A Jazz Time Table

Alright, This time I'll talk about the history of Jazz where it started where it came from and who was at the forefront of a specific jazz movement. So lets get started.

Tommy Turpin, Image Courtesy of Flag Music

So, when slave were in the field they needed pass time and something that was their own. They started the sing and sing back songs, this was the start of the blues. After the abolishment of slavery jazz started to develop.  In 1892 the first ragtime composition known was made by Tommy Turpin called Harlem Rag.  Ragtime was the first development of early jazz.

Now actually getting into the 20th century in 1902 the John Philip Sousa Band records the ragtime piece Trombone Sneeze. Also in 1902 Lincoln Park is opened in New Orleans as a center for ragtime jazz.

John Philip Sousa Band, Image Courtesy of Britannica

In 1913 the word "Jazz" first appears in print at the same the tallest building in the world is built at 60-floors. In 1917 The Original Dixieland Jazz Band make their first jazz recording, and yes that is how it is spelled. This happened as the US entered into World War I.

The Original Dixieland Jazz Band, Image Courtesy of  Wikimedia

In 1922 the pianist Fats Waller makes his first recordings as well as "Count" Basie. Also in the same year  Louis Armstrong moves to Chicago to join King Oliver's Band.

"Count" Basie, Image Courtesy of Rovicorp

Louis Armstrong, Image Courtesy of TheFamousPeople.com

Fats Waller, Image Courtesy of Wikimedia

In 1924 Duke Ellington makes his first recordings as the leader of the Washingtonians. In 1926 Louis Armstrong pioneers scat  singing with the song Heebie Jeebies with his Fat Five. John Coltrane and Miles Davis were born.

In 1933 Singer Billie Holiday makes her first recording. In 1937 Dizzy Gillespie does his first recording.

                                                 

Billie Holiday, Image courtesy of FanArt.tv

In 1939 a new band led by trombonist Glenn Miller gains game through regular radio broadcasts. In 1943 Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie join pianist Earl Hine's band. Thelonious Monk makes his first recordings with the Coleman Hawkins Quartet. In 1945 Dizzy Gillespie records Be-Bop. After this Parker hires Miles Davis to replace Gillespie at the Three Deuces on 52nd Street. Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie play in LA trying to get people to gain an interest in Be-Bop. In 1947 Miles Davis Records for the first time as a lead. Dizzy Gillespie records Manteca, bringing attention to Afro-Cuban Jazz.

Basically a lot of bad things happened and also in 1957 Miles Davis records Milestones, featuring early modal jazz. This is about all the important stuff in the timeline. If you would like to get events or go on in jazz past the 50's  its all right here. Thanks for reading guys for reading. If you made it all the way through they you get a gold star. Talk to you guys next post.

Taking Every Opportunity To Get Better

Today, this post is going to be all about why you should get private lessons. So, lets get into my personal reasons.

Young Trombone Shorty

Trombone Shorty Today

       Alright so If you know trombone shorty you know that he's been a good player for a while. He played with Wynton Marsalis, Wycliffe Gordon and a number of other jazz professionals in the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra at age 13. But the reason I'm using this comparison is to show your growth as a musician if you take private lessons. Now you getting better doesn't only consist of you taking lessons. When you are around people that are better than you at something you are bound to get better yourself. Before I continue I just want to make clear I don't expect whoever's reading this to be at the level Trombone Shorty was at age 13. I purely just want to show you what can happen when you get better. Now lets go over what you can do to get better.

First there is Marching Band. Your college and high school are filled with lots of upper-class men that are better than you just hanging out with them can make a difference. With marching band there's a schedule that you have to follow for me it was every week day at 7:30 am until we the directors thought we were done for the day. Either way you get in at least two hours of hanging out with people that can teach you a thing or two. By the end of the summer I was twice as good as I was when school let out.

Nebraska Cornhusker's Marching Band

Next are combo groups. So with a combo group there aren't five or more instruments just like you to cover your mistakes. Usually there is only one trombone, one or two trumpets, one french horn and so on so you are completely liable for any mistakes you make. This forces you to practice just because of peer pressure. Also it allows you to hear what a tuba part actually sounds like and you can actually delve into what makes each instrument in your group so special.

