Jazz Band question?

Question

I'm joining jazz band, and this is my first year joining it. I got invited by one of the jazz band teachers. I play classical piano, and i do know some jazz music, but not so good at it. Do i need some special talent on piano to be in jazz band? what do i need to know specifically for jazz band? i dont wanna look like an idiot joining jazz band this year =( haha thx!

Answer 1

It depends how jazz it is! If it's a school run band then there is a possibility you will be playing jazz music, but you'll be playing off written scores. This is really not much harder than classical music.

The main challenges for you would come if the band is run much more in the style of a real jazz band - where the pianist will play from chords. As a classical pianist you will probably be unused to improvisation, and if you're playing from chords this is what you'd have to do from day one. For instance summertime's piano part could read

Dm9 / Em7 / |Dm7 / A-9 / | Gm 9 / Bb+7 / | Eo / A7 | Dm9 / Em7 / | Dm7 / Gm C7 | F +7 / Am / | Bb+7 / Gm A7 | Dm9 / / / | Em7 / Am -11 / |

with the melody line written over the top of the chords. If you've never played any jazz in this way before then these chords (you don't play the melody most of the time, as you're a rhythm instrument, it's just so you can know where you are in the score) can be pretty daunting, especially with the +7 and -11 etc. If this is the case then just stick to playing the basic chords (Dm instead of Dm9) to begin with, maybe playing the 7 chords as they're reasonably easy. If you can try to play an interesting rhythm with them rather than just every 2 beats (in this case) - but don't make it too busy.

Another thing to try to remember to do as you're starting are voicings. When you go from A7 to Dm9 for instance you could play (going from the bottom upwards) A E G C# E A - D A C F A D - but this means you have to jump a fourth on the piano. Far better to go from A E G C# E A to A D F C F D - you only move a couple of notes most of the time, and you're still playing the right chord.

I hope this is helpful to you - the important thing is to only try to do as much as you can at a time, you won't be expected to do incredible improvisations, chord substitutions and following a 2 beat change piece of bebop at 180bpm on your first day! Start off doing what you can handle and then try to do some more - as long as you keep playing most of the time then you'll be fine. The piano is also a very exposed instrument (you're the only one) so it might be a bit odd if it's just you bass and drums playing, but KEEP GOING!

Good luck!

Answer 2

First and foremost NOBODY told you the most important secret you will ever learn in your playing. This one little tip will make you a jazz piano player no questions asked. Ready? Listen.

That's all it is. Just listen.

Buy CD's from many great jazz piano players- Oscar Peterson, Bill Evans, (and if you want to venture outside, Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, etc)...

There is absolutely no substitute for listening to other people. You will 99.9% positive not learn how to play jazz without listening (and anyone who refutes that is an absolute moron...and don't trust them).

Ask any real jazz musician (and I've had the privaledge of talking to Eric Alexander, Dave Fathead Newmann, Carl Allen) and they all say the key to learning jazz is listening to how the greats played it.

My suggestions for your CD collection.

Oscar Peterson Live At The Blue Note

Bill Evans Sunday At The Village Vanguard

Miles Davis Kind of Blue



Those are the big three I can think of right now. That's the only advice I can give you. Listen and mimic- form your own style as a result of that.

Trust me, jazz is TOUGH. I've been a jazz bassist for 5 years now, and I'm just starting to make a solid footing in the jazz world. It's a never ending process. Just when you start, don't give up. The outcome in the end is much worth it.

Answer 3

All the technical stuff is important but the thing that helped me the most when I started to play jazz was listening. If you listen to masters you will pick stuff up without even thinking about it. Also, some of the biggest differences between classical and jazz music are stylistic and in the feeling of the music, which you can't really pick up from sheet music. There are some great play-along books that help with these aspects too. I'm not sure about great play-alongs for piano but Jim Snidero's Jazz Conceptions has helped me immensily with saxophone in the past.

Answer 4

I played 11 years of serious classical piano before joining Jazz Band, so let me tell you that there's nothing to serious to be afraid of. Most "big band" music for piano is written out, so classical piano will actually make it easier once you get the hang of jazzier chords, etc.

For combo music, you do need some experience in reading chord tabs. Try to learn the symbols of jazz, such as half diminished chords, and practice scales in different modes.

It might be a little tricky at first, but if you study technique, you should get the hang of it!

This page will provide you with more information, further reading, and links:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_piano

Hope that helps! :) Don't be worried, there's nothing that should be harder than classical technique.

Answer 5

hey no worries. Jazz band is really fun and I'm sure you'll enjoy it.
Jazz band notes aren't any different from classical notes music is music. You'll want to lay down the chord changes a little stronger. Listen to bass for time doesn't matter what the drummer or even you are doing bass is your time keeper. There will most likely be a rhythm section comprised of bass, possibly guitar, drums and piano. Umm not really to much is different lots of jazz phrasing things and details. You won't look foolish though lay down those changes and keep on going. Good luck and have fun!

Answer 6

Hi!!
Just be comfertable with yourself and learn to play by ear. The ability to make it up as you goooo (improve) is so much fun! But if you dont already have that skill dont worry too much about it. You'll learn quickly. The best thing you can do is to start listening to alot of jazz pianists to get a feel for it and learn the style.