Working with some high schoolers tomorrow (need some advice)

cap rad · #1 02-11-2011, 03:27 PM

Hey everyone. Tomorrow I'm getting the opportunity to work with some young guitar players to give them some general "jazz guitar" instruction. I am trying to think about my playing level when I was there age, and remember some things that I really would have liked to know then.

If you guys were back in high school and working on your jazz guitar, what are some pointers that you would have loved for someone to show you?

Stackabones · #2 02-11-2011, 03:49 PM

I wished someone had hipped me to the fact that I needed to work with singers as often as possible rather than just playing with instrumentalists.

I'd also wished someone would have told me more about teaching private guitar lessons. Gigging is cool, but teaching can be a more consistent way to make the rent.

jeffstritt · #3 02-11-2011, 03:56 PM

Well we had a jazz program at my high school when I was a young buck, but we didn't have a guitarist involved with the program. I learned a lot about theory and such, but learning some different chord voicings and different fingerings would have been a big help. Not to teach them shapes instead of notes or anything, just to help convert head knowledge into muscle memory.
Another thing would be respect for the musicians you are playing with. A lot of young kids just want to blow over everything so it might be a good pointer to give them some tips on how to leave some space and be a good accompanist.

mr. beaumont · #4 02-11-2011, 04:35 PM

What's the setting and level of these students? Could be a tough task at hand. Can they read?

Show 'em how to play around the melody. Stress learning the chords to a tune in several places on the neck. Remind them a guitar is a polyphonic instrument. Tell 'em if they want to play jazz, it's time to put scales away for a while and really learn chords, how to construct 'em, how to find 'em, etc.

cap rad · #5 02-11-2011, 07:32 PM

Thanks for the advice thus far everyone.

The setting is a combo workshop at my university. A bunch of high schools are coming into town and going through various clinics, jam sessions, and performances throughout the day. At one point, there will be various sessions where they can work with someone who specializes in their instrument (and I'm heading up the guitar one).

The thing is, I have no way of knowing exactly how many, or what level kids will be coming in. One thing I've been thinking about is working on comping, especially with another chordal instrument. I think just understanding how to make rhythmic decisions could be a pretty crucial lesson, and could be a fun way to get the kids playing together too.

More advice is definitely appreciated

ksjazzguitar · #6 02-12-2011, 12:02 AM

I've done a few of these things.

I would just play a blues and a standard and talk about some of the choices. Talk about what you think about when you're building a solo. Talk about scale choices, creating tension, listening to the band, using interesting rhythms, developing melodic ideas, etc. Talk about comping and how to break out of the root-position and barre-chord rut. Talk about how to practice.

Just think about all the things that high-school jazz players do poorly and address those with ideas on how to improve them.

Another way is to focus on your strengths as a player. I'm good at chord-melody and chord soloing, so sometimes I'll just do that.

Peace,
Kevin

jayx123 · #7 02-12-2011, 09:59 AM

targeting chord tones

backliner · #8 02-12-2011, 10:27 AM

Sounds like a big music day combined with lots of other (band?) instruments.

I'd probably point out how well the other instruments are expected to read, and that to know their instruments and music they'll need to know more than just shredding or pentatonic noodling, if they expect to play with other instrumentalists in an ensemble.

Getting them away from TAB and towards standard musical notation should be encouraged, as well as diatonic and not just pentatonic study.

I might hand out something that explained how scale degrees imply harmony; harmonized seventh scale theory sheet, or the like. Something they can take home and get familiar with so they'd know what they're facing if they come back to the College as Music Majors, or whatever.

lotuscent · #9 02-21-2011, 03:53 PM

hey - this is actually my first post to this forum... i have been reading through some threads and this one caught my eye. i am the music director at a high school, at which i also teach a class on jazz guitar, so maybe i can offer something useful.
let me ask a few questions first:
is this session a function of admissions? i.e., are you supposed to be attracting potential applicants?
does your university generally attract high level applicants?
what do you consider your own particular strengths as a performer?
does this workshop conclude towards anything else?
do you own a looper?

lotuscent · #10 02-21-2011, 03:55 PM

oops. too late. went back and reread the dates. my first post was a bomb...

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #11 02-21-2011, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotuscent

oops. too late. went back and reread the dates. my first post was a bomb...

Here yah go:

I get to use the redface icon quite a bit. Welcome aboard. So how is jazz at your high school?

Dad3353 · #12 02-21-2011, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotuscent

oops. too late. went back and reread the dates. my first post was a bomb...

Good evening, lotuscent, and welcome to the forum...
I shouldn't be too embarrassed; most (all..?) of us here had had their share of blunders, mostly much more pungent than this. In fact, imho, your list of questions to be answered will surely help some future reader in a similar situation. These posts are referenced long after the original poster (OP...) has moved on.
I'm not trying to save your bacon, mind, you; it was dumb to not pick up the dates, but the least dumb amongst us will cast the first stone. I think you're safe.

Welcome again.

lotuscent · #13 02-21-2011, 06:55 PM

thanks for the welcome. i will try to at least appear intelligent from now on...
jazz at my school is great fun. i put the newbies into a theory/literacy/performance class. after that it's off to combo-land. the guitarists can take a guitar specific class if they want - one semester classical, then one semester jazz to prep for combo. they can continue classical if they prefer. i also teach a vocal class which is like a mixture of theory, choir, and vocal performance.
i sure love my guitarists, but man do they love their illiteracy... and slash...