Simpedia

Mark M., New York

There are no right answers here when we’d be trying to do something simple enough to communicate to students at this level, especially when they haven’t even officially gotten into Jazz 1. I suppose I’d be inclined to have the LH play just fingers 1 & 5 on Bb and G as the simplest thing to do, especially given the LH is already only playing 2-note chords.

Stephen R., California

Makes sense, Bb is the lower note. The Jazz program doesn’t get into other types of chords students will encounter in lead sheets (fake books), like add9’s, sus, aug/dim, 9, 11, 13, etc. Wondering how to harmonize those easily if the student was wanting to play a solo with the melody.

Laurie Richards, Nebraska

I typically introduce this type of project later down the road – after having tuaght inversions in Acc 2. That’s not to say some sharp students can’t be successful with it earlier.

The approach I use is to have them fill in any harmony notes from the RH chord underneath the melody note (invert the chord), and play a single bass note in the LH. For example, the C/Bb – if the melody note is:

C – play 1st inversion (E-G-C)

E – play 2nd inversion (G-C-E)

G – play root position (C-E-G)

In each instance, the LH plays the Bb bass note. I give small doses as it takes a while to work it all out at first. Be careful not to do this kind of project if it is going to be too much for the student to process given how far they are into the curriculum.

Stephen R., California

This student is fast and sight-read the melody almost perfectly. Just introducing some concepts of Jazz a little early. I know my Level 6 students are probably ready for Jazz 1 and that is the best time to introduce the program I guess. The question is more if I’m ready, but like any “new” program you just have to jump in. I’m sure this student could grasp your project fairly well.