I've been thinking lots about the open/closed thing that Tony brought up again recently, and so I've come up with an exercise which I've been doing everyday this week. It's quite big... I can just about get through all the keys in a hour now, and it still makes my head hurt following it through and remembering which chord I'm on! But I really feel it's improving my knowledge of scales (just major so far, but there's no reason why it won't work through other scales/progressions etc.), and the chords within scales.

I thought this was interesting and might get some talk going. Schoenberg is a tough one for me. Bartok, Shostakovitch and Stravinski I get, and I can hang with Schoenberg for a bit but not long!

Thanks so much to Barryk. He posted this Band In A Box file for my tune, titled and dedicated to Vince Guaraldi.

Check it out!

I broke down My Romance into sections. Try this approach, take little chunks of the tune and work with them. I have six sections below that cover each little part of the tune. See can understand the harmony of each one of these sections, and be able to move the harmony around in different keys. The idea is that you study one little section and that section makes sense to you, and then he studied the next, and then when you put it all together you you understand the whole tune.

Here's the handout for the class Wed. Nov., 5th 2008. (7pm)

btw- Larry is coming from a recording session so if for some reason he's late I'll post the change in times here.

Check out the cool font Larry uses in his Finale Program!

Getting around with the vibes can be a difficult thing. But I have it down. I have great soft cases and a rock and roller (see under check this out).

I can go up stairs, down the street. I can add my PA on the cart. I'm really flexible. You know getting your mobility together with this instrument is a real must. If you can't get around easily, it will deter you from getting to jam sessions, doing rehearsals and other great playing situations. The number one priority if you're learning this instrument is to get out and play with other people.

Here's a logical practice approach to comping.

Next pop up class is May 24th 7pm EDT

Ok guys,

next tune is Chi Chi by Charlie Parker.

Memorize the melody and the chords.
Post something here where you play the melody and play the chords. It has to be memorized. And you have to post before the class. :-)
If you don't want to do that, then the pop up class is 25 dollars a session. Get it? Do the work and you get in for free :-).

Pop up classes are informal classes to study a tune. If I get a gig, I would move the class or just turn it over to the students to hang and talk.