Reminders work well

And a great practice session was had.  Played for about 1 hour, worked overtones, pentatonic scales (they sound cool when played correctly) transcribing Bob Berg and Scott Hamilton, followed by the famous play along series, to drill tunes and run changes.

Feeling a little better after a crappy week - I even have one job app. in! 

LL

Just some reminders:

.........Must transcribe more Bob Berg......

.........Must play scales with metronome on 2 and 4 (yes, I have a fancy "jazz" metronome too!)

Almost a week (or weak)

After a week of listening and singing, I still do not have any better time.....
......haven't run in almost a week, too!
I am out of my teaching position -  My mother-in-law is a little sicker than she led us to believe - 
But I still remember which end of the horn to blow into.

This is the "keep-on-keepin'-on" stage......

LL

I need a 36 hour day!

Well, not lazy, but graduate school does call. I do have to keep my running going, because this is essential to my mental health.

My focus has been on listening, and letting my body relax into the groove. I have noticed in listening to many bands that there are alot of musicians who do not do this, and it is very apparent in the rushed feeling the band and/or soloist has. My saxophone has not gotten much of a workout in the last few days, but my ears and body have. Just relax into the groove!

Peace, LL

Practice and the Music Lesson

Hi Folks -

Practice was practice tonite…. figured I better get a fun one in, because grad school sets in again tomorrow, and I probably will not get any time in at all.

The Music Lesson – discusses the 11 elements of music. Groove notes, Articulation/Duration, Technique, Emotion, Dynamics, Rhythm/Tempo, Tone, Phrasing, Space/Rest, Listening.

Some of these elements have been over-emphasized in my formal training, leaving large gaps in the basic areas. Lots of schools pay attention to technique – how to play an instrument, music theory, all the “academic” stuff your average listener (or reader) does not really get. Now, if you are a schooled musician reading this, you do get it, but you still know that most people appreciate the sound of a good band, and can easily tell the difference between good and not so good.

SO for the next few weeks, lets focus on the fun stuff that gets the smiles, laughs, and toes tapping. The groove, the emotion/feel, and the use of space, which helps the phrasing. That will be my focus for a while at least. Tonight I played along with Bob Berg, Coleman Hawkins, Chris Potter, and Tom Scott – a powerhouse quartet. The goal was to feel the groove, and feel the emotion/use of space/phrasing. To me, they are all tied together.

Musical comments?????

Peace