@George_Miller - here are a couple of metronome apps for consideration:
Tempo:
I find this app simple and intuitive to use, which is what a metronome app should be.
DrumGenius:
This app is somewhat of a cross between a backing track and a metronome. There is no bass included in the tracks which makes it great for practicing left hand shuffle and walking bass lines. If you are working on our Chicago Blues, Boogie Woogie, or New Orleans Blues courses, this app is great for working on timing and groove.
The drum sounds and nuances have been carefully constructed to imitate the style of famous jazz drummers. If you download the app, you can choose 5 tracks for free if I remember correctly - so thereās nothing to loose by trying it out - and then you must get the full version for access to the full library of drum sound and styles.
Very Creative! Love how you play around esp. at the end. And enjoyed the voicing movement.
The other side to hearing yourself play on a recording, is that sometimes things you thought were mistake, actually sound great. It can work both ways. Funny how different it is to listen passively, verses listen whilst playing. Iām always surprised both pleasantly and not. Takes courage.
I have been getting loads of ideas off the tutorial videos and live feeds, and recently have been getting to know Bill Evans and Oscar Peterson through listening, playing videos, and watching Youtube videos. I created a short jazz composition in the style of Oscar Peterson, called āIzzy Does Itā, for piano, bass and drums (not played with live players yet!). I tried to do Oscar Peterson-style piano voicings, which are fun (if a little stretchy for my hands!). On this audio, there are no solos or da capo, just the head played through, jumping straight to the coda.
Thatās sweet! Would you share with us your setup? Iām curious about what keyboard you use, how you record, backing tracks, drum loops, etc. It sounds very good. Iām just getting started with Logic Pro X and looking for ideas. Keep sharing.
Hi Scott, thanks. This is just an export from MuseScore, where I notated everything. I am a Logic user as well and frequently record audio or use a MIDI interface to play into Logic, so feel free to ask any questions. For audio, I have a Scarlett microphone and audio interface. For software instruments, i.e. playing in a MIDI line, I use my Kawai digital keyboard, which plugs straight into my computer using USB A-B cable.
Nice composition @Izzy - and awesome how you created all of this in MuseScore.
Regrading stretchy voicingsā¦ we can most often rearrange the notes into a smaller register of the piano if the original voicings are too much of a stretch.
Tuomo posted some useful tips here on hand position to avoid an injury when playing:
Alsoā¦ An Upcoming Music Composition Seminar
Also on the topic of composition, we have a āMusic Compositionā live seminar next week with Jovino, add the event to your calendar here if you are interested:
Thanks @Hayden. Iām definitely interested in any composition-themed seminars, so hope I will be not be teaching for this next one ā¦! If not Iāll watch on catch-up. Look forward to it.
I attended Jovinoās seminar on Brazilian rhythms a short time ago and have been working on Bossa Nova and the accents as he suggested. Iām trying The Girl from Ipanema, The shadow of your smile, and Insensitive. Hereās my attempt at the latter. In one of Jovinoās lessons on this piece he mentions that Chopinās prelude in E minor has much the same harmony, so I decided to put it in and see what it sounded like. (In D minor!). Youāre always more likely to murder a classical piece than succeed in jazz, so I give my apologies in advance!
@George_Miller oh my gosh!!! I love it! I have been trying that song (There will never beā¦) and I am always stuck in the first page hahahaā¦ I need to keep up and keep working on it. You on another note have done a very impressive version, Wowow! Gave me a BIG smile listening to it! Would have been nice to see your video toooooā¦ listening to this made my day today! Thank you for sharing.
I was just listening to Insensitive too- (if thats the other audio you shared) I REALLY like it a LOT - is that available on PianoGroove too??? wow I would like to check it out! you did AMAZING!
Thanks Kristeta! Both āInsensatazā and āthere will never beā have lessons associated with them. For some reason theyāre not listed under resources / jazz standard lessons but I know theyāre there! I downloaded the lead sheets!
My own criticism of this is that I donāt have the rhythm right yet. Iām playing the right hand on the second beat of the bar instead of behind it, so it sounds too much like a march. And on the third and fourth beats, when I;m playing the melody, Iām using quarter note triplets instead of sixteenths. Iām not sure that belongs in Bossa Nova. So Iāve still got a lot of work to do! Happy New Year all!
I love the medley you have created there @George_Miller.
Iām a huge fan of both tunes, āInsensatezā and Chopinās Prelude Op.28 no 4 - what a nice idea to combine them in a medley!
@Kristeta yes we have 4 tutorials on āInsensatezā - 3 by myself and 1 by Jovino.
Certainly defer to Jovinoās tutorial for the more authentic interpretation!
āInsensatezā tutorial by Jovino:
Jovino starts by analysing the form and harmony of the tune. We then play through the form again and apply a soft Bossa Nova/Samba groove to add a distinctly Brazilian flavour.
Finally Jovino demonstrates an improvised over the chord changes:
āHow Insensitiveā tutorials by myself:
When I was creating these lessons I wanted to show ā3 levelsā or styles in which to interpret a Bossa Nova tune. I then combine all 3 to create a full arrangement:
Thanks Hayden. Iāve gone through these lessons again and although Iāve incorporated some of the ideas into the piece thereās a lot more I can do. Now that I have the rhythm (almost) in ny head Iāll spend the next couple of weeks trying to make it into a proper solo.
Aye,
George
