Startup Schools

Willie Thomas | November 7, 2011

Getting Started:

I suggest that you print out the lessons for each student. It may be easier than students using laptops in the classroom. We hope to have a printer friendly version available soon. But for now, do the best you can. Beginner's Corner Lesson 1 Link

Next, download the Start Up Full Band-Bb & F Blues and the Bb & F Dorian Minor arrangements (download HERE) with parts for each instrument in the band. I suggest making a folder for each student.
Find and check out the Rhythm Pack Start Up Lesson. Rhythm Pack Lesson 1 Link

Get that horn out and join the band!

Encourage the students to go through the Beginner's Corner Lesson 1 online at home before you start working with the Band in the classroom. You may want to have a special session to start the rhythm section. Use the Rhythm Pack Lesson 1.

Lesson 1 (3 Sessions 30-45 minutes)

When the rhythm section can play the Bb Blues form with a steady beat, have the full band play through the Full Band Bb Blues arrangement in whole notes. Do this until they can play it in tune with a good sound. Then, have just the brass section followed by the sax section play through the Bb Blues chart.
Session 1 Jazz articulation, style and blues vocabulary
Lesson 1.1 - Have the brass and sax section alternate playing the jazz articulation with the Bb blues arrangement. Do this until the students are playing legato notes, breath accents and house top accents with correct style and good rhythm. You might want to play online examples for students to hear in the classroom. They need to work on this at home online or in the practice room.
Lesson 1.2 - Play the warm up triplets with the chords in the Bb Blues form. This is a good way to start a rehearsal. This helps students get a feeling for 12/8 swing style jazz.
Lesson 1.3 - Use the Bb Blues arrangement as you play and learn new vocabulary. Let the brass and saxes take turns playing the blues riffs or patterns for sections or individuals to imitate. Memorize these riffs. Be creative!
Lesson 1.4 - Etudes in each lesson organize new vocabulary or licks into choruses. Alternate sections with the Bb Blues arrangements played behind the etudes.
Rhythm Section Notes
It will be important for you to monitor the rhythm section players individually and as a group. Insist on a steady beat. Make sure they are selecting and using appropriate rhythms to reinforce the vocabulary patterns. This is all outlined in the Jazz Anyone Rhythm Book Teacher Edition. The continuous playing required in these routines allow the rhythm section to play without interruption. This is the best way to create a swinging rhythm section and band.
The previous work may take an entire session. This is a good place to pause. Encourage students to work online at home between sessions. This will insure steady progress. Make assignments and listen to them in class as you work through the lessons. Accountability is an essential part of the process.
Session 2 Starting Improvisation
Lesson 1.5 - Start this session with a discussion about the blues scale, the blues harmonies and the blues form. Help them understand how they are formed. However, don't get into the weeds with the theory. There is plenty of time for that. The important things for them to understand is that jazz is a language, comprised of sounds, rhythms and form. To speak the language of jazz, they need to hear the vocabulary played, learn to play it and how to use this knowledge creatively.
Lesson 1.6 - Play through the 4 measure blues scale patterns one at a time. Alternate between the sax and brass sections playing the Bb blues charts. Then, suggest that students rearrange the blues scale notes with different rhythm patterns. Reverse the process with the brass and sax sections. Continue this process until most of the students are improvising freely. Big band jams are inspiring!
Finish this session by encouraging individual students to make up blues melodies to fit fixed rhythm patterns. This important process is a part of all the Beginner's Corner lessons. Finish your session with this activity.
Session 3 Putting it all together
Lesson 1.7 - Start your final session with individual students playing licks for others to imitate. This helps train the ears and fingers to play what they hear. Do this with just the rhythm section, or sections in the band. Finally, make up simple on-the-beat rhythms for students to play with the arrangements. Let as many students as possible improvise a chorus or two of blues. Don’t forget to make sure the rhythm players improvise. You'll soon see who's hot and who's not. This is how you find the solo potential.
Lesson 1.8 - Assign parts to the B B Blues Mini-chart and play it several times with interested students taking solos. Insist on good intonation, steady beat and correct jazz style, played with a full sound ... lot's of air, please!
Lesson 1.9 - If you have a little extra time, you might want to discuss the Artist featured on each inspirational page Some of the students may already know who Wynton Marsalis is. Remember, listening to jazz is an important part of the learning process.
Rhythm Section Notes
Use this opportunity to help your rhythm section correctly play their parts correctly in this arrangement. This is where they start learning to listen to the band, reinforce accents and still keep the beat steady.