Birdland and Teen Town: best way to approach?

[powellmacaque]

Hey guys.

I'm relatively new to reading charts, but my instructor is having me play Birdland (in the key of F) for our jazz band. For the life of me I can't find an effective way to rehearse the bassline on my own. I try with a metronome, but since I'm so new to reading I don't know how to tackle the rhythms written on the chart.

I would also like to learn Teen Town for a jury, perhaps a version that needs minimal accompaniment. Can anybody suggest a version of the piece to look into?

Thanks in advance.

[sammyp]

i've never learned Birdland but i usually resample tunes into whatever key i need them in via Sony Sound Forge.....the lesser the jump, the less rediculous the re sampled key sound.....like a 1/2 step or a whole step isn't too bad ....sinse it's an instrumental, you wouldn't have to worry about chip munk vocals...

correction : it's the pitch shift function in sound forge! becareful to "keep duration" the same ...

[phillipkregg]

Download Audacity - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

It's free and it has a feature that allows you to change the key of a song without changing the tempo. You can import an audio file of Birdland and then change it's key in Audacity while you practice along with it.

As for Teen Town, you should just be able to play the original version without any accompaniment. You may want to have a simple drum track or metronome though, but it's not necessary.

[sammyp]

ok so i checked ..Birdland WR version is in G ....if you can't get it yourself pm your email address and i'll pitch shift it for you ....

[sammyp]

Originally Posted by phillipkregg

Download Audacity - http://audacity.sourceforge.net/

It's free and it has a feature that allows you to change the key of a song without changing the tempo. You can import an audio file of Birdland and then change it's key in Audacity while you practice along with it.

As for Teen Town, you should just be able to play the original version without any accompaniment. You may want to have a simple drum track or metronome though, but it's not necessary.

audactiy is a fantastic free tool!

[onlyclave]

Originally Posted by powellmacaque

Hey guys.

I'm relatively new to reading charts, but my instructor is having me play Birdland (in the key of F) for our jazz band. For the life of me I can't find an effective way to rehearse the bassline on my own. I try with a metronome, but since I'm so new to reading I don't know how to tackle the rhythms written on the chart.

I would also like to learn Teen Town for a jury, perhaps a version that needs minimal accompaniment. Can anybody suggest a version of the piece to look into?

Thanks in advance.

You gotta turn the metronome off and learn the notes. You can't play it fast if you can't play it slow. And if you're trying to follow the metronome and can't play the notes you're not doing any good practice either.

Jeff Berlin hates metronomes for this very reason. Yes, you will have to play that chart in time with the band later but if you can't play it now what good will it do.

As for Teen Town there is a transcription of it in one of the versions of The New Real Book. It's fairly accurate and a beeotch to play. I've been working on it for 15 years.