Hey! I'm going into high school this year and really want to join the jazz band there. I've been playing bass for some time now (about 5 years) but mostly just doing covers of songs and that type of stuff. Only recently have I started learning about music theory and reading music. I'm worried that there's too much to learn before school starts up again, it's all really overwhelming. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the most important things to learn and practice for jazz band are. Thank you for your time!
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The bass lines will most likely be written out so the most important thing to know is how to read standard notation.
1. How to read standard music notation
2. What big band jazz sounds like
If you know those two things, you're off to a great start. The whole point of school is to learn from the teachers, so don't worry that you're not yet a jazz expert. Good luck!
2. What big band jazz sounds like
If you know those two things, you're off to a great start. The whole point of school is to learn from the teachers, so don't worry that you're not yet a jazz expert. Good luck!
Sign up, you can learn as you play. If they have a stand up bass you could use jump at the chance.
High School Jazz band, best thing that could happen right now.
OK dirt simple standard notation bass clef.
Get as much bass clef standard notation under your belt as you can right now. And be the first one in line when the doors open. Smile and look excited.
A lot of the jazz "real books" have the melody in bass clef. Johann Pachelbel "Canon in D" Sheet Music (Cello, Trombone, Bassoon, Baritone Horn or Double Bass) in D Major - Download & Print Bass clef is bass clef......
Good luck.
High School Jazz band, best thing that could happen right now.
OK dirt simple standard notation bass clef.
Bottom string is the G. Middle string is the D and the top string is the A. I let the D string be my home base and work everything out from there. Write in the ledger notes, (notes higher or lower than the staff) and yes get a good number 2 pencil with a good eraser that does not leave smudges. Start on your bass guitar playing note names from first position (first 5 frets).
You first have to identify the note name then find it on your instrument. So start reading standard notation bass clef - every chance you get - saying the fly speck's name in the same amount of time it takes you to say your first name. When you can do that start finding the notes on your fretboard. Couple of weeks you'll be paying from bass clef standard notation. If you need to dumb down some of the sheet music, do so.
You first have to identify the note name then find it on your instrument. So start reading standard notation bass clef - every chance you get - saying the fly speck's name in the same amount of time it takes you to say your first name. When you can do that start finding the notes on your fretboard. Couple of weeks you'll be paying from bass clef standard notation. If you need to dumb down some of the sheet music, do so.
Get as much bass clef standard notation under your belt as you can right now. And be the first one in line when the doors open. Smile and look excited.
A lot of the jazz "real books" have the melody in bass clef. Johann Pachelbel "Canon in D" Sheet Music (Cello, Trombone, Bassoon, Baritone Horn or Double Bass) in D Major - Download & Print Bass clef is bass clef......
Good luck.
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For my Jazz Band audition (40+ years ago) I had to play Green Onion, which any monkey with two fingers and a bass can play (not that it isn't a great song). Later I learned to read and took two years of Theory.
Some reading skills first of all and than practice standards on real books.
Just look on the net a selection of standards from easy to hard ones, don't rush, give you the time to metabolize what you learn (harmony is the most difficult thing to develop and improve, it never ends), as I already written on some other posts, perseverance is the key.
If you need more help feel free to contact me.
Ciao!
Just look on the net a selection of standards from easy to hard ones, don't rush, give you the time to metabolize what you learn (harmony is the most difficult thing to develop and improve, it never ends), as I already written on some other posts, perseverance is the key.
If you need more help feel free to contact me.
Ciao!
Practice listening and get a sense for basic harmony and chord progressions (e.g. I-IV-V, ii-V-I, I-Vi-ii-V-I), know the sound and how to play major and minor scales, and definitely work on reading because as elgecko said, the basslines are likely going to be written out for you and being comfortable reading them will help. Also, practice internalizing time - work with a metronome every day, because you are going to anchor the band along with the rest of the rhythm section. You want to make sure your pulse can "lock" with them.
Other non-musical things to keep in mind that will help are:
1) be a good member of the band - don't noodle in between songs, check your volume and be sure not to be too loud (too soft, is seldom an issue with an amplifier), and be easy to work with. It is never to early to develop professionalism!
2) It is a high school band, which means, everyone there is a novice, no matter how highly they think of themselves. If you have humility, listen to the direction from the band director, and ask questions when you need help, you will learn a lot and it will help you be an overall better player, which will get you better gigs during and after high school.
3) Have fun while you're there. When I was in high school (25 years ago), I got into jazz band after only playing bass for a year and I was terrified and anxious that everyone was going to see how terrible I was. Once I relaxed a little and realized it was more fun than work to learn the tunes and a blast to hold down an entire ensemble, it became a defining moment in my early musical life. I hope you will find this experience does the same for you.
Best of luck!
Other non-musical things to keep in mind that will help are:
1) be a good member of the band - don't noodle in between songs, check your volume and be sure not to be too loud (too soft, is seldom an issue with an amplifier), and be easy to work with. It is never to early to develop professionalism!
2) It is a high school band, which means, everyone there is a novice, no matter how highly they think of themselves. If you have humility, listen to the direction from the band director, and ask questions when you need help, you will learn a lot and it will help you be an overall better player, which will get you better gigs during and after high school.
