Blues
Blues & Improv Question
I’ve actually talked to Neil about this, but I would love to hear what specific approaches different teachers actually take. My question is about when to introduce Blues & Improvisation. The TTM say that B&I should not be started until certain “Basics” are completed, including…
Billy At The Footy Improvisation Idea
I love to use Billy at the Footy as an improvisation accompaniment. I do as Neil suggests, throwing in the V chord at the end when we intend to repeat the 12-bar cycle. I do it a little differently to Neil, so I hope it’s…
Getting Familiar with 12 Bar Blues
I want to find a CD with a 12 Bar Blues on it to play for young kids. My point is to illustrate that this pattern is used all the time by recording musicians – and they are now “members of the club” because they…
Classical Stream
I just got off the phone with an adult that started learning traditionally and wants to try out SM. I let her know the various genres we teach, and she let me know she is not crazy about jazz or blues. I have had another…
Students Not Wanting to Learn Blues
I have a student named Karen that is 63 and is in a group with 2 other women. All of them have prior experience, and things are going well. We are in the middle of level 2 and have had 12 lessons. Karen however, from…
Adults who don’t like the Blues
I have an issue with an adult student in her sixties who is objecting more and more to playing the Blues. We are up to Billy at the Footy and she tells me she is just not going to learn it because it sounds horrible.…
12 Bar Blues and Jammin’
I just thought I’d share something exciting that happened tonight! I lead the praise band at my church and just playing around I played Alma Mater blues while the band was getting organized and we were going through a sound check. After practice, the band…