Brass Quintet

Lastly are private lessons. Getting a private instructor is probably the best way to improve the fastest. A private instructor nit-picks at the stuff that you don't address. They can find the problems with your playing that you didn't even know about and help you fix those problems.  Your private instructor can pick out music for auditions and help you with them so you can perform the best you can. Taking private lessons can make you so much better. For me personally my tone quality,  my breathing, articulation, even how I hold the instrument has improved and I didn't know I was doing it wrong. Overall taking private lessons, marching band and joining are getting together combo groups. They will all help you more than you think they will. If you want to be a better player all these things will guarantee you success. 

Mutes for Music: The "Wa Wa" Edition

Alright, I'm  starting another post yet again with alright! Now in this continuation of mutes for music the "Wa Wa" edition we are going to be talking about mutes that you can "Wa Wa" with, even though that sounds weird. Anyway lets get started.

Harmon Mute

Now lets talk about the harmon mute otherwise know as the "Wa Wa" mute. If you'll excuse all the alright's in this post you'll find out that yes, this is another jazz specific mute! The reason for this is that jazz is reigns superior or classical, but that's all I have to say about that. But, not about the harmon mute. The harmon mute is a two part mute. The first part is almost a mold of your bell and the second part is call "the stem" I don't know why, maybe a bunch of mute inventors were around a flower field and got their idea for the harmon. Pardon the utter randomness and Here's how it sounds. If you need help please refer to the underlined section above. Now even though it sounds like he's playing classical music at the beginning he it turns to jazz because you can't deny jazz man/woman, you can't. Oh I almost forgot you call it the "Wa Wa" mute because when you take out the stem, cup your hand in front the bell and move it in and out while you play it sounds like "Wa Wa". Next is the plunger mute.

Plunger Mute

Lastly is the plunger mute(it also "Wa Wa"'s). Now I'm going to show you a very awesome brace yourself for "the incredible, the invincible, awe inspiring, the amazing, bunch of other 1980's WWF introductions". Wycliffe Gordon! Now after witnessing that amazingness you can see why my favorite is the plunger. It can double as a toilet pumper and a "Wa Wa" specialist. Just kidding that's disgusting get a new plunger from your local Walmart not your grandma's bathroom, please.

Hat Mute

Lastly is the hat mute or the "derby" hat mute. Now the hat mute is what you get when a plunger and a fedora have kids. The Hat mute is as hard as a regular fedora that has been sprayed with liquid nitrogen. Basically a hard hat that you can "Wa Wa" with. It does the same thing that the plunger does but its purpose it have a cool visual effect.

Ok guys that's all the mutes I can tell you about thanks for reading and have a nice day and watch Wycliffe Gordon on your way out!

Wycliffe Gordon Plunger Warmup

Finding Your Band

Whether your a trombonist or a flutist, if you want to enjoy your musical experience. You can do this by find a band to play with or making your own. First you're going to have to find a music that you like or a musician you like. I have found a webpage just for this topic. On 4BarsRest It's shows some of the greatest trombonists ever: Joseph Alessi (Classical), Frank Rosolino (jazz), Arthur Pryor (Sousa), Don Lusher (Ballad), Nick Hudson (Classical), Denis Wick (Classical and his name is on one of the most esteemed mutes companies),

Denis Wick Mutes

 Christian Lindberg (Soloist),  Bill Watrous (Big Band),  JJ Johnson (Be-Bop),  and Ian Bousfield (Classical).  Some of my Personal Favorite trombonists are Andy Martin (Jazz), Trombone Shorty (Funk), and Wycliffe Gordon (Jazz). I just jotted down one of Andy Martin's Solo's to learn and play Doxy. I'm  getting better at using a plunger mute, because of this video by Wycliffe Gordon. Lastly I just listen to Trombone Shorty for Fun. Pick which artist you like and make or find a band that fits their style. Make sure you can play their music before make an entire band, so that you can lead the band rather than be failing at the music you made a band for. In my opinion you should try out all the genres to find the one that fits you best. If you're lucky your school might have different band programs or you, your friends or your band director can help you make one.