Session Notes 10/13/2005

Finally! Back in the saddle!

We met for our first session, last Thursday. I had been thinking of doing something like a fall theme e.g. "Songs of Horace Silver", but sort of changed my mind. I thought, instead that we'd use a few weeks just to practice scales and exercises, working together toward mastering our instruments.

So, we started by playing the Major scales through the cycle of 4ths and chromatically through all keys. Then, we did some cycle-type patterns. We also did major scales in 3rds through all keys.

We talked about how, learning the Major scales and their modes, the jazz minor (ascending form of mel-minor) scales and their modes, and the symmetrical scales (chromatic, whole tone, diminished), would give the jazz musician a handle on almost everything needed.