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Ensemble Pre-requisites and Curriculum
Pre-Requisite Skills needed for Level I ensembles:
DRUMS:
· Competence and clear understanding of the importance of providing a
steady pulse in time.
· Ability to execute and knowledge of the following styles:
basic
rock
swing
waltz one latin feel (bossa, cha cha, rhumba, or etc.)
BASS:
· Should be able to tune the instrument with the aid of an electronic
tuner.
· Identify notes on standard bass F clef staff from written low E to middle
C.
· Know how to identify notes on the instrument.
· Count and execute steady rhythms up to unsyncopated eighth notes.
· Play movable major triads and dominant seventh arpeggios with roots
on E and A strings from the second finger.
· Play movable minor triads with roots on E and A strings from the first
finger.
GUITAR:
· Should be able to tune the instrument with the aid of an electronic
tuner.
· Play two movable forms of major, minor and dominant seventh chords.
· Play movable major pentatonic scales from the 4th finger on the low
E string.
· Play minor pentatonic from the 1st finger on the low E string.
· Identify notes on standard treble G clef staff from low E to A above
the staff and find them on the instrument.
· Understand and execute rhythms up to unsyncopated eighth notes.
PIANO:
· Play all inversions of C, F, and Bb major triads.
· Play all inversions of Am (A-), Dm (D-), and Gm (G-) minor triads.
· Play all inversions of G7, C7, and F7 dominant chords.
· Know and play C, F, and Bb major scales and major pentatonic scales.
· Know and play A, D, and G minor pentatonic scales.
· Identify notes in standard notation on both bass and treble clef staffs.
· Understand and execute rhythms up to unsyncopated eighth notes.
WIND INSTRUMENTS:
· Know a chromatic scale in at least one octave of range.
· Read melody lines with rhythms of up to syncopated eighth notes from
staff.
· Know concert pitch C, F, and Bb major diatonic scales and major pentatonic
scales.
· Know concert pitch A, D, and G minor pentatonic scales.
Level
I Ensembles
Due to the unique roles instruments have in ensembles and the nature of
the required skills, Level I students will be divided into Rhythm Section
Ensembles and Melody Instrument Ensembles. Considerable work will be done
in these two groups before Level II, at
which
point full ensembles will be created.
Repertoire for Level I may include (but is not limited to):
· Sack O'Woe (Blues in F) · Blues in the Closet (Blues in Bb)
· C-Jam Blues
· Work Song
· Watermelon Man
· Evil Ways
· Tunes with chord progressions and melodies of similar complexity
(All material will be played in a variety of rhythmic feels) Level I
students will develop the physical, intellectual and artistic skills
necessary to begin functioning successfully with other literate musicians.
Level I skills are necessary to advance to a Level II Ensemble.
Level
II Ensembles
New Concepts:
· Advancing Musical Literacy
· Modes of Major Scale
· Keys of the Moment
· Relation of Blues Scale to the Minor Pentatonic Scale
· Pattern and Sequence Writing
· Diatonic 7th Chord Harmony (4-note chords)
· Phrasing and Melodic Development · 32 Bar Song Form (AABA)
· Advanced Accompaniment Techniques for Rhythm Section Players (swing,
latin, funk, etc..)
· GuideTone (3rd and 7th) Concept for Dominant 7th Chords
· Natural Tensions on Dominant 7th Chords (C9, C13)
Repertoire
for Level III may include (but is not limited to):
· Advanced Blues Tunes (Billie's Bounce, Au Privave, Now's the Time, Straight
No Chaser, etc..)
· Impressions (Dorian)
· Basic "I Got Rhythm" Changes
· Sweet Georgia Brown · Blue Bossa (Latin)
· Mr. P.C. (Minor Blues)
· Cantaloupe Island
· Various Soul/Funk/R&B and Pop Tunes (Utilization of above concepts in
a Commercial Setting)
Students who have completed a Level III ensemble should be well on their
way to musical self-reliance. Thorough review of the above concepts will
transform musical concepts into applicable and potentially hirable skills.
Students must realize that these skills are accumulated, not replaced!
We encourage applying these skills in a variety of practical situations
(jam sessions, gigs, auditions, etc.). Hopefully our ensembles will increase
enthusiasm for specific classes on subjects such as: Harmonic Analysis,
Arranging, & Composition. Our long range goal is to elevate students'
curiosity and excitement for music. A heightened enthusiasm for literacy
will take a musician to new levels of expression and enjoyment.
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