Attending the Players School Full Time

CDweller · #1 10-20-2010, 07:05 PM

So I started this past semester full time at The Players School. All I'm going to say is that we're learning pure music, and nothing but. We're studying standards currently, such as Blue Bossa and Autumn Leaves. They're simple tunes as far as standards go, yet they serve much the same as a single engine Cessna does for future fighter pilots- they teach you the fundamentals, fundamentals that are true now and also later when you play the musical equivalent of flying the heavy iron.

Jeff and his team are extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and courteous. They have supreme patience with us as we stagger through our tentative first steps in jazz. I appreciate the positive reinforcement approach vs. the converse.

There's a funny thing at work here. As soon as you get a new concept down, or maybe relax a certain muscle that was tense when it didn't need to be, well you get a nano second or two to feel good, and then you get the next item to learn. No rest here for the wicked.

There's a great group of students here. Some are fairly advanced, and one or two are not too far from being beginners. All are met at their level of musicianship with kindness, patience, and humor.

Alright, I've been avoiding sight reading practice long enough. Back to it, and I'll post dispatches from this front from time to time.

Jim Campbell · #2 10-20-2010, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CDweller

So I started this past semester full time at The Players School. All I'm going to say is that we're learning pure music, and nothing but. We're studying standards currently, such as Blue Bossa and Autumn Leaves. They're simple tunes as far as standards go, yet they serve much the same as a single engine Cessna does for future fighter pilots- they teach you the fundamentals, fundamentals that are true now and also later when you play the musical equivalent of flying the heavy iron.

Jeff and his team are extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and courteous. They have supreme patience with us as we stagger through our tentative first steps in jazz. I appreciate the positive reinforcement approach vs. the converse.

There's a funny thing at work here. As soon as you get a new concept down, or maybe relax a certain muscle that was tense when it didn't need to be, well you get a nano second or two to feel good, and then you get the next item to learn. No rest here for the wicked.

There's a great group of students here. Some are fairly advanced, and one or two are not too far from being beginners. All are met at their level of musicianship with kindness, patience, and humor.

Alright, I've been avoiding sight reading practice long enough. Back to it, and I'll post dispatches from this front from time to time.

how much of your instruction is devoted to sight reading,and is it designed to make one a great reader,or as a tool to facilitate the theory

CDweller · #3 10-20-2010, 10:13 PM

I have not been given any sight reading exercises or assignments solely for improving sight reading. I am going through a trombone book on my own, to increase the fluidity with which I read.

All musical assignments are written in either bass or treble clef. For instance, both Blue Bossa and Autumn Leaves are straight from the Real Book, and thus the heads are written in treble clef. I can pick through the heads slowly, but my ability here can stand some improvement. As I am also taking piano, my facility with treble clef is increasing every day through that endeavor. We also get stuff written in bass clef, such as walking lines for the tunes, and also some sight-singing exercises in the sight-singing class are in bass clef with others in treble clef.

So again, no specific assignments for sight reading, but the sight reading comes along due to the nature of our classes- everything, and I mean everything, comes off a sheet or is written on the blackboard in musical notation. For instance, Jeff has been assigning me some tricky approach note exercises. Does he show me how to do them? That would be a no. During our lessons, he writes them out, puts the sheet in front of me, and tells me to play it. Not a big deal- when learning new music, you take it as slow as you need to, with no concern for keeping time, and of course no metronome. So I learn the approach note assignments by reading and playing them, with Jeff closely monitoring to make sure that I'm playing them right.

So in answer to your question... we have a chart reading ensemble class once a week, where we are given a chart in bass clef and play with a keyboard player and drummer. We sight read that chart, but thus far the charts have been simple. It will get more challenging as time goes on. We also have ensemble 3 times a week, but you're given the chart before class, which gives you ample time to learn the music- which you do by reading it. All lessons feature written music exclusively- some written out by Jeff, and other stuff straight off a lead sheet. Long story short: it's all written out, and that's how we learn concepts and songs. One's sight reading improves just from the immersion in this environment.

CDweller · #4 10-21-2010, 05:38 PM

Just about three weeks into the semester at this point. I am playing better than I ever have in my life. Chord tones, chord tones, chord tones. I liken it to Tarzan swinging from vine to vine, with the chord tones serving as musical vines to get me through a song's changes.

