Prep for school entrance test

[iScott]

Hey friends.

In January I'm going to try out for the Atlanta Institute of Music. They have an entrance exam of sorts. The lady gave me the criteria and I wanted to ask what y'all would recommend I study/practice. Here's what they're going to ask me to do:

- know/play some major and minor scales
- simple sight reading
- play two groves (choose from rock, jazz, country, blues, etc)
- solo

I'm mainly stumped on the groove part. Not sure exactly what to go over.
Thanks for any input! Cheers.

[iScott]

Bump.

[IanStephenson]

To learn groove, start by listening to music in the genre. Then put on a drum machine and just chill out playing simple stuff, and trying to make it feel GREAT.

I've got a keyboard that has simple 2 and 4 bar grooves programmed in. Just letting it run on a short loop, and playing along for 15 minutes really makes a difference.

Ian

Ian

[PastorofMuppets]

on a side note
i visited the Atlanta Institute of Music
sat in on a class taught by adam nitti
and watched a workshop that evening

although i didnt go to that school
i cant say enough good about it

[agreatheight]

Assuming that the grooves can be covers, just pick great basslines to play solo - they don't have to be solos though. I'd pick something like one of these...

Rock:
Pearl Jam: verse & chorus of Rats
Muse: verse & chorus of Hysteria
Led Zep: verse of Ramble On

Funk / R&B:
Jackson Five: intro of ABC
Wild Cherry: bridge & chorus of Play the Funky Music White Boy

Jazz:
Steely Dan: piece pf My Old School or Do It Again
Herbie Hancock: part of Chameleon
Weather Report: a piece of Teen Town

Blues:
SRV: verse turnaround of Pride and Joy
Eric Clapton: verse / turnaround of Crossroads


I'd be sure to at least one groove that is iconic - that eveyone would know. But don't pick anything too hard. If Teen Town is out of reach, pick something easier.

Good luck!

[iScott]

Excellent. Thanks so much, guys.