Dear All,

I play 1st cornet/trumpet in local brass and concert bands. I'm interested in learning how to play more freely and it would be lovely to be able to learn how to improvise and join in with others without the use of printed music.

Could anyone please tell me if the ABRSM Jazz exams would be of use to me, and do they roughly equate to the difficulty level of the classical exams in any way. I'm probably around the Grade 7 to 8 mark, so might I be better off skipping any of the lower Jazz exams, or should I start off at the beginning?

I'm sure that skills involved will be quite different, and it may be difficult to generalise on equivalent grades, but I would appreciate any advice you could give.

Regards,

Mark.

I'd recommend getting the material right from Grade 1, so that you can get used to what it involves, even if you find that you can whizz through it!
It's great fun playing with the backing CDs - I've been working through the jazz clarinet syllabus myself - and you can use them as your accompaniment in the exams, which saves hiring an accompanist. You have to take your own CD player, speakers etc into the exam though!

Jo is on the ball here. You can in no way relate the classical structure exams to the jazz IMHO. Start right back at grade 1 and enjoy thewhole process of learning a wonderful art namely 'JAZZ'. Their are so many useful publications including the ABRSM pubs to help you understand the art form but remember foremost you are going to explore your own personal creativity so have fun and make a point of learning a few of the basic theoritcal points that will help you on your way. (Syncopation, harmony and scales)

Thanks for your advice Jo and Kornflakes.

I'll go and get the Grade 1 trumpet jazz stuff at the weekend. Hopefully I'll be able to persuade my eldest son to join in with me.

I wont have a teacher, so I may have a few questions to ask along the way of this new path I'm about to travel along. I'm looking forward to it, though.

Cheers,

Mark.

yeah and also they dont have jazz exams from grades 6-8!

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Sep 21 2004, 08:53 PM)

yeah and also they dont have jazz exams from grades 6-8!

But we are told the ABRSM have a 10 year plan to introduce them. Thats a very very long time.

QUOTE (kornflakes @ Sep 21 2004, 10:46 PM)

But we are told the ABRSM have a 10 year plan to introduce them. Thats a very very long time.

it is indeed!

As a jazz piano teacher and activist in jazz education, I recommend you start at Grade 1. The AB did not spend 8 years piloting their Jazz Piano Syllabus without understanding that aural music techniques are markedly different from reading techniques, and that any good educational course is progressive ---with basic knowledge and basic skills coming before the more advanced material.

I can't talk specifically about Front-line Brass, but all front-liners perform better from having an understanding of the harmony and knowledge of the roles played by the rhythm section: that's why the new 'Horns Syllabus' is a development from the pioneering work done on the Jazz Piano Syllabus.

Hope this helps!

Thanks everyone for all your comments.

At the weekend I finally got round to buying the Jazz Trumpet Grade 1 book, along with the scales and aural tests books. I must say this stuff looks fun.

I made a snap decision to enter for the exam which will be in 5 weeks time (I didn't want until March for when the exams will next be held).

I've got some pretty quick learning to do, so I wondered if anyone could recommend any material that could help me with the skills I need to develop. There are are couple of Jamey Aebersold products that have caught my eye; Jazz Ear Training (book and CD) and Anyone can Improvise (DVD) - I wondered if these might be good.

Regards,

Mark.

Good luck, Mark!

I'm taking my Jazz Clarinet Grade 4 this term too

QUOTE (fuzzy-felt @ Oct 6 2004, 01:53 PM)

I've got some pretty quick learning to do, so I wondered if anyone could recommend any material that could help me with the skills I need to develop. There are are couple of Jamey Aebersold products that have caught my eye; Jazz Ear Training (book and CD) and Anyone can Improvise (DVD) - I wondered if these might be good. Regards, Mark.

Yes they are great books don't forget Aebersold Vol 1 & 24, excellant starters.

good luck mark!!!