| 60 -90 mins | $185 – $255* |
This workshop focuses on swing in Big Band jazz, offering insights into swing concepts, origins, and achieving a good groove. It covers fundamentals, rhythm section roles, horn note placement, space dynamics, band exercises, metronome practice, instrument ownership of beats, impediments to achieving swing, and different types of swing.
Swing is the most original and traditional form in the Big Band jazz genre. In many ways it will underpin your students’ awareness of how almost all big band styles can be achieved.
In this workshop, the band director would ideally select a swing chart from the band’s existing repertoire. This chart will then be used to generate discussion and demonstrate swing concepts including:
- What do we mean by swing / groove
- What are the origins of swing music
- How do we know if a band is “swinging” …. Or achieving a ‘good’ groove
- Fundamentals of swing style
- Quaver placement and weight
- Role of the rhythm section
- Critical connection between ride cymbal and bass (& maybe guitar)
- Comping instruments
- The effect that the horns rhythmic note placement (before, on or after the pulse) has upon the feel (Basie ballad demo)
- The importance of space (dynamically) when creating swing style
- Specific band exercises:
- written melodic phrases rehearsed in varied swing and non swing styles (in order to help students focus on what actually makes the band “swing”)
- Metronome exercises (sounding on the swing part of the beat etc.)
- Which instruments “own” which part of the beat
- What are the main impediments in achieving a good groove/swing
- Different types of swing
- 12/8
- Shuffle
- Slow
- Fast – where quaver weight, rather than rhythmic placement, may be required
*Price is for all workshops in metropolitan Melbourne. Extra costs may be required for workshops in other locations.