Jazz Band

[superman1980]

Hi,

I am not sure where I should post this in the forum and my best guess was in the "Performance" section so forgive me if I'm wrong.

Currently, at school, I have the chance to join a jazz band. I'm done my ARCT piano with a mark of 86 but haven't really tried too much of jazz piano. Do you think I should value this opportunity and join the jazz band? Do you have any tips or suggestions for me to ease my transition between playing Classical piano to Jazz piano?

-Superman1980-

[dima_76557]

Currently, at school, I have the chance to join a jazz band. I'm done my ARCT piano with a mark of 86 but haven't really tried too much of jazz piano. Do you think I should value this opportunity and join the jazz band? Do you have any tips or suggestions for me to ease my transition between playing Classical piano to Jazz piano?

Here is an article by the jazz pianist Ted Rosenthal, describing how jazz pianists practise. If you feel that one or more of the points discussed are not present yet as a skill, you may think twice before deciding to do this. It's not about whether it will be useful for you, but about whether your efforts will be appreciated by the band members if they feel you don't know the idiom and all its aspects well enough.
https://www.tedrosenthal.com/practice.htm

[awesom_o]

I'm afraid I agree with Dima on this one.

It isn't really about whether you should value this opportunity.

It's about whether this opportunity is going to value you.

 

In my experience, Jazz musicians are often highly critical of classical players who they feel haven't spent enough time on the rudiments of jazz.

[Bob]

Yes, join the jazz band.  The more music, the better.  I really doubt you'd regret it.

This forum is classical.  There are a few jazzers here though.  I think Derek is one, but I haven't seen him for a while.  Jazz is a different mindset.  Jazz and Classical end up in the same place, but the thinking/aesthetics/etc. are a little different.  It will give you a different perspective on things.  Definitely worthwhile.

[thalbergmad]

Yes join, it can only broaden your experience.

Or, you could take up the banjo.

Thal

[Bob]

Why not both?  Jazz and some banjo won't hurt.

[indianajo]

Try it now, and hope your fellow students are as new to playing by ear as you are.  That is, bad.  I'm trying to learn playing by ear in my sixties, and part of the problem is that everybody else that likes pop music went through this phase in their teens. 
And I have to say, that playing banjo does actually hurt.  That is, if you can't grow calluses on your fingers.  i was making progress on nylon guitar, but when I tried to upgrade to brass strings,  I soon discovered that piano was made for me.  Grandfather's old 1920's banjo is sadly neglected. 

[superman1980]

Hi Everyone,

Thanks very much for your answer...might even try the banjo .

Now could you give me some tips to succeed because unfortunately, the jazz band is a "class" and is for marks that go towards my grade average.

Thanks in advance.

[Bob]

Depends on the type of class.  Follow what the teacher says and you'll probably be successful in the class.  Whether that's actually doing jazz things... Some groups just play jazz pieces and call that a jazz band.  Everyone's in the jazz band -- flutes, French horns, etc.  Others only allow standard jazz instruments, do improve, do things with jazz combos, etc.

Some can't get pianists or guitar players. You might have an easy grade if you just show up.  I wouldn't worry too much about the grade. 

Private jazz lessons would be great.  The ensemble does ensemble things.  It's not too likely the director/teacher will tutor you individually on jazz the whole semester/year.  The director might be clueless on the piano themself.  Point being -- Don't think this one ensemble if everything there is about jazz.  It's one ensemble, and it's an ensemble.  There's a wide variety of what schools call 'jazz bands' out there.

[dima_76557]

Now could you give me some tips to succeed because unfortunately, the jazz band is a "class" and is for marks that go towards my grade average.

If it's a class, then you just do what they tell you and make sure that next time, you are able to do what is required. The link I gave you earlier will be of help:
https://www.tedrosenthal.com/practice.htm

Something they may not teach you is the mindset needed for free and creative Jazz performance. For that purpose, I would highly recommend you to watch some of the splendid master classes ArtistsHouseMusic has on YouTube. The lessons one can learn there are equally valuable for classical musicians. Especially Kenny Werner has some really good pep talk:

search?query=piano+Master+Class

[hardy_practice]

Can you rattle off the chord progressions of the classical pieces you play?  In that case you'll be fine, all the great performers/composers were great improvisers.

[Bob]

Learn II V I in every key.

Learn the blue scale.

Pentatonic major and minor scales.

Modes.