My lessons with Jeff have been monumental. I've never really had a teacher that is helping me in so many facets. I have a deeply ingrained habit of trying to force the bass into compliance through strangulation...my left hand is tight and almost denting the frets with a kung fu grip (almost not kidding), and I'm popping notes out with too much force from the right hand. My body is also tense; my shoulders and neck are not relaxed. Grit your teeth, Charlie Brown. Learning to unlearn these habits, and relaxing and breathing as I get more legatto.

Musically, I'm being taught to swing the solo lines using chord tones, and learning to walk in the pocket when not soloing. I can dig the pocket; it's cool to set up a rock solid foundation so the other players can have a stable platform to solo off of, or just to help the song when the head is played. I'm also getting hipped to hearing my lines in my head, rather than just hitting notes on the neck that I know are in the chord. Sight-singing class is helping toward that end, as is the simple fact of having that ax in my hand every day for a couple-three/four hours a day, studying approach notes and chord tones. Have I mentioned chord tones?

So I'm getting fantastic instruction in the deconstruction of habits that don't serve making music; I'm also getting broken of the habit of trying to perform when practicing, and rather just contemplate what it is I'm learning. Slow and steady wins the race, except it's not a race and there's nothing to be won. However, there is improving as a musician, and that's just what's happening down at the Players School. Serious musicianship delivered in a light hearted and fun way.

CDweller · #5 10-23-2010, 08:09 AM

Three weeks done. Again, playing better than I ever have in my life- not fancy look at me chops, but rather nice sounding notes from the bass tone-wise, and much better musical choices as to which note and what rhythm to play. My baby steps into soloing are at the point where I'm walking on two feet now for a few steps followed by plopping back down on my tuccus. It challenging to know the location of the notes for minor seven flat five chords all up and down the neck, but it's new to me, and it will come. I am also trying to hear what to play before I make a note choice- listening to what's there and then laying it down. Not doing that too much thus far- it's more visual at this point, where I see what notes are available on the fretboard for a particular chord. Again, sight singing is helping me to be aware of the sounds internally, verses seeing stuff on the fretboard.

JimmyM · #6 10-23-2010, 08:50 AM

sounds like a lot of fun. best of luck with the rest of it!

sedgwick1489 · #7 10-23-2010, 09:10 AM

good reporting! can you comment on how the theory/harmony & ear training progresses from week to week? challenging stuff?

John Wentzien · #8 10-23-2010, 11:14 AM

Looks like the teaching methods there are working well for you.

CDweller · #9 10-24-2010, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sedgwick1489

good reporting! can you comment on how the theory/harmony & ear training progresses from week to week? challenging stuff?

Not too much theory/harmony at this point. It's coming, though. The ear training is challenging, but doable. We're learning solfage, and you learn it step by step. So it might be hard for a few minutes, but then you get it. After a while, you can hear the intervals in your head from seeing them on paper, and you sing them, but then maybe you goof up which syllable to call it- a do gets called a ti or whatever. You keep at it, it comes. Like any other skill- a little bit of stumbling, keep it slow, do it again, it comes.

Thanks, Jimmy!

John- I don't think I could have made a better choice as far as getting educated. You'd be surprised- a lot of the education is consisting of learning to meet the ball rather than kill it.

CDweller · #10 11-05-2010, 05:06 PM

End of the fifth week. I can say that I am playing better than I ever have in my life. I can also say that I can't stand where I am as a bass player/musician, and wish I had two lifetimes to develop my playing.

I make a lot of "mistakes". And yes, there are mistakes, despite those that say there are no mistakes. I'm not interested in hitting non-chord tones at this time, and frequently hit clunkers during my soloing as well as comping. I have to pay attention to a baby learning to walk, and emulate one that laughs after a fall- I bump a lot.

I also get cranky when I can't write a passage to save my life. There's a section of Autumn Leaves that can be played E-7/Eb7/D-7/Db7, landing on a CMaj7 (remember, I said can be, internet jousters). So I was assigned writing out a solo line over these chords. I did, and they were lame. The Maestro took a quick look, and showed me how to up my game. A few deft strokes of the pencil, and just like that Jeff wrote out 3 separate lines over these chords that smoked- I've only been able to get one of the lines under my fingers after about 3 hours of work on it. But I choose to focus on the fact that I have got it under my fingers, with the others to come.

