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 In
order to become accustomed to the form of
a song,
it is important to practice counting measures
is groups of 8 bars (or 12 bars for the
blues). It should eventually become second
nature for you to be able to intuitively
know (feel) when 8 bars have passed in a
song (12 bars in a blues). Your assignment
over the next few days will be to listen
to songs and count their measures. Here
is the counting method I want you to use
and learn. Beginning with the first full
measure you hear, count out loud using the
following format:
1,
2, 3, 4
2, 2, 3, 4
3, 2, 3, 4
4, 2, 3, 4
5, 2, 3, 4
6, 2, 3, 4
7, 2, 3, 4
8, 2, 3, 4
Here
is a recorded
example in Real
Audio if you need to hear it. From "History
Lesson" by Dave Grusin off the "Happy
Anniversary, Charlie Brown" Album.
The
very first number above represents the "Measure
number" in a group of 8 bars. The second,
third, and fourth numbers represent the second,
third, and fourth beats for that measure.
You will be counting along in rhythm with
the song. It is like being the conductor of
the song, leading or keeping time for the
band.
If possible, listen to songs that are void
of singing (instrumental only). Count as many
songs as you can. Listen for the "Bridge."
It's not important to figure it out exactly
for each group, only that you begin practicing
to be able to identify each group. The main
objective in this lesson is to learn to count
8 bar phrases (or 12 bars in a blues). In
the next lesson we will study more forms used
in the construction of songs.
Note: As with the previous lesson (number
2), listen to ways that the composer has generated
interest for the song by using groupings of
8 (12 in blues) and placing them differently
(arranging them) in the song. The arrangements
of groupings are an important addition to
generating interest in a song as are the use
of note articulation, dynamics, cutoffs, and
holds.
That
is it for this lesson, good job. Is it Bear
Hug time again? I think so. Give yourself
a big-big hug for a job well done. You are
on your way to becoming a Jazz musician. Wow!
Cool! Totally!
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