Saturday

30 Minutes Footprints Head plus left hand part for solo at 60-72 bpm. The writen voicings for the solo section are definitely trickier than the ones in the earlier jazz grades. It may take a while to feel comfortable enough to solo freely over the top. That being said... the 'Just Do It' approach always seems to work out in all areas of music and life at the moment.

30 Minutes scales including first 5 Grade 4 ones.

And now... to the Tynemouth Lodge!

Friday :)

I did an hour of drum practice today as it was 'Charity Day' at one of my schools. This meant that students were far too busy being dressed as giant bananas etc to come to drum lessons. I practised the John Riley triple comping exercises working up and then back down the metronome.

Listening: More Chris Potter. I have listened to the whole thing now. Link here:

http://urge2burge.wordpress.com/

When I got in I finally made a start on my reports then hit the piano:

15 minutes Footprints head at 60bpm. There are a few Kramer Voicings (TM) in this arrangement.

15 minutes scales.

20 minutes Bergonzi Lady Duck

Tired!

I spent 90 minutes today working on some of John Riley's exercises.

I was intending to do an hour of piano when I got in but I'm exhausted. Still getting over a cold so I've given it a miss for today.

My listening the last few days has been centred around six CDs of Chris Potter masterclasses I came across at the weekend - some very interesting ideas are discussed and there are a couple of really good playing examples... cue massive Chris Potter listening phase...

Quick catch-up

Mondays rehearsal went well - lots of fun and the arrangements sounded good (I think!) so I have approval to do some more :) I'm looking forward to gigging with this band. Its a little different and should be goof fun all round.

Yesterday I managed two hours of drum practice. I mainly worked on some of the exercises from John Riley's DVD, playing along to the bass line backing tracks that come with the package.

I have made a start back into proper piano practice today:

30 Minutes Footprints - first section at 60 bpm

30 Minutes scales

Sadly I have all my reports to wite in the next few weeks :(

Long time no blog....

I haven't posted for a few days so here's what I've been up to:

Wednesday's gig was extremely enjoyable. I felt relaxed and the ideas seemed to flow. Hopefully I'll get the chance to play with these guys again.

I've been working on my arrangements for the Frith St band and am really looking forward to hearing the fruits of my labour at Monday's rehearsal. Hopefully the tunes won't completely suck! It was VERY satisfying to hear my arrangements played the other week at my first 'Coastal Quartet' rehearsal.

I finally sold my Sonor drums and immediately re-invested part of the proceeds in equipment by treating myself to a World Max Black Dawg snare drum :)

The tennis courts are now fully operational. Victory was mine yesterday... read it and weep Pattinson!