These methods provide complete courses for players off all ages, guiding students from their first note to ‘classics’, together with compositions by contemporary writers.
Each book is accompanied by high quality rhythm section tracks recorded on compact disc. Right from the start, students can enjoy authentic jazz sounds, playing in the company of professionals.
With step-by-step instruction and a progression of specially written pieces, the fundamental elements of good technique are introduced alongside the rhythmic subtleties of jazz. Improvisation is encouraged from an early stage and is given direction through the systematic study of scales and arpeggios and advice on ear-training and chord patterns. With supplementary suggestions for listening and reading, and an Appendix containing all the chord progressions for ‘live’ accompaniment of the tunes, “The Jazz Methods” are ideally suited to both students working alone and those learning with a teacher.
“John O’Neill has a solid understanding of jazz and how it can be taught. I highly recommend his educational jazz materials.” (Jamey Aebersold)
“…a rare opportunity for a new player (or a more experienced one) to develop a really musical facility. A rare addition to the jazz improvising library.” (Lee Konitz, international jazz saxophone soloist)
Following on from the best-selling Jazz Method for Saxophone, Developing Jazz Technique for Saxophone will help intermediate players take their jazz skills to a new level. The 22 pieces are written in a variety of jazz styles, including reggae, jazz waltz, bossa nova, calypso, New Orleans, South African, salsa, samba, blues and swing. Special emphasis is given to helping students improvise over chord sequences, such as the II-V-I progression. Idiomatic effects such as vibrato, subtone, glissandi and ‘bending’ notes are dealt with, and there is a special chapter on overtones. Several new scales are introduced, including the whole tone and diminished scales, and a special section on patterns contains many ideas for practising in all 12 keys. A superb rhythm section provides backing for all the pieces and exercises on the accompanying CD. Acknowledgements • Introduction • Ear-training • The Tunes: Improvising with modes • Vibrato • Improvisation on simple harmonic forms • J.S. Bach as a model for development of the melodic line • Special effects • More special effects • II-V-I in major and minor • More on the blues-transposition and melodic displacement • Overtones and ‘false’ fingerings • Diminished and whole tone scales • 2/4 time: ragtime and samba • The blues part III and rhythm changes • Patterns • A basic repertoire of tunes • Bibliography • Discography • Table of modes • Trill fingerings • Notes • CD track list • Chord progressions for tunes (insert)
