From the Archives

2016 Pittsfield City Jazz Festival
The Jazz Ambassadors of the US Army Field Band
Scott Robinson
Karrin Allyson

2015 Pittsfield City Jazz Festival
Randy Brecker
Greg Hopkins Jazz Orchestra

2014 Pittsfield City Jazz Festival
Claire Daly, Sharel Cassity, Ada Rovatti
Empire Jazz Orchestra

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Artist-in-Residence with Richard Boulger

This school year, students in the Herberg Jazz Band will be working with NYC trumpet player, Richard Boulger, as part of an "Artist-in-Residence" program that has been sponsored by Berkshires Jazz, Inc. of Pittsfield and made possible by a generous grant from The Feigenbaum Foundation.

The students will be receiving personal feedback from Richard Boulger before, during and after each visit on how to improve their playing through listening, improvisation, demonstration, etc.

Dates:

October 21th - 9:30am - 11:00am

December 2nd - 9:35am-11:00am

February 17th - 9:35am - 11:00am

March 29th - 9:35am - 11:00am

** Jazz Night - March 29th - 7:00pm **

details above

From Richard Boulger:

--------------Session #1 Notes: --------------

Utilizing one scale, the minor blues scale to improvise throughout the entire form of the song.
Scale: 1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b7, 8
Scales to learn: Half notes, quarter notes etc...

a) minor blues scale in all keys (above) using ears in time

Scale can be learned in "pieces"

exp: play/sing EARS ONLY! Only write out in ONE KEY (notes and formula)

a) 1, b3, 1 (all keys)
b) 1, b3, 4, b3 1
c) 1, b3, 4, b5, 4, b3, 1
d) 1, b3, 4, b5, 5, b5, 4, b3, 1

etc!

Please have a drum machine or (audible) metronome.

For listening/Models:

1) Louis Armstrong: St. James Infirmary

2) Jonah Jones: St. James Infirmary 1957

** Also posted here **

Listening

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avsmAglEuVw

-------------- Session #2 Notes: --------------

For our session #2, "The Blues Walk" we will be learning 1 scale in 3 keys.

The Bebop scales construction is:

1 2 3 4 5 6 b7 7 8

We will be working with the keys of (concert) Bb, Eb, and F ( I, IV, V)

It would be great if you could write out and copy the scale for the kids Concert, Bb and Eb

To be learned ascending and descending: Practice with metronome (beats 2 and 4)
e.g.

Bb Blues Scale (Concert): Bb C D Eb F G Ab A Bb, (Down for all as well)
Eb Blues Scale                : Eb F G Ab Bb C Dd D Eb
F   Blues Scale                : F G A Bb C D Eb E F

Apply 12345 for each scale then: 1235 etc..

Form: 12 Bar Blues (Basic)

I   - I   - I - I

IV- IV-   I - I

V- V -   I - I

Guide Tone Solo Line (Concert- Basic)

D     D   D     D

Db Db   D      D

Eb Eb D      D

It would be great if you/the school could purchase the linked transcribing software which will slow tracks down but still keep track clarity. Used by a lot of heavy players to practice with and can really be a great learning resource!

http://www.reedkotlermusic.com/transkriber.htm

https://www.ronimusic.com/

Apply to (slow way down):

The Blues Walk:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlHCo0I-e6g

-------------- Session #3 Notes: --------------

From Richard:

I am listing some links for you and your students to begin to listen to, sing along with and transcribe.
All tracks are Bb blues (except Fine and mellow in Eb).
Please start to build a collection of tracks that speak to you and the kids...

1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYOiGoyLNTs
2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkE2K1Co8EU
3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCEqo3mfkRk
4) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eM7yOyYw-Gk
5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRdlvzIEz-g
6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avsmAglEuVw
7) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPfFhfSuUZ4&list=PL8F6B0753B2CCA128
8) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGYXRI7Slys
9) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtqjW2uhBT4