Student Teaching Day 11

My Day

Today I observed the Advanced Jazz Band and stood in with the trumpets and rhythm section.  I really like how the trumpet players were taking ownership for their parts as a section.  They were helping each other and not just concerned about their own part; they saw the big picture.  I taught the Jazz Band through The Goodness Box and I thought rehearsal went good for the most part.  I definitely got the end of the piece cleaned.  Right now I think my biggest weakness while working with the jazz band is really being able to example and sing the style they need to play in.  I need to become more comfortable with jazz vocalizing.  I sat in and played with the Wind Ensemble and Symphonic bands, and helped with the percussion ensemble at the end of the day. 

Instrument techniques

General Instruction

Jazz

-When tuning or after tuning have section (ex. Trumpets) playing split evenly in 4ths or 5ths to hear and tune to the harmonic interval.

-“Bop it,” means to just play the front of each note in the rhythm throughout the piece short to gain rhythmic accuracy

-Use the phrase “Crisp shorts,” for rhythm and style

-Have band or section class their releases in the music

-Know the difference between ballad accents, hard jazz accents, swing, etc.

-To stop rushing have band focus on lengthening long notes, also isolate the rhythm section, then layer on top. 

-Drummer needs to count off in style

-This following picture is showing jazz section balance and concert band balance within a section.

Quotes and Other Random Happenings

“Conducting the Rampart Wind Ensemble is like driving a Ferrari”