LESSON #16

The Role of the

Piano

This lesson supports the following GOALS:

[Goal #1]  Students will gain an appreciation of traditional jazz and the continuing value of this music.

[Goal #3] Students will become acquainted with the role of each instrument in a traditional jazz ensemble.

[Goal #4] Students will play traditional jazz.

This lesson supports the following OBJECTIVES:

1.2    Student musicians will be motivated to begin playing traditional jazz.

3.6    Students will become acquainted with the role of the piano in a traditional jazz ensemble.

4.11  Students will learn how to play piano in a traditional jazz context.

 

RATIONALE: Playing traditional jazz effectively requires that musicians understand the function of each instrument in the ensemble.

If at all possible, the instrument master class video segments should be viewed by all the students, not just the player(s) of that instrument.  It is important that all performers understand what each instrument is supposed to do, and the performance considerations involved.

NATIONAL STANDARDS SUPPORTED: See Appendix C.

KIT COMPONENTS:

■ Video: Segment 7, “Master Class for Piano”

ACTIVITY (app. 35 minutes):

1. Play Segment 7 of the online videos for the students (app. 20 minutes).

2. Discuss with the students their impression of the video (app. 5 minutes).  What do they think are the most important things for the pianist to strive for when playing this music?

3. Spend the last 10 minutes of this lesson working with your pianist(s), helping him/her to interpret and apply what was presented.  Regardless of whether you are able to play piano, you can probably help your pianist(s) work through whatever he/she finds to be the most challenging aspects of the lesson.

 

EVALUATION:  Do all the students understand the function of the piano in traditional jazz?  Is your pianist(s) able to incorporate the lesson’s concepts into his/her playing? Does he/she understand when to use extended chords?

 

ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:  Your piano student(s) should continue to view this video segment, and practice the techniques and concepts demonstrated.

 

Note to teacher:  The final lesson (Lesson #23) is a compositional exercise requiring assignments two or three weeks before the lesson; now may be the time to make those assignments.