Beginner (playing) Jazz Sax ABRSM advice

[Salsify]

Hi, I apologise for my naivety.

My son has just passed grade five saxophone with abrsm and has been advised to now take grade five jazz sax, as it will keep him playing rather than"stopping" to do theory.

(He is going to do theory alongside as well.)

Anyway, I have purchased the relevant book and to my horror thereaware solo sections in each piece, but with very little guidance. This is a bit of a surprise to us and we are not really sure how to handle it.

I have watched a YouTube video and became very confusesd! I am not musical and although my son has worked through the grades he has not done anything like this before.

In the piece that we are looking at there are six lines, each of which starts off with some notes but then the rest of the line is blank.

is he aupposed to compose solos just using these notes and therefore the notes change on each line?

He is quite liking the idea of composing something and playing in a freere style, but we are not sure where to start and what the rules are.

I would be really grateful for some advice. As it is the Easter holidays he will not be having a saxophone lesson for two weeks so cannot ask his teacher at the moment. I just thought it would be good to get him started. Really sorry to sound stupid! Thank you in advance!

 

[Pete Thomas]

has been advised to now take grade five jazz sax, as it will keep him playing rather than"stopping" to do theory.

Is there not a previous Grade 1 2, 3 etc in jazz sax? Seems a bit odd to jump in at grade 5 with no instruction on the previous syllabus.

Who was it who advised grade five jazz sax without learning what is required?

I don't think you need to stop playing in order to study theory but neither should you need another exam to worry about. Just carry on practising the saxophone and improving what he already does while at the same time studying the theory.

I would definitely NOT suggest he does an exam he has not had the chance to study and practise for, it could be enough to put him off the instrument (or music learning) altogether.

 

[BUMNOTE]

Agree no need to stop playing for the theory,i did jazz grades 1-4,did not like music choice in grade 5 so did not bother with it.🙁.Bumnote,

 

[Nick Wyver]

is he aupposed to compose solos just using these notes and therefore the notes change on each line?

Yes. In the style of the piece.
Tricky if you've never done anything like it before.

 

[Salsify]

Is there not a previous Grade 1 2, 3 etc in jazz sax? Seems a bit odd to jump in at grade 5 with no instruction on the previous syllabus.

Who was it who advised grade five jazz sax without learning what is required?

I don't think you need to stop playing in order to study theory but neither should you need another exam to worry about. Just carry on practising the saxophone and improving what he already does while at the same time studying the theory.

I would definitely NOT suggest he does an exam he has not had the chance to study and practise for, it could be enough to put him off the instrument (or music learning) altogether.

Hi, thanks for your reply.

He is not necessarily going to do the exam, I think it was suggested to give him a Focus and to go for a different "style", string to his bow etc.

He is not very good at playing random pieces for fun and seems to need a bit of a Focus, if that makes sense! It was actually ABRSM who suggested that he had a look at the grade five Jazz to have a go and see what he thought.

I was just really after advice on the parameters of the solos. He has enjoyed learning the rest of the piece though and is enjoying the style!

 

[Pete Effamy]

To be specific, jazz is music defined by improvisation. If your son has no experience in improvisation then jumping in at grade 5 will likely be a bridge (or a few) too far.

I echo other posts - music making and enjoyment is not dependent upon exams.

Does your son play in any county ensembles? He may be a little short at grade 5 but perhaps an audition this year could settle him for a good run the following year.

Making music with others is a great way to focus and have fun.

 

[Salsify]

He plays in a band at school and in a county Orchestra (although this is bigger than he ideally would like as there is more over focus on trumpets!). There aren't many other groups I have found, although I have been looking. There are a few but they are quite a Distance away and our family situation (my husband is terminally ill) does not allow me to travel too far.

As I previously said, we are not looking to do exams, just find other ways for him to get more experience and keep playing. He does really enjoy playing so it was just to give him a Focus. Anyway, perhaps I will just wait until he gets back to school to see what they say.

 

[Pete Thomas]

What saxophone players does he listen to? Does he even like jazz? I would use this time just have fun, maybe try to learn by ear a tune or just a small part of some music he likes.

