Let's Play Jazz
169 TUTOR: Colin Speight (LGSM CMTA)
Have
you ever fancied trying your hand at playing jazz? It is not as hard as you
think. If you have been playing an instrument for three years or more, know a
couple of scales and can read the odd note or two, then come along and see how
Duke Ellington, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis created and improvised their
music. You will learn to improvise, understand more about jazz harmony and have
great fun playing some cool jazz with other course members. All instruments and
singers are welcome.
Improvisation may be a daunting prospect for even the
most experienced musician, but as the saying goes 'when someone played a wrong
note jazz was born'. Improvisation is in itself a form of spontaneous
composition as practised by Bach and Beethoven and can be incredibly fun and
extremely rewarding. Everyone on this course will learn to improvise over
standard blues and jazz chord sequences, learning from past masters while
finding their own individual voice.
Participants will need to have a minimum standard of
grade 3 on their chosen instrument. Each person will go away with practice
materials/ideas and the knowledge and confidence to improvise in most
situations.
Monday
Brief history of Jazz. The pentatonic/blues scale, blues
improvising.
Tuesday
Blues improvising, jazz standards, ii V I chord
progressions.
Wednesday
Minor ii V I chord progressions, minor blues.
Thursday
Bossa Nova, major/minor improvisation.
Friday
Performance techniques.
Essential equipment
Please bring your own instrument. If you are a guitarist
or bassist please bring your own amp. Pianists may need to bring their own
equipment depending on participant numbers.
Colin Speight
LGSM CMTA
About Colin
Colin Speight studied Jazz guitar at the 'Guildhall School of Music and drama' in London, he then completed his 'Certificate in Music Teaching to Adults' at Goldsmiths College/University of London where he gave his final exam performance on classical guitar.
He is a busy player and educator playing jazz/blues and classical concerts all over Europe, he was an examiner for the 'London College of Music' and has been on radio 2 discussing Jazz History with Acker Bilk.