Week 1

I officially got my first week of thorough Jazz playing behind me, and I must say it was better than I thought it would be. I imagined it to be pain and endurance, but really the 5 hour limit I set myself was a joke, its not enough, I want more jazz :-) I read that Charlie Parker used to practice 11 to 15 hours a day for 4 years. I know that Charlie Parker didn't practice cause he needed to, but because he wanted to. This week excited me because I wanted to practice more, and not because I felt I had to stick to a framework. On Thursday I practiced for 9 hours! And still crave more haha. My schedule pretty much consisted of waking up, going to class (like 2 hours a day) in-between class I play, then eat food, then play, then eat supper than play. I covered a lot of ground this week, to give it to you in a top 10 list, I:

1) Learnt the standard "All the things you are"
2) Got the melody and chords down for "Night in Tunisia"
3) Transcribed a Great piece from Dizzy (and understood it)
4) Learnt the Altered Scale (7th mode of Melodic minor)
5) Transcribed some Charlie Parker licks, wow that was a challenge.
6) Practiced my 'swing feel'
7)Went to a Jazz Jam (although did not play myself, that is the goal)
8) Practiced some sight/music reading
9) Learnt some epic new theory (it blows your mind)
10) Most importantly. I LISTENED.

This week empowered me as I know what my target for next week will be. I GOT to learn new scales but more importantly I must apply them to the music. Its one thing knowing a gazillion scales its another knowing when and how to use them. I am also gunning for my aural development, I cant stress the importance of that. Lastly, I am going to try know as many arpeggio's around the neck as possible. I read that I must be able to solo unaccompanied by a rhythm section and still be able to let the people know where in the song I am. It goes without saying that I will get 2 more standards added to my repertoire. Rather learn them properly so that I dont have to come back to them later on.

Thats enough for now. Will return with more good news