7/30/2019 Performing to Teach Logbook

1/3

Performingtoteachlogbook

Lesson1

DuringtodayslessonIaskJamesaboutthetopicofcompingandexpressedthedesiretoimprovemychordalandrhythmicvocabulary.Jamesstated

stylistically,muchoftheguitarscompingisderivedfromthepianoplayersfrom

the1940-1950s.HerecommendedthatItranscribeRedGarlandscomponmiles

DavissrenditionofIfIwhereabell.

IfoundtranscribingRedGarlandscomptobeextremelyuseful.Iwasableto

extractrepetativecompingrhythmicpatternsaswellassomeveryinteresting

chordalvoicings.WhatIfindtobethemostinterestingaspectoftheRedGarland

chordalvoicingsistheresimplicity.Heemployedtriadstospellouttheupper

structureofthechordsandanticipatedthebeatalottoprovideswingand

drive.

Lesson2

Todayslessonwasspenttalkingaboutthearrangements,groovesandinsome

casesthechordchangesformyrecitalpieces.Jamesmadesomeveryinteresting

pointsregardingtemposandballads:suchasnotplayingthemsoslowthatwhen

thebassplayerstartstowalkitsoundslikedoubletime.

ThroughouttheweekIhavebeenworkingondifferentrhythmicsub-divisionsto

utiliseoverballadtempossuchasquintupletsandsextuplets.AtJamess

suggestionIhavebeenemployinghistableoftimeexerciseintomydailyroutine,

whichIfindaverygoodexercise.

Lesson3

ThisweekJamesandIworkedonsimplepolyrhythmicideastoemploywhile

improvising.Weworkedon3:2and3:4polyrhythm.Jamesexplainedthe

polyrhythmasaccentedtriplets.Forexample3:2isONE-trip-LET,two-TRIP-let,

while3:4isONE-trip-let,two-TRIP-let,three-trip-LET,four-trip-let.Ifoundthe

wayJamesexplainedtheserhythmstobeveryeffectiveandbeingabletosee

complexrhythmswrittenoutinsimplesubdivisionsmadeitmucheasierforme

tocomprehend.Ihavebeentryingtoutilisethesepolyrhythmswhile

7/30/2019 Performing to Teach Logbook

2/3

improvising,mostlyfocusingontriads,duetothetripletsub-divisions.Itwould

beinterestingtoapplytheserhythmstofournotegroupingssuchas7thchords

etc.

Lesson4

Thisweekwecontinuedourworkonexpandingmyrhythmicvocabulary.We

workedondifferentgroupings8thnotessuchas5sand7s.Thisisareally

interestingwaytocreaterhythmicinterestwhileusingverysimplesubdivisions.

Thishasreallybeenanareaoffocusoverthelastcoupleofweeks,andalthough

itwilltakequiteawhileuntilitmanifestsinmyplaying,Ifeellikemyrhythmic

vocabularyisstronger.Jamesalsosuggestedanexercise,whichinvolved

compingfortwobarsandsoloingfortwobarsutilisingthesamerhythm.Ifound

thisexercisereallyfunanduseful,andwassurprisedathowmuchmusiccould

benamedfromveryfewandverysimpleideas.

Lesson5

Thisweekwecontinuedwithutilisingoddgroupingsof8thnotes.Wespentthe

lessonwritingetudesoverdifferentsectionsofStellabyStarlight.James

recommendsthisasagoodwaytointegratenewmaterialintoyourvocabulary.I

foundthistoextremelyuseful.Wealsotalkedaboutusingchordalvocabulary

whileimprovising,andnotalwaysseparatingsinglelineandchordalplaying.

LamesmentionedthathereallylikedthewayIwasusingchordswithinmy

improvisingandthatitwasverypedalsteel-like.Thisisprobablyduetomy

countrymusicbackground.IfeelthatthisisaninfluencethatIhavebeentrying

toignore;howeverembracingmypastinfluencesmaybeapathtofindingmy

ownvoice.

Lesson6

ThisweekIaskedJamesaboutquartalharmonyideas,forthetuneBluesonthe

Corner.Thetuneisajazzbluesbututilisesalotofforthharmony,whichgivesit

averyangularsound.JamesandIworkedonemployingsuschordclustersand

quartalchordsoverhe12barbluesprogression.Wealsotranscribedsome

WyntonKellylinesthatconsistedofadescendingbasslinewithanascendingor

7/30/2019 Performing to Teach Logbook

3/3

repetitivemelodicline.ItwasinterestingtoseeJameshoneinonparticular

lines,asIprobablywouldofgravitatedtowardsotherlines.Wealsoexamined

articulationandhowtogetsomethingtoswing.AsanexerciseJamessuggested

toplaythroughscalesorlinesandslurontothebeatwheneverasemitoneoccurs.

Lesson7

ThiswasthefinallessonwithJames,wedecidedthatitwouldbegoodforJames

tocometoarehearsalformyrecitalandgivesomefeedback.Jameshadsome

verygoodconstructivecriticismsandgavesomesoundadviceaboutlockingin

withadrummer.Healsosaidhelikedmyarrangementswhichgavemealotof

confidence.OverthepastsemesterIhavereallyenjoyedmylessonswithJames

andhavegainedalot.