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LESSONS 'BAND IN A BOX SONGS' JAZZ TRADITION Learn to play jazz ... These
lessons are an attempt at 'distance' teaching of a difficult aural musical skill, an almost
impossible task, so remember sympathetic hard work is required. They involve a series of
written lessons and accompanying 'Band in a Box' '.mgu' files containing musical
examples which can be seen and heard using the 'Band in a Box' software from They are
based on an assortment of lessons, tutorials, readings, tips and hints which I have
accumulated and put together over the years. They are not instrument specific, they are an
analysis of the sound of music ... The basics of improvisation you will learn are common
to all jazz styles but my personal favourite is the collective small band sound of Louis
Armstrong - listen to MUSKRAT RAMBLE ... and when you have put in the hours you
will be able to play any tune in this style - try CHARMAINE DIXIE ! Here we go ...
click on the logos or examples for the action - SPIEL - introduction to music and
improvisation COURSE CONTENT - lesson overview The lessons are in MSWord, or
pdf format and the examples are zipped 'Band in a Box' files ... you will find this software
almost indispensable for practice as you learn to listen and to hear ... LESSON 1 - the
concept of tonality & the sound of the 'home base' ... or as a pdf 'band in a box'
EXAMPLES Lesson 1 & a 'silent' 'Band in a Box' style ... or as pdf LESSON 2 - the
process of improvisation & moving patterns practice ... or as a pdf 'band in a box'
EXAMPLES Lesson 2 ... or as a pdf LESSON 3 - ears, habits & 'sound/finger patterns' ...
or as a pdf 'band in a box' EXAMPLES Lesson 3... or as a pdf LESSON 4 - ears, habits &
'rhythmic time feel' ... or as a pdf 'band in a box' EXAMPLES Lesson 4 ... or as a pdf
LESSON 5 - interesting sound trajectories ... or as a pdf 'band in a box' EXAMPLES
Lesson 5 ... or as a pdf LESSON 6 - pleasing the ear ... or as a pdf 'band in a box'
EXAMPLES Lesson 6 ... or as a pdf LESSON 7 - consolidation & summary ... or as a pdf
'band in a box' EXAMPLES Lesson 7 ... or as a pdf LESSON 8 - playing the changes ...
or as a pdf Improvisation Lessons 3/8/2015 Improvisation Lessons
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'band in a box' EXAMPLES Lesson 8 ... or as a pdf LESSON 9 - blues theory &
pentatonic scales ... or as a pdf 'band in a box' EXAMPLES Lesson 9 ... or as a pdf
LESSON 10 - blues practice & blues scales ... or as a pdf 'band in a box' EXAMPLES
Lesson 10 ... or as a pdf LESSON 11 - blues legacy & achieving effects ... or as a pdf
'band in a box' EXAMPLES Lesson 11 ... or as a pdf eleven lessons complete part 1 of
this course, watch out for 'typos' ... more to come? ... my original intention was to extend
the principles ingrained from part 1 to more discussion of 'high tension' sounds and
'swing' in part 2 ... but my notes include a lot of ideas which on reflection tend to repeat
the principles of part 1 ... I now suggest the best way forward is to practice part 1 and
follow your ear !! ... meanwhile ... practice more !! Don't forget to send me an email with
your comments, corrections and critique ... HERE HOME LOUIS ARMSTRONG
IMPROVISATION LESSONS 'BAND IN A BOX SONGS' JAZZ TRADITION contact
JOHN P BIRCHALL interesting LINKS