Can I find anyone who does jazz? No. Everyone does theory! As a brunette who acts blonde all the time I find theory HARD! So, I LOVE jazz! But that's just me. Anyone else?


p.s. (A day later) Answer: Apparantly Not.

Yeah I do. I enjoy the whole improvising stuff 'cause I'm forever making up songs and improvising. (much to the annoyance of others)

YES!!!! I did my Jazz! I hate theory, so I did my Grade 5 Jazz instead so I could do my grade 7 lol!!!!
I've never done a stitch of theory, can't read music, passed my Jazz with a high merit and have just done my grade 8 lol!!!!

Good luck with it!

PS yes, I'm blonde lol again

I never knew you could do jazz instead of theory. I'm im going to ask my teacher if i can do jazz. then i can do my grade 6.
I'll probably do my grade 5 theory in the not to distant future though because i think that it is essential to have some knowledege of theory

I think I would still choose to do theory even if I had grade 5 in a jazz subject.

QUOTE (missniffler @ Dec 14 2004, 04:22 PM)

Can I find anyone who does jazz? No. Everyone does theory! As a brunette who acts blonde all the time I find theory HARD! So, I LOVE jazz! But that's just me. Anyone else? p.s. (A day later) Answer: Apparantly Not.

i do jazz and theory - i need to get on more with my music but i'm very into jazz and play with the wiltshire jazz orchestra

I did Grade 5 theory way back in 1997 or so... but I think I might take a jazz grade as well!

QUOTE (missniffler @ Dec 14 2004, 04:22 PM)

As a brunette who acts blonde all the time I find theory HARD!

hey

QUOTE (missniffler @ Dec 14 2004, 04:22 PM)

As a brunette who acts blonde all the time

What is wrong with blondes?

QUOTE (Stephie luvs piano! @ Dec 16 2004, 04:56 PM)

can't read music, passed my Jazz with a high merit and have just done my grade 8 lol!!!!

How did you manage to do your grade 8 if you can't read music?!

QUOTE

How did you manage to do your grade 8 if you can't read music?!

He could have memorised the pieces or learnt by ear?
I know somebody who has poor sight and learns by ear and in the exam didn't even use music as she had memorised it all.

Isn't it rather stressful to go into an exam konwing that at least one part of it you can't even attempt?

I am not sure what your age or musical experience is but just waht do you mean by "doing jazz instead of theory?" Theory is an integral part of jazz education; the same theoretical principles found in classical music are also to be found in jazz. The point of departure is one the principles are more free, challenging and creative in jazz and second, jazz also has its own theory. Anyone who thinks that improvisation is just playing anything without structure or some theoretical guidelines, is not only naive but needs to do some serious STUDY into the genre.

QUOTE (newmonk @ Dec 26 2004, 12:48 PM)

the same theoretical principles found in classical music are also to be found in jazz. The point of departure is one the principles are more free, challenging and creative in jazz and second, jazz also has its own theory.

Not so sure. I'd say they're both as challenging in their different ways. I'd go so far as saying that "classical" (general sense) may be more challenging as a result of viruoso works designed to be difficult to play. Not saying that jazz impro is simpler, just that a classical musician would presumably want to obey the rubric of the work in question.

As to the theory, they are all embodied in the same theory in the wider sense - not the baroque/ classical dwelled on by the AB, but things do move beyond that.
How would you class the "thoery" as used by Stravinsky in "The Rite" for example, or Earl Wild's Grand Fantasia on Porgey and Bess, for example?

Cheers.

QUOTE (sbhoa @ Dec 22 2004, 07:15 AM)

Isn't it rather stressful to go into an exam konwing that at least one part of it you can't even attempt?

Which part is that?
I thought the ABRSM jazz exams were designed so that you could do them entirely "by ear" if you wished.

I think the exam referred to was a standard G8? - hence the point that one could use Jazz G5 to get the qualification needed to advance up the normal exam scheme. And in the usual music exams, sightreading is a good chunk, and you couldn't do it from ear...

Some people can do anything including sightread by ear.......


??

QUOTE (spaceman @ Dec 27 2004, 01:03 AM)

QUOTE (sbhoa @ Dec 22 2004, 07:15 AM) Isn't it rather stressful to go into an exam konwing that at least one part of it you can't even attempt? Which part is that? I thought the ABRSM jazz exams were designed so that you could do them entirely "by ear" if you wished.

how do you do sight reading by ear?

