Music Theory
Blaine Jazz Festival
July 6-12, 2008
by Jon Mutchler
1. Know all major scales. Kids 'pooh pooh' this, but it is foundational to EVERYTHING in theory. Be able to play scales in all 12 keys on your instruments. Be able to know what is, say, the 5th or 3rd step of, say, an E major scale. Every kid can learn these in one month. (Singers should be able to do this on piano). Be able to WRITE OUT any major scale.
2. Start to think about and learn what HARMONY is: 2 or more notes played at the same time. 3 or more, and you have a chord. Recognize major and minor chords. A major chord is when you play the 1, 3, and 5th steps of any major scale. As in C-E-G of a C major scale. Be able to name off all 12 major 3-note triads: C-E-G, Db-F-Ab, D-F#-A, etc. OR, put another way: When you play and know a major scale, the major chord (triad) is the First, the Third, and Fifth step of that scale. You can practice every major scale like this: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 -3 - 2 - 1, then 1 - 3 - 5 - 3 - 1. In the key of C this would be: C D E F G A B C B A G F E D C, then, C E G E C.
3. Dittos--know all 12 minor triads. These are simply the major triads, but the middle note (the "3rd") is always flatted: C-Eb-G, Db-Fb-Ab, D-F-A, etc.
4. Listen to at least 5 professional musicians who play your instrument. If you are piano player, you should own a CD by Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Bill Evans, McCoy Tyner, Chick Corea, Oscar Peterson, etc. If you are a singer, then Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, etc.... START YOUR JAZZ LIBRARY NOW. Do a GOOGLE search: "World's greatest jazz (tenor, alto, bone, etc)" player if you need help. If you are a sax player, "Kenny G" does not count.
5. Know the notes on a piano keyboard. For a cheat sheet and help, you can get one for free at this web site: http://jonmutchler.com/grandstaff.html
It makes things so much easier if you know basic keyboard. If you don't have a piano, borrow one, or get a cheap $50 keyboard to get started. They are in the paper all the time. BE ABLE TO play a "C" or and "F#" or and "Ab" on the piano. You can learn this in 2 hours or less.
6. Practice INTERVALS: What is a major third above Eb? (G); What is a flatted/dominant 7th above G? (F). What is a whole step below E? (D). Etc.
7. Practice CHROMATIC scales: C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, B, C, etc.
8. Be able to look at a measure in the middle of any song, and know the TIME SIGNATURE. (i.e., is this 4/4, or 3/4, or 5/4, or 6/8?) Etc.
IMPORTANT: Kids don't need to know ANY of this to have a great camp experience. However, if they can get a handle on these basic theory concepts, it will allow us to place them in a more advanced theory class where they will learn more sophisticated stuff.
Back to Jazz Festival page
The Blaine Jazz Festival is presented by the Pacific Arts Association
and the City of Blaine, in cooperation with the Blaine School District.
Sponsors include Smuggler's Inn, Grandis Pond, The Northern Light.
|
