2HYTHM

When we use words to sing rhythms,

we call this vocalizing. Think of these
words as nicknames. Your name might
be James, but your friends call you
Jimmy. Get it?
Use the word DAH to vocalize a
quarter note and the words dee ba to
vocalize eighth notes.
To swing the rhythms, use a longshort pattern when vocalizing the
eighth notes.

DAH

Try playing these rhythms on one note

on the piano. Next, try playing the
quarter notes on C and the eighth
notes on G. Finally, try playing the
C Major ve-nger scale using these
rhythms.

4
&4 f
DAH

dee

ba

DAH

f f f
dee

ba

ba

DAH

DAH

DAH

DAH

DAH

DAH

DAH

f f
dee

ba

4
&4 f f f f f
dee

DAH

4
&4 f
DAH

f f f

4
&4 f f f
dee

4
&4 f
DAH

Practice each rhythm several times and

listen to the CD to hear both swing
and straight versions.

Optional:

& 44 f

ba

5.)4/.%

dee

f
DAH

ba DAH

DAH

f f f f
dee

ba

dee

ba

4
&4 f f f f f f f f
dee ba dee ba dee ba dee ba

4
&4 f f f
dee ba DAH

f f f
dee ba DAH

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5.)4/.%

%AR4RAINING

Listen to the CD or have your teacher play each example. The CD will say Rhythm A. Match the
rhythm you heard with the letter to the left. Do the same for all rhythms and melodies.
Rhythms:

Melodies:

h

q q

h h

q q q q

$UET0ART

C7

j
b

?
b n

F7

F7

F#7

j
? b
b

10

? #

14

4
&4

4
&4

Dancin Don DUET PART: Student plays one octave higher.

F7

Swing q = 110

4
&4

j
b
b
F7

j

#

F#7

#
#
C7

C6

C6

j
j
j
b
b
b n b n
C7

Amin

D7b9

G7

C7

b
j
j
b # #n

b b #
F7

j
j
b

b
b n
Amin

F7

D7b9

b
j j
b
b
b

j

b n
G7

C7

b n

C7

#
b n

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Band/Piano
3/4

9VcX^c9dc
Steady q = 110

& 44
?4
4
&

mp

10

14

& b
?

b b

?
&

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5.)4/.%

)MPROVISATION
Improvising is when we make up something new on-the-spot using what we already know.
Improvising is a lot like speaking. When you speak, you arrange words on the spot to communicate.
You do not make up words!
Just like speaking, we can build a vocabulary of ideas on the piano to use when improvising. These
ideas are called licks.
A lick is a short melodic phrase that you use for improvisation. It is a melodic motif.
STEPS:
1. Practice the C minor ve-nger scale.
2. Vocalize and play each lick by itself a few times.
3. Play the licks with your teacher or the CD accompaniment.

C MINOR FIVE-FINGER SCALE

STUDENT PART

&

& 44 b

.
1

dee ba dee ba

b
.

DAH DAH

dee ba dee ba

DAH DAH

. b
.

DAH DAH

dee ba dee ba

TEACHER PART: Student plays one octave higher.

Band
6

Call

Medium swing

? 44

b
1

b
3

u
5

? 44

u bass line legato

5

? 44

Response

.
b

Student plays lick here

b
2

Student plays lick here

Student plays lick here

b
3

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