Practice Jazz Jams (Novice)

http://bit.ly/dubjazz

You don't need to get all these details right for these novice practice sessions. The set list format should offer opportunities for those at different levels of developing their playing.

While at the beginning one might struggle to follow/comp the chords or play through the melody, it gets easier over time and one can start to develop approaches to improvisation, harmonise lead lines, add intros/endings, work on communication between band members, and even listen to recordings together and pick up specific arrangements.

Bass players are expected to be able to play a walking bass line on swing tunes, and simple bossa lines for bossa novas.

Playing the melody, or "head" - the responbility is shared between horns players (e.g. sax, trumpet, violin), guitar and piano. Feel free to discuss among the group before each song - different parts of the head or the starting / ending heads can be played by different players. Some melodies will better suit several voices at the same time, whereas others are sensitive to variations in how they are played and may prefer a single instrument at a time.

What it's like

A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere - please put aside any worries of making mistakes if you’re thinking of joining us for the first time. To ensure the group is accessible for those at different levels, I ask that each novice session should work on only the below four songs of the set list, unless each and every attendee feels they prefer to move on.

Each novice session is limited to up to: 1 drummer, 2 bass, 2 keys, 2 guitar, 3/4 lead instruments. Always use the top of the description to see if there is an available slot for your instrument - please do not try to work this out yourself by looking at the other attendees' instruments.

Tunes this week (Sun Nov 24)

• Take the A train in C (warm up)
• Too close for comfort in C (see Stan Getz recording)
• On green dolphin street in Eb
• Good Bait in Bb

Tune preview - next novice session (Sat Nov 30)

• Freddie freeloader in Bb (warm up)
• On green dolphin street in Eb
• Nardis in Em
• Out of nowhere in G

Preparing for the session

The chordal form of each song follow the iReal Pro app as a common reference, or you can use sheet music from Real Books.

Resource for sheet music:

https://www.seventhstring.com/fbindex.html

http://therealbook.info/

Try to immerse yourself in the songs by listening to recordings by different artists on youtube, spotify etc.

Learn the head (main melody) of the song if you can. Don't hesitate to let the band know you can play it so you can start things off

Equipment
there is a piano, drum kit (no cymbals or high hat clutch), bass and guitar amps, and microphones. Limited number of music stands. Drummers: please bring cymbals (none available for rental) and hi hat clutch

Vocalists

singers very welcome though usually I suggest you come to the intermediate sessions where you can pick your own song and key (as chances are many of the above are not in the right key for your range)

Cancellation policy

Please try to make it to any session you sign up to, as the jams are organised around a particular mix of instruments. However, if things do come up and you can no longer make a session, please send a message to the organiser, Xie, as soon as possible.

Places are non-refundable if your plans change, but if you provide over 1 week notice it may be possible to carry over the fee for a future session.

----

any questions do get in touch!

3 to 5pm: house band, open to be joined by others with requests from future standards repertoire

5 to 5.30pm: improver group set
5.30 to 6pm: festive set

6 to 7.30pm: open jam for standards (recommend coming early to put your name on sign up sheet)

We'll likely go somewhere for food afterwards.

See you then
Xie

http://bit.ly/dubjazz

You don't need to get all these details right for these novice practice sessions. The set list format should offer opportunities for those at different levels of developing their playing.

While at the beginning one might struggle to follow/comp the chords or play through the melody, it gets easier over time and one can start to develop approaches to improvisation, harmonise lead lines, add intros/endings, work on communication between band members, and even listen to recordings together and pick up specific arrangements.

Bass players are expected to be able to play a walking bass line on swing tunes, and simple bossa lines for bossa novas.

Playing the melody, or "head" - the responbility is shared between horns players (e.g. sax, trumpet, violin), guitar and piano. Feel free to discuss among the group before each song - different parts of the head or the starting / ending heads can be played by different players. Some melodies will better suit several voices at the same time, whereas others are sensitive to variations in how they are played and may prefer a single instrument at a time.

What it's like

A relaxed and welcoming atmosphere - please put aside any worries of making mistakes if you’re thinking of joining us for the first time. To ensure the group is accessible for those at different levels, I ask that each novice session should work on only the below four songs of the set list, unless each and every attendee feels they prefer to move on.

Each novice session is limited to up to: 1 drummer, 2 bass, 2 keys, 2 guitar, 3/4 lead instruments. Always use the top of the description to see if there is an available slot for your instrument - please do not try to work this out yourself by looking at the other attendees' instruments.

Tunes this week (Sun Nov 24)

• Take the A train in C (warm up)
• Too close for comfort in C (see Stan Getz recording)
• On green dolphin street in Eb
• Good Bait in Bb

Tune preview - next novice session (Sat Nov 30)

• Freddie freeloader in Bb (warm up)
• On green dolphin street in Eb
• Nardis in Em
• Out of nowhere in G

Preparing for the session

The chordal form of each song follow the iReal Pro app as a common reference, or you can use sheet music from Real Books.

Resource for sheet music:

https://www.seventhstring.com/fbindex.html

http://therealbook.info/

Try to immerse yourself in the songs by listening to recordings by different artists on youtube, spotify etc.

Learn the head (main melody) of the song if you can. Don't hesitate to let the band know you can play it so you can start things off

Equipment
there is a piano, drum kit (no cymbals or high hat clutch), bass and guitar amps, and microphones. Limited number of music stands. Drummers: please bring cymbals (none available for rental) and hi hat clutch

Vocalists

singers very welcome though usually I suggest you come to the intermediate sessions where you can pick your own song and key (as chances are many of the above are not in the right key for your range)

Cancellation policy

Please try to make it to any session you sign up to, as the jams are organised around a particular mix of instruments. However, if things do come up and you can no longer make a session, please send a message to the organiser, Xie, as soon as possible.

Places are non-refundable if your plans change, but if you provide over 1 week notice it may be possible to carry over the fee for a future session.

----

any questions do get in touch!