QUOTE (Saxophonist @ Dec 27 2004, 09:06 PM)

QUOTE (spaceman @ Dec 27 2004, 01:03 AM) QUOTE (sbhoa @ Dec 22 2004, 07:15 AM) Isn't it rather stressful to go into an exam konwing that at least one part of it you can't even attempt? Which part is that? I thought the ABRSM jazz exams were designed so that you could do them entirely "by ear" if you wished. how do you do sight reading by ear?

I think the confusion we're getting into here is that people are confusing two sets of exams... now, I could be wrong, but I think the original post was about doing G5 Jazz so as not to do G5 theory? yes/no?

the jazz exams could be done entirely by ear, as the quick study is either sight-read or played back by ear. (you have to sight read the extract and then improv a response, or play it back by ear then do your improv)

the normal exams may be able to be done by ear for special circumstances? (blind candidates maybe? although I think they are available in braille...? I don't know enough to say for sure) but generally no, if you could really not read music at all, there would be a section where you would be making it up as you went along. so you couldn't do the whole exam by ear as far as I can see.

edit: Ok I just looked at the special needs thing, and as far as I can work out, the only way you could do a sight-reading equivalent which did actually involve reading music - ie was done "by ear" - is under the special regs if you have a disability or condition which would make it very difficult or impossible to do the normal one - ie if you were blind. so yep, in a normal (non-jazz) practical, if you couldn't read music, I don't see how you could do the sight-reading...

QUOTE (nicki_flute @ Dec 21 2004, 10:26 PM)

QUOTE How did you manage to do your grade 8 if you can't read music?! He could have memorised the pieces or learnt by ear? I know somebody who has poor sight and learns by ear and in the exam didn't even use music as she had memorised it all.

I memorise the pieces too, I never take music in with me. I don't consider that I've learnt a piece unless I play it from memory.

Also, I'm a she not a he lol

QUOTE (newmonk @ Dec 26 2004, 12:48 PM)

I am not sure what your age or musical experience is but just waht do you mean by "doing jazz instead of theory?" Theory is an integral part of jazz education; the same theoretical principles found in classical music are also to be found in jazz. The point of departure is one the principles are more free, challenging and creative in jazz and second, jazz also has its own theory. Anyone who thinks that improvisation is just playing anything without structure or some theoretical guidelines, is not only naive but needs to do some serious STUDY into the genre.

um, I mean: (being diplomatic) Does anyone do jazz musicianship (is that the right word) instead of doing theory so they can take grade 6 +?

Yes, I do know that in ALL music there's theory but some people find jazz easier (like me) and so do jazz. I just didn't know anyone apart from my teacher's other pupils and was wondering.

Ciao!

missniffler
x

I think it would be such a great idea if (as present) you had to do grade 5 X to do grade 8 performance.

Then of course you have Grade 6 theory to do DipABRSM - I think you should have to do grade 5 X for this too, so you can have grade 6 theory, grade 5 jazz and grade 8 performance before you can do dipABRSM.

By the time you reach FRSM, in 8 years or so (when the jazz syllabus is finished) it could be a prerequisite that you have Grade 8 theory, grade 8 performance, grade 8 jazz and an LRSM on your instrument. It would definitely make an FRSM much more impressive. And of course, with all those prerequisites, the cost of doing the FRSM could go down.


... whoops, didn't mean this post to turn into a theoretical business ideal, I just mean to point out that having to do Jazz or Theory leaves you with a big blank in your abilities either way.

One of the things i like about the ABRSM grade system is the requirement of Grade 5 theory before attempting the higher grades, it helps make the student much more rounded in their playing skills. Jazz does require a lot of theory too but even so i still encourage my students to learn legit theory.

QUOTE (DavidMusic @ Jan 10 2005, 04:47 PM)

I think it would be such a great idea if (as present) you had to do grade 5 X to do grade 8 performance. Then of course you have Grade 6 theory to do DipABRSM - I think you should have to do grade 5 X for this too, so you can have grade 6 theory, grade 5 jazz and grade 8 performance before you can do dipABRSM. By the time you reach FRSM, in 8 years or so (when the jazz syllabus is finished) it could be a prerequisite that you have Grade 8 theory, grade 8 performance, grade 8 jazz and an LRSM on your instrument. It would definitely make an FRSM much more impressive. And of course, with all those prerequisites, the cost of doing the FRSM could go down. ... whoops, didn't mean this post to turn into a theoretical business ideal, I just mean to point out that having to do Jazz or Theory leaves you with a big blank in your abilities either way.

When they get round to offering Jazz on my instrument, I'll think about doing it!

they are soon dont worry!! im presuming u mean flute?!

lol... yep. that's probably the only one I am good enough at that I would have a hope of being able to do jazz on!