3) Have fun while you're there. When I was in high school (25 years ago), I got into jazz band after only playing bass for a year and I was terrified and anxious that everyone was going to see how terrible I was. Once I relaxed a little and realized it was more fun than work to learn the tunes and a blast to hold down an entire ensemble, it became a defining moment in my early musical life. I hope you will find this experience does the same for you.
Best of luck!
It's all written so just practice sight reading bass clef every day for 10-20mins.
Watch some tutorials online
Bass:
Introduction to the Walking Bass - YouTube
Rhythm Section:
Rhythm Section Lessons - YouTube
Watch some tutorials online
Bass:
Introduction to the Walking Bass - YouTube
Rhythm Section:
Rhythm Section Lessons - YouTube
remember that you are part of the rhythm section (drums, you, piano) and you all need to work together to make good music (particularly with the drummer) If you and the drummer are on the same page, and you can answer each other's sentences musically, you'll be way ahead of nearly every other HS band out there.
I was piano player in my HS jazz band.
I was piano player in my HS jazz band.
okcrum
in your chest
@Chase J do you have to audition? Are you the only bassist? I'd focus on sight reading with feel no matter what.
I'd been playing for a year or so and could read well enough for lessons when I got in HS jazz band. Amazingly, there was no one else interested, so I just started going to rehearsals. We played the HS/college stage at a couple of big festivals including Newport each year, so I shed pretty hard. The parts were all written, with chords notated on top. All I did was sight read and try to swing it. As I got an ear for the tunes I could get a little more improvised with my parts. I learned the theory later.
It was pretty good. The BL was not faculty, but a contracted local pro BL who played tenor sax. We did Herbie Hancock and Miles as well as the BB standards. He was no Buddy Rich but you didn't want to be the screwup in rehearsal. We were also the pit band for school productions, and for some also the marching band.
It depends on the size and artistic prestige of the HS, I guess. How's your bass drum technique? Are you also OK wearing Prince-like outfits?
It might get you the gig, though. 
I'd been playing for a year or so and could read well enough for lessons when I got in HS jazz band. Amazingly, there was no one else interested, so I just started going to rehearsals. We played the HS/college stage at a couple of big festivals including Newport each year, so I shed pretty hard. The parts were all written, with chords notated on top. All I did was sight read and try to swing it. As I got an ear for the tunes I could get a little more improvised with my parts. I learned the theory later.
It was pretty good. The BL was not faculty, but a contracted local pro BL who played tenor sax. We did Herbie Hancock and Miles as well as the BB standards. He was no Buddy Rich but you didn't want to be the screwup in rehearsal. We were also the pit band for school productions, and for some also the marching band.
It depends on the size and artistic prestige of the HS, I guess. How's your bass drum technique? Are you also OK wearing Prince-like outfits?
It might get you the gig, though.
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The whole purpose of high school jazz band is to learn by doing. Just go and do your best. However, if you want to stay ahead of the curve, there's lots of good suggestions here.... sight reading, mostly. Just don't stress over it.
I joined my high school jazz band with zero sight reading skill. I had been already playing along with jazz records was able to groove pretty good. The director allowed me to just learn the songs by ear, he was thrilled to have someone on board who could swing so he overlooked the sight reading thing. We played a wide range of stuff from bebop to fusion. It was a blast, we were a pretty cohesive unit and had alot of fun. We probably wouldn't have gone far in any traditional jazz band competitions but we did play the local Cleveland Jazz Fest and a few other outside gigs.
@Chase J If at all possible, join the high school marching band where you will be challenged to sight read, play your instrument, work with others, and coordinate movements. It's how little Johnny Crab did it. He went from clarinet to "Dad, can I use one of your basses you're not using a lot?" to marching wireless on bass in senior year and placing second in Texas in UIL jazz band on bass.
When I walked into his room and saw him with his computer on scrolling through sheet music(software called "Noteworthy") and playing along on bass with it while reading that I KNEW he was getting VERY GOOD at it. Noteworthy also lets you compose music or get sheet music from MIDI files IIRC.
NoteWorthy Composer
One of my favorite pictures of that senior year(Sennheiser wireless, battery pack with inverter+school's old Peavey TKO65 on cart):
When I walked into his room and saw him with his computer on scrolling through sheet music(software called "Noteworthy") and playing along on bass with it while reading that I KNEW he was getting VERY GOOD at it. Noteworthy also lets you compose music or get sheet music from MIDI files IIRC.
NoteWorthy Composer
One of my favorite pictures of that senior year(Sennheiser wireless, battery pack with inverter+school's old Peavey TKO65 on cart):
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Just do it! Trust me, it will be most fun you've ever had. (Also the best learning experience)
Unlike a rock or country band where there are usually five or so musicians, you'll be playing with a group of up to twenty. So keep the bass lines strong but simple, you don't want to walk all over someone's solo. Try and listen to some big band jazz recordings. High schools will usually have several charts from Stan Kenton, Count Basie and Maynard Ferguson (The trumpets can always dream).
This will be experience that will make you a MUCH better player down the road, and will be hard to come by once you're out of school.
Unlike a rock or country band where there are usually five or so musicians, you'll be playing with a group of up to twenty. So keep the bass lines strong but simple, you don't want to walk all over someone's solo. Try and listen to some big band jazz recordings. High schools will usually have several charts from Stan Kenton, Count Basie and Maynard Ferguson (The trumpets can always dream).
This will be experience that will make you a MUCH better player down the road, and will be hard to come by once you're out of school.