slow going for me too. This is only our first day looking at the music. Sounds like it's going to be very cool tunes, though, and a lot of fun. Cross-posting in the Musician board as well. Thanks! Linda ------------------ Linda Adams Read about my novels: http://www.alyssastory.com Bits & pieces of music: www.soundclick.com/lindaadams
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 22
Casual Observer
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Casual Observer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 22 |
Sorry for the late response...been busy in other areas and haven't checked here in a while.
I have played/ sung and written songs for over 30 years, All-State jazz pianist in 1984 for entire state of Oklahoma in high school, have a studio, taught for over 20 years. My advice would be to find a jazz teacher and switch for a short term, maybe a year or two. You're not going to lose the classical training as long as you still play through pieces and keep that repertoire up, but from my experience, jazz has to be "caught" not "taught" and the only way to do this is with someone who is a good player and a good teacher. If I lived closer I would love to teach her but I am in Kansas.....
so anyway, just my two cents worth.....
Another possibility, listen to a lot of jazz pianists....
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Aw, shoot, we moved from Kansas City a year ago! Just missed you. Thanks for the tips--I'll see what I can hunt down for a jazz teacher around here. Maybe I can work out keeping her in both. For the record... she's diving right into her music and it sounds pretty groovy to me. She should be able to "catch" it fine. Linda ------------------ Linda Adams Read about my novels: http://www.alyssastory.com Bits & pieces of music: www.soundclick.com/lindaadams
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 10,240
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Hey Linda. ... Maybe to supplement..you could also find some excellent Jazz Piano music.... for your daughter to listen and pick up some of that "flavor".... Best wishes...and tell her to have fun with it...too.... kk
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Thank you, Kayley! Any CD recommendations? I don't know who the greats are. I'll try the local library though. Terrific idea! Linda ------------------ Linda Adams Read about my novels: http://www.alyssastory.com Bits & pieces of music: www.soundclick.com/lindaadams
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 36
Casual Observer
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Casual Observer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 36 |
What tunes is your daughter's band playing? That might give me a jumping-off point for CD recommendations.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Hi Nancy, They are: "Area 51" by Larry Barton, "Groovin' Hard" by Don Menza, and and "Swing Machine," which, the corner of the page ripped & I can't see the composer. Thank you! Linda ------------------ Linda Adams Read about my novels: http://www.alyssastory.com Bits & pieces of music: www.soundclick.com/lindaadams
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8
Casual Observer
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Casual Observer
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8 |
My suggestion is to not interrupt the classical training. She will be exposed to enough new material just being in the jazz band. No need to introduce the complexities of jazz so soon, apart from what her current teacher might recommend. The director will teach her all she needs to know in order to play her part. The charts she will be reading will have some written lines, but she will also encounter chords and new rhythm patterns. You can help her learn to swing the eighth note in her comping and learn how to voice the chords (although the voicings will probably be supplied in the charts). If she has to play a solo, she should play the written suggestion in the chart. If none is supplied, then I would teach her the relationship between the given chord and its scale -- but even this lesson would be very basic. You can help her create a solo written around the melody -- this will be fine. You might even write the solo out so she can read it during the performance.
I would also suggest not to encourage her to do anything more with jazz than what is assigned by her director or that she has shown interest in learning. (Basically, answer her questions but do not supply new material.)
I recommend the Jazz Theory Book by Mark Levine. I recommend it for you, not your daughter. It can help you answer her questions and also help you understand more about your own improvisational inclinations. The material would be too overwhelming for her. The object at this point is to let her have a fun experience playing with a small ensemble.
Heavy emphasis on FUN. Use jazz as a departure from classical, but not as a substitute. Also, please talk to your teacher about your desire to expose your daughter to jazz. He can, and probably will, include a piece or two in her curriculum.
Good luck, Hepcat
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