In order to gain an understanding of how to practice an instrument effectively and efficiently, it is useful to have some understanding of the structure of the brain, mind and nervous system. It is possible to “practice” and not get …
Pivots and Lead-Ins
Internal Dynamics in Rhythm
This is an area that seems to be largely ignored in the teaching of Jazz, while at the same time one of the most essential components of “swing.”
There is a pedagogy called Eurythmics pioneered by Émile Jaques-Dalcroze, which was …
Opposition and the Beginnings of Melody
Oppostion and the beginnings of melody
One of the hallmarks of swing, or rhythmic music in general, is an attribute (to paraphrase Steven Colbert) that we can call “back-and-forth-iness.” “This, then that,” “Yin, then yang,” “See, then saw…” you get …
Anchors, Pivots and Lead-Ins
Anchors
The bass is primarily responsible to provide anchor notes at certain points in the music. To put that in a nutshell, we are generally responsible to play a root in a low register when a harmony first occurs; doing …
The Untold Secret to Melodic Bass Playing
Anchors, Pivots and Lead-Ins
The secret to confidence in playing the bass – or in anything, for that matter – is knowing what you’re doing. When you’re playing the bass, having knowledge of the harmony – the chord changes – …