This PDF document is pretty much what every student, teacher and/or parent actively involved in music/arts programs already knows - but it's worth a second glance:
http://www.menc.org/documents/temp/benefits_of_music.pdf
And if such an important and valuable thing, why then would cuts in music and arts programs from our schools even be considered?
It seems to me that it's not merely a lack of resources or dwindling budgets, but a question of values.
Rob Birdwell
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Monday, May 3, 2010
Spring Concert May 5 2010 at Linus Pauling 7:30pm
Hope you can all make our concert this Wednesday - here's a sneak peak at our set list...always subject to change!
- Percussion Prelude
- All Blues
- Mission Impossible
- Jump, Jive and Wail
- St. James Infirmary
- Well You Needn't
- Freeway Ska
I'm hoping to get a good recording - treats and mingling after. Should be all done before 8:30pm!
Rob
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
NAMS Jazz Festival 2010 - Audio
Here are the performance audio tracks recorded at the North Albany Middle School Jazz Festival (4th annual - 2010!)
Call And Response
Summertime
Watermelon Man
Caravan
Rock Around The Clock
Bag's Groove
Congratulations to all on your hard work in learning the music and putting together an exciting and spirited performance! We will likely reprise some of these tunes again, but it's good to have these recordings to listen back to. Thanks to parents and families for all your support!
Rob Birdwell
Congratulations to all on your hard work in learning the music and putting together an exciting and spirited performance! We will likely reprise some of these tunes again, but it's good to have these recordings to listen back to. Thanks to parents and families for all your support!
Rob Birdwell
NAMS Jazz Festival 2010 - Photos
Terry Poe Photography took photos of our performance - you can view and order your own photos from this link:
http://www.poephoto.com
The photos are excellent - have a look!
The instructions on the handout were to click the "clients" page then the "Jazz Festival" link - you'll be prompted to enter a code to access the photos. It is: jazzfest2010
http://www.poephoto.com
The photos are excellent - have a look!
The instructions on the handout were to click the "clients" page then the "Jazz Festival" link - you'll be prompted to enter a code to access the photos. It is: jazzfest2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Freeway Ska - New Tune for Early Bird Jazz Band
Here's a link to a slightly produced version of the score to Freeway Ska:
Freeway Ska (MP3)
If possible, download the audio file and copy it to your MP3 device and play along at home with your own part. You might find that the tempo on this recording is challenging to play with at first - that's okay. Simply take a bit of time to to practice your part slowly at first so you can work up to playing along with the recording. It might take some time but you'll get it. We don't necessarily need to play it this fast, but the tempo is about what I'd like to aim for.
Recall that "G.P." means Grand Pause, D.S. al Coda means Dal Segno: in other words, go to "the sign" at letter "B" until you hit the "coda" sign, then jump to the "coda". These are short-hand musical terms that actually help to save ink and paper!
Finally, keep in mind that the written note is nothing without a real musician (you!) to breathe/pluck/drum life into it. So strive to understand the original intent of the written notes (articulations, dynamics, phrasing, etc.), but don't forget to add your own sense of musicianship and expressiveness to the mix - that's called making music!
Have fun and enjoy playing your instrument(s)!
Rob
If possible, download the audio file and copy it to your MP3 device and play along at home with your own part. You might find that the tempo on this recording is challenging to play with at first - that's okay. Simply take a bit of time to to practice your part slowly at first so you can work up to playing along with the recording. It might take some time but you'll get it. We don't necessarily need to play it this fast, but the tempo is about what I'd like to aim for.
Recall that "G.P." means Grand Pause, D.S. al Coda means Dal Segno: in other words, go to "the sign" at letter "B" until you hit the "coda" sign, then jump to the "coda". These are short-hand musical terms that actually help to save ink and paper!
Finally, keep in mind that the written note is nothing without a real musician (you!) to breathe/pluck/drum life into it. So strive to understand the original intent of the written notes (articulations, dynamics, phrasing, etc.), but don't forget to add your own sense of musicianship and expressiveness to the mix - that's called making music!
Have fun and enjoy playing your instrument(s)!
Rob
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Bass Basics
The following are some (of many) online resources for beginning bass players.
Reading Music (Bass Clef) Primer:
http://www.cyberfretbass.com/reading/primer/standard/index.php
YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SKtjWBPGXk
Quiz yourself on the notes:
http://www.studybass.com/tools/bass-clef-notes/
"Walking" bass lines (a bit more advanced, but very useful!)
http://www.adamnitti.com/bass_player_10.shtml
And finally, here's my own mini-primer (the Finale to Noteflight rendition):
http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/6516e7c4e142f42beba448acb94dda36ee419b53
Reading Music (Bass Clef) Primer:
http://www.cyberfretbass.com/reading/primer/standard/index.php
YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SKtjWBPGXk
Quiz yourself on the notes:
http://www.studybass.com/tools/bass-clef-notes/
"Walking" bass lines (a bit more advanced, but very useful!)
http://www.adamnitti.com/bass_player_10.shtml
And finally, here's my own mini-primer (the Finale to Noteflight rendition):
http://www.noteflight.com/scores/view/6516e7c4e142f42beba448acb94dda36ee419b53
Early Bird Jazz Band to Play Gracewindws Music 2009-12-12
!!! EARLY BIRD JAZZ BAND GIG ALERT !!!
Where: Gracewinds Music, downtown Corvallis
When: Saturday, December 12
Time: Start at 12 noon (arrive by 11:35am to setup)
Dress: "Nice" - Festive Colors!
What to bring: all your music; stand; your instrument of course!
Drums provided; bass amp(s) provided; possibly guitar amps too.
We'll play a short (20 minute) set TBD. Short and sweet - a great chance to play!
Where: Gracewinds Music, downtown Corvallis
When: Saturday, December 12
Time: Start at 12 noon (arrive by 11:35am to setup)
Dress: "Nice" - Festive Colors!
What to bring: all your music; stand; your instrument of course!
Drums provided; bass amp(s) provided; possibly guitar amps too.
We'll play a short (20 minute) set TBD. Short and sweet - a great chance to play!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)