I'm also learning to play better- my technique is becoming more precise. The chord tone exercises from Joseph Viola's trombone book make it necessary for one to move one's fingers in ways that are different. Yet if you want to get at the good notes, you have to grow. I'm getting broken of the forcing the bass notes out thing, as well. A gentle, sure touch gets the sound out. Relaxing the body too.

So I'm not even close to being a competent jazz bassist, but I'm much, much improved already. It takes time, and I'm enjoying the ride.

Ivan M · #11 11-05-2010, 09:46 PM

CD, it sounds as though you are enjoying it to the fullest, i am considering going down there for the 1 week course in MARCH, but have to ask them a few questions, like if the 1 week course allows beginner/ slightly advanced student such as myself.

Rick Robins · #12 11-06-2010, 05:04 AM

Good info CD. Glad to see you are enjoying it & it is working.

As far as how you feel "I can't stand where I am as a bass player/musician" I think no matter how good you get you should always feel that way. It in turn pushes you to be even better.

CDweller · #13 11-06-2010, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivan M

CD, it sounds as though you are enjoying it to the fullest, i am considering going down there for the 1 week course in MARCH, but have to ask them a few questions, like if the 1 week course allows beginner/ slightly advanced student such as myself.

I attended the one week intensive last March, barely able to read, and certainly not knowing how to solo. You're met at your level- beginner, intermediate, killer player. There's a lot of depth at the Players School. Everybody on the staff helps you to bring your game up. There's also no rest, because as soon as you get something, you are introduced to something that builds on that something you just got. The one week intensive is like drinking from a fire hose.

I liked it, and arranged things so I could subsequently attend full time.

CDweller · #14 11-06-2010, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Robins

Good info CD. Glad to see you are enjoying it & it is working.

As far as how you feel "I can't stand where I am as a bass player/musician" I think no matter how good you get you should always feel that way. It in turn pushes you to be even better.

Jeff mentioned that a lot of the best players tend to practice more as they advance. I guess a higher vantage point allows one to see different peaks that were previously out of view.

Well, I spent some time today analyzing the solos Jeff wrote out over the changes, looking at them numerically- ie 1=root, 3=third, 5=fifth, and 7=seventh of the various chords. Thus the eighth note run of say BDGE over the E-7 becomes 5 7 3 1. Breaking it down this way is just another tool for looking at what he did. I was able to write out some lines that are better than my previous efforts as a result of spending time listening to the lines Jeff wrote, and also analyzing them. Basically covering myself with as much sensory input (auditory, cognitive, tactile on the ax, etc.) regarding this passage and what can be played over it using just chord tones. The picture is a little clearer today, and I'm sure it will be a lot clearer in time.

Keeping at it.

Ivan M · #15 11-06-2010, 05:16 PM

So CD, are you saying the One week course is worth it? I E-mailed them and i am waiting on what the price is and a few other questions, thanks in advance.

CDweller · #16 11-06-2010, 05:39 PM

Imo and ime, absolutely. You'll learn a lot in a little bit of time. It will also provide a roadmap for future improvement. I had a very, very positive experience last March, and met some really enjoyable people. I was also really surprised at how positive and encouraging Jeff and the rest of the instructors were. I was apprehensive about studying with a fellow of Jeff's calibre- would he be a pain in the neck, or worse? The answer was no, he and the instructors were gems. They help you through positive reinforcement, not negative. Nothing is sugar coated, mind you. Issues with one's playing are without a doubt talked about, but simply as a guide to where you are and where you can head towards.

Yup, it's good thing to do.

Ivan M · #17 11-07-2010, 07:10 AM

Perfect i am all in, see you in MARCH if you are around at the school.

Ivan M · #18 11-12-2010, 05:57 AM

I have yet to hear from the school and i E-mailed them a week ago, on the site they state they will reach you within 24-48 hours so i am a little confused now as to what is going on. I know MARCH is still a bit away but i don't want the class to fill and i am left out. I will E-mail one more time and see what happens.