the solo section is a part of the chart too! - bandmasters.org “moanin’” by bobby timmons,...
TRANSCRIPT
The Solo Section is a Part of the Chart Too! Making the Solo Section Work for Your Band
Mike Conrad Doctoral Candidate
University of Northern Colorado
Time spent on improvisation?
Chart is about 5 minutes long
Solo section is about 2 minutes long
That’s 40% of duration of the tune!
Are you spending anywhere near 40% of your rehearsal time on improvisation/rhythm section playing??
written-out solos
This clinic will focus on:
TOOLS you can give your students to play a confident and successful solo
Picking REPERTOIRE with the difficulty of the solo section in mind
Ways you can MODIFY or SIMPLIFY the solo section
Ways to create more INTEREST and VARIETY in the solo section
GREAT GREAT GREAT
GREAT AWKWARD GREAT
Tools for ImprovisationLet’s help our students be successful!
Chord Scales
At the very least, make sure the students are aware of which scales correspond to which chords
D Major 7 = D Major Scale
Bb minor 13 = Bb dorian scale
Guide Tones
The basic chord tones that define the harmony
3rds and 7ths
When the bass motion is in ascending 4ths/descending 5ths, 3rds go to 7ths and 7ths go to 3rds
Pentatonics
5-note scales from which students can easily create melodies
Can simplify otherwise complicated chord/scale relationships
Bb Major Pentatonic sounds on Ab Maj 13 (#11) sounds great!
Bb (9th), C (3rd), D (#11), F (13th), G (Maj 7)
“One Note Different”
Rather than thinking about switching from one 7-note scale to another 7-note scale, just identify the note(s) that changed.
Example: Bb Blues
Bb7 to Eb7
NOT Bb Mixolydian to Eb Mixolydian (Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, Ab to Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, Db)
D to Db. Simple as that.
Solo Sheets
Make a separate sheet for anyone in the group who is interested in soloing on any given chart.
Include:
Chord/scale relationships
Guide tones
Pentatonic scale options
A couple of licks for them to get started (They can use these as a point of departure, expand on them, create their own, etc.)
Don’t Forget the Recordings!!! If you’re playing Mark Taylor’s arrangement of “Moanin’” by Bobby Timmons, listen to Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers with the kids!
The BEST opportunity for them to build jazz
vocabulary (and start to understand style)
We have to give students tools to be successful.
We can’t just throw them in the deep end with out a life preserver or swimming lessons.
Good luck!
jazz
vocab
RepertoireThink about the solo section!
What are the main things you consider when choosing music for your jazz band?
Lead Trumpet Range
Difficulty of Rhythms
Length of Chart
How does it fit in with the rest of my set?
Does it showcase my best players?
DO MY STUDENTS HAVE THE ABILITY TO SOLO SUCCESSFULLY ON THIS CHART?
can I teach them how?
CAN MY RHYTHM SECTION PLAYERS PLAY THE SOLO SECTION CONVINCINGLY?
Music with difficult solo forms (too advanced for the students)
Three options:
1. Teach them how to play on that form
2. Simplify the solo section
3. Pick something else!
Vamps/Modal
Playing solos on modal jazz tunes is more attainable for young students than playing “changes”
Look for charts that have solo sections that use one or two chords/scales
“Gatito” by Matt Harris
“Kind of Blue(grass)” by Fred Sturm
Options for modificationMake the solo section work for your band!
Rhythm Section Options
Change Cymbal
Change Comping Instrument
Change Density, Register, etc. of CompingNo CompingChord SubstitutionsChange Groove
2 feel vs. 4latin/swing
Rhythm Section Options
Brushes!
Drums Drop Out
Bass Drops Out
continued
Stop Time/Hits
Use Material in Arrangement (intros/interludes) as a vamp for soloists
Soloist Options
Trading
Collective
Different Shapes/Energy Arcs
Think about the big picture shape of the solo section…
Ensemble Options
Riff Backgrounds
Improvised Long Note Backgrounds
Call & Response with Soloist and Band
Sing, Stomp, Clap (if stylistically appropriate)
Will the composer/publisher be ok with me modifying the chart?
When in doubt… ask!
Give the students some stuff to work with in their solos
Pick charts with the solo sections in mind
Modify
to fit your students
to make things more interesting/fun!
Recap
Questions for me?
Mike Conrad
563-940-5675
www.mconradmusic.com