 

[Jimmymack]

Jazz sax is going to be different from what I presume he has been doing which sounds like classical sax. I have an ABSRM book for jazz piano that I am certain is not the same approach as classical piano. Bearing in mind that I don't really know what I'm talking about I would have a look to see if there is a relevant jazz sax grades 1-5 that he can look at, he will probably be able to get through it pretty quickly but it will at least show the way forward and suggest ways into improvisation. What you describe expects some knowledge of improv and you won't get that from classical teaching, at least not at that level.

Encourage him also to just listen, play and explore what interests him, pop, jazz, classical, whatever; the grades system is only useful to a point, theory is valuable but try to just get him to listen and copy what he hears and expand upon it.

 

[Tenor Viol]

Hi, thanks for your reply.

He is not necessarily going to do the exam, I think it was suggested to give him a Focus and to go for a different "style", string to his bow etc.

He is not very good at playing random pieces for fun and seems to need a bit of a Focus, if that makes sense! It was actually ABRSM who suggested that he had a look at the grade five Jazz to have a go and see what he thought.

I was just really after advice on the parameters of the solos. He has enjoyed learning the rest of the piece though and is enjoying the style!

The person at ABRSM is an idiot. Tackling a different style is a good idea, but I'd check with teacher as to what grade to tackle if going to have a go at jazz. It's a different style and has different requirements, which not having done G1-4 will be alien

 

[Colin the Bear]

Go find your local jazz ensemble and have a listen. It's often in a pub and there's usually a bottle of wine in the raffle.

 

[MandyH]

If he's self motivated ... I did an online course called Jazz Improvisation, run by Gary Burton at Berklee, through Coursera : Jazz Improvisation

I think you can still do the course, although its no longer "live" (so you probably won't get feedback) but it provides useful information about what notes fit with what chords, and how to flow through the chord changes across the bars.

I have a Grade 4, 6, 7 & 8 in Jazz from Trinity; and the improvisation section is about playing your own thing that sounds tuneful and fits in with the chord changes that should be given above the staves.

 

[mizmar]

As a thought, from a non musician teacher, so worth 2¢ - set the kid some transcription work. Learn to play from a recording ± write it out.
It's worth it's weight in gold in so many ways...

Ask people here for suggestions about recordings at the right level etc.

 

[turf3]

...
In the piece that we are looking at there are six lines, each of which starts off with some notes but then the rest of the line is blank.

is he aupposed to compose solos just using these notes and therefore the notes change on each line? ...

Can you post a photo of this? those of us not in the UK have no idea what ABRSM is or what its curriculum materials might look like.

 

[Pete Effamy]

Can you post a photo of this? those of us not in the UK have no idea what ABRSM is or what its curriculum materials might look like.

As I remember, it’s just four or five pitches as suggestions for what will fit over several bars of changes.

Meant to coincide with teacher guidance of course.

 

[MandyH]

The person at ABRSM is an idiot. Tackling a different style is a good idea, but I'd check with teacher as to what grade to tackle if going to have a go at jazz. It's a different style and has different requirements, which not having done G1-4 will be alien

but if you have ABRSM jazz grade 5, you don't have to have Grade 5 music theory as a prerequisite to grade 6 practical. The Jazz grade 5 practical is a valid substitution.

 

[Mary]

Yes you use the notes in the boxes in any way you want. The teacher will help with this, starting with easier examples. Listen to jazz to see if you like it- ie the son.

 

[Pete Effamy]

but if you have ABRSM jazz grade 5, you don't have to have Grade 5 music theory as a prerequisite to grade 6 practical. The Jazz grade 5 practical is a valid substitution.

How can that be so? Grade 5 theory is nothing like grade 5 jazz exam.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Grade 5 theory is nothing like grade 5 jazz exam.

I can imagine they think that for Grade 6 and beyond, a broader knowledge of music is a good idea and I suppose they see either as supplying that, whether it's the beginnings of traditional theory or the beginnings of jazz improvisation.

Plus they sell more books.

 

[Pete Effamy]

I can imagine they think that for Grade 6 and beyond, a broader knowledge of music is a good idea and I suppose they see either as supplying that, whether it's the beginnings of traditional theory or the beginnings of jazz improvisation.

Plus they sell more books.

Grade 5 jazz exam as a substitute for gr 5 theory????!