Are the Jazz Exams good. I currnetly have grade 6 trumpet and would like to try out one of the jazz trumpet exams. Which one would be the best for me?

jazz exams are very different from classical exams. you could get the grades 1 or 2 books first so you get an idea of what the pieces are like and then if you find them easy take a higher grade. you also must remember that you have to improvise, can you improvise?!

Yeah i can cheers

I last did classical grade 5 clarinet in my teens... but I did grade 5 jazz last week. If anything, it was easier than I remember the classical being, mainly because it's a more instinctive style of music for me, I think.

The scales are horrid though!

I would think you could jump straight in at grade 5, which seems to be the highest they're doing for now.

I would'nt recommend jumping straight in at jazz grade 5, even if you feel competant at the reading aspect. Thats not even half the battle! At grade 5 you are expected to reinvent the tune and your improvisation skills should be fairly mature. Start at grade 1, not necessarily the exam but the certainly the material at the very least. Give your self a fighting chance, otherwise in the real jazz forum you'll be laughed out of town. Its really important to sound convincing esp if you are going to make money out of it as i do.

QUOTE (zoay @ Jun 24 2004, 03:27 PM)

The scales are horrid though!

Are the jazz scales different to the ones in classical exams?

which do you all prefer?the jazz exams or classical exams?

QUOTE (rach @ Jul 2 2004, 09:26 AM)

which do you all prefer?the jazz exams or classical exams?

Don't have a clue- i've never done jazz exams.