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Posts Tagged ‘Jazz Music’

Secrets To Becoming A Jazz Musician

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Jazz is a specialized form of African-American music having numerous followers around the world. This musical form was originated in the starting of the 20th century. What makes it different from other musical forms is the effective use of blue notes, syncopation, polyrhythms, swung note and improvisation. Jazz has today reached from the local coast of America to worldwide level connecting musical lovers and encouraging them to create new versions every day. Jazz is difficult to define and explain. The best way to learn about jazz is to have firm dedication towards it. Unfortunately, jazz music is tough to sell and it simple indicates that musicians don’t get what they actually deserve. But, the love of this special kind of music keeps their spirits high and keeps them going on and on.

Want to Learn Jazz music – Internet shows the way

To start with, it is important to learn the history of the music. Knowing the history of Jazz is important because it is considered as a classical form of music and many other musical forms such as rock and country are associated with its history. Having a clear understanding of the history will help in understanding its rhythms, techniques and sub-genres and a becoming musician can become a better jazz player. Secondly, it is better to find a band comprising of people who love jazz. Practice your knowledge with them and record and redo your work to gain expertise. Thirdly, you need to contact an experienced musicians having knowledge about the appropriate tools for teaching jazz music. Take some time out from your tight schedule and practice your lesions properly to perfect your timing and playing techniques. When you think you are ready for show, play your techniques at local bars, pubs or any other occasion such as weddings, birthdays and others. Try making contacts with people, musicians, music bands, music companies, other professionals and impress them with your talent.

Internet can be an excellent platform for intermediate jazz tools – helping young as well as established musicians to update on Jazz anytime and from anywhere. A website helps in rendering a professional image – easy to be permeated to others of similar interest.

Share your interest, experience and musical philosophy as well as gain from others to benefit maximum from a proper music community.



By: Akhila Choudhary

Practice Jazz Bass Lines by Making a Play List

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Jazz falls in the spontaneous forms of music. Nobody is a Jazz expert from birth; rather it is rigorous practice and love for Jazz music that extracts an expert from a common Jazz lover. Take the example of any Jazz expert, you will find that continuous improvisation and repeated practice have made them the master of the art. First they learn all genres of Jazz and then they tried to specialize and have expertise in one form.

On the path of specialization, your interest plays a significant role. Once you know the basics, step forward to have mastery in one. The logic behind it is very simple. One lifetime is perhaps not the enough tenure to excel in all forms of jazz and having expertise in left hand Jazz piano playing like Art Tatum, thundering blues lines like Oscar Peterson and the harmonic complexity of Bill Evans. Hence, specialization leads to excellence. This article comprises of beneficial tips that make your Jazz piano practice easier.

1- Expose yourself to a variety of Tempos

When you practice jazz piano, Practice at a variety of tempos like slow, medium and fast. From quarter note = 40 to 360- never be scared of any tempo.

2- Be creative

While using the metronome, let the creative part of your Jazz-love perform its best. Click on the upbeats (beat two and four) instead of downbeats (one and three). Set the metronome in your comfort zone and practice Jazz piano for all patterns in both hands. It helps you to be more creative and develop a greater level of dexterity.

3- Apply the golden “Five Time” rule.

While practicing Jazz piano or baselines, play the scale, chord, lick, pattern, phrase or song five times in a row without committing any errors. If you commit any mistake (whatever negligible it might be), you are lacking in concentration. Practice this rule until you have not attained mastery.



By: Akhila Choudhary

Tips To Use Jazz Accompaniment Tracks

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Jazz music originated and later popularized by Americans of African origin are still a rage because of two main reasons: it’s ‘rhythm’ and its ‘individualistic style’. Two jazz music compositions will never be the same. One can therefore improvise jazz. But, how do you learn jazz on your own? Learn from jazz accompaniment tracks online. Thanks to the modern age of digitization now you can be independent, stay at home and take lessons online. The biggest advantage of learning online is that you could be young or old, you could be a total beginner or higher up on the learning curve, you can learn from jazz midi files. Further, this applies to wind instruments, percussion instruments and string instruments equally.

Say you would like to learn jazz on the guitar. Get online and select a suitable set of jazz accompaniment tracks. The video will show the hands on the guitar and the exact positions of your fingers even as you listen to the strumming of the guitar to the tune of the particular jazz composition. You can stop the music when you like by hitting the pause button and start again when you are comfortable. You can replay any number of times without the fear of annoying your teacher! Yes, there is a teacher who gives you the instructions as you follow the lesson on video. These are professional musicians who have been in this game for years and they know how pupils can be different.

Let’s say you wish to play jazz on the piano or any other similar reed instrument. Select a set of jazz accompaniment tracks as mentioned for the guitar. In this case the teacher will mention if it’s C minor or major 7. At the same time visually the positions of your left and right hands will be clearly indicated. Not only that, clear indications will be provided indicating LH: C and RH: B G B D (2) so that there is no doubt in your mind how the left hand and the right hand move on the keyboard. Playing jazz is child’s play now!



By: Akhila Choudhary