Playing Bebop Enclosures Part 1 - Trombone Tips Episode #13

Hi all! This week I'm answering a common question that comes up with working with students while I'm on the road. What is that you ask? Well, playing the bebop language. Aside from listening, the most important thing that we can do is get some idiomatic language into out muscle memory. This is part one of hopefully many more to come! Trombonists: Make sure you're thinking about alternate positions! I would recommend just learning this by ear, but if you're dying to get a PDF of this exercise you can download it here: 

http://selz.co/4JAISF5xQ

See ya next week - 

Nick

Single is Here! "We, the People"

Happy New Year! Enjoy! 

Like what you heard? Leave a comment, and grab the download: http://nickfinzer.selz.com

Today's the day, the release of my latest single "We, the People" 
This song is an embodiment of the spirit of The People. When we stand together, we're stronger than when we're alone. It's about believing in something. Standing for something.

Like, comment, and share! 

Download this track: http://nickfinzer.selz.com
from the February 2017 album "Hear & Now" featuring:
Lucas Pino - http://www.lucaspino.com/
Alex Wintz - http://www.alexwintzmusic.com/
Glenn Zaleski - https://www.glennzaleski.com/
Dave Baron - http://www.davebaronmusic.com/
Jimmy Macbride - https://jimmymacbride.com/

Hear & Now Pre-Order with Exclusive Bonus Offers!

Happy Monday! 

I'm excited to launch the pre-order period for my upcoming February release "Hear&Now" on Outside in Music (www.outsideinmusic.com)!

CD + Digital Download: You'll get the new album "Hear & Now" in February, and an advance digital copy of the album.

Discography: You'll get 3 CD's! Hear & Now, The Chase, and Exposition (lucky you, I've only got like 20 copies of Exposition left!) 

CD + Charts: You'll get a copy of "Hear & Now" plus PDF's of all the charts from the album!

CD Bundle: You'll get 5 copies of "Hear & Now"! Sharing is caring, spread the word. Who doesn't like receiving "just because" gifts from time to time?!? 

Mystery Box: You'll get a few copies of "Hear & Now" plus a digital download and some other goodies. What'll you get? Ya never know... that's part of the fun! 

 Wanna know more? 

watch the video, and get your order in today - these offers won't be back! 

Play in tune in EVERY key!

One of the best ways I've found to learn to play better in tune is to play with drone tracks. I don't like using a tuner, as it doesn't really accurately represent where the pitches need to sit in each key. An E in the key of C is not the same as an E in the key of F! Secondly, tuning is an aura skill, not a visual one! Looking at the tuner won't help you when you don't have one to look at ...

I usually have students start with the major scale and go very slowly to practice tuning each interval, and then speed it up slightly, to practice tuning pitches that move by more quickly in a real life situation. 

Practice this very slowly! And be patient. Get each note to resonate against the drone track. If you can get the track playing at equal volume on some speakers, that would be ideal! But, headphones can always work in a pinch. Make sure you keep one ear off, so that you can hear the pitch coming from the drone. 

Playing in tune on a brass instrument is a constant battle, so don't give up. It's always good to go back and try to improve your ear!

Download the drone tracks here

Good luck! Please don't be afraid to be in touch with any questions. 

See ya next time -

Nick  

"We, the People" Jazz Contest!

Hi All!

I'm super excited to share that my next album "Hear & Now" is slated for release on 2.17.17! And since Here in the USA it's an election year (duh, everyone knows this unless you've been living under a rock!) we're celebrating by having a contest!

Usually, we might give away the single from the album to our fans, but this time we're turning the usual on its head! We want to hear YOUR versions of the single from the new album: "We, the People"

For all the contest details you can watch this video:

Click below to Download "We the People" PDF!

How to enter:

1. Download the Sheet Music Here
2. Arrange the tune for any size ensemble (solo instrument, your regular band, a school ensemble, big band, symphony orchestra, brass band, your imagination is the limit!)
3. Record a video of you and/or your group playing your arrangement of "We, the People" (anything from a simple cell phone video to hiring a video crew! Whatever works for you!
4. Fill out the form below, or email a link to your video to nick@nickfinzermusic.com (Include your name, contact info, and ensemble info in your message)
5. Contest will be judged by Nick and his band (featuring Lucas Pino, Glenn Zaleski, Alex Wintz, Jimmy Macbride, and Dave Baron) 
6. Contest open through 12/15/2016 (At Midnight EST)

What you'll get for entering:

1. All entrants and their ensembles will get a free digital download of the single version of "We, the People" on 1.1.17; the single's release day. 
2. The winner will receive a gift box for their ensemble containing copies of the new album "Hear and Now" and some more goodies (who knows what cool new merch is coming...)!
3. The winning arranger will get Tickets to a show of Nick's of your choice (for the arranger + 1) redeemable anytime. 
4. Promotion on Nick's social accounts! All entrants will get a Tweet/FB post of your entry on Nicks pages. The winning ensemble will get a feature on Nick's channel as well as Outside in Music's. 

I can't wait to hear what you all come up with! 

- Nick

Entrance Form  

Major Scale Workout for Jazz Trombone

As the semester settles in for most of the college students out there, I wanted to throw out a few thoughts about major scales that might go above and beyond what you normally do with them. Most of us are familiar with all 12 major scales, but are we really comfortable with all the permutations of that key center? Especially as improvisers we strive for fluency in and around all the key centers we might come across while improvising over all sorts of tunes. 

When I was teaching at Florida State, we would choose one key per week and do all of the exercises that I talk about in this video, and then move onto another key the following week. After a few times around the circle of 4ths/5ths you’ll be amazed at how much more fluent you are while improvising! Besides getting familiar with the tonal material, it is very important to focus on the details of your trombone playing (or whatever instrument you’re playing these exercises on). Focus on achieving great attacks on each note (and that they’re exactly the same on note regardless of register), having a great sound, and playing with accurate pitch/rhythm! Metronomes, Tuners, and Drone tracks are our friends! 

To get all of this in hard copy, you can check out the links below the video to get a copy of “GET AHEAD: a Practical Guide for the Developing Jazz Trombonist" 

http://www.nickfinzermusic.com/store#store-category=books

Until next time, please enjoy! See you next week - 

Nick  

As the semester settles in for most of the college students out there, I wanted to throw out a few thoughts about major scales that might go above and beyond what you normally do with them. Most of us are familiar with all 12 major scales, but are we really comfortable with all the permutations of that key center?

Nobody Else But Me - Jerome Kern from "Live in Memphis" featuring Chris Ziemba and Nick Finzer

From the Broadway show "Showboat" is Jerome Kern's classic tune, "Nobody Else But Me". I first started playing this tune while I was a student at the Juilliard School, specifically while teaching at Juilliard's summer jazz camps in Utah and Florida. We used it as a piece to perform for the students during the opening night of the camp, and I've kept it in my regular repertoire ever since. 

Some favorite versions for me come from two quite different sources. First, Kenny Dorham's album "Showboat" and also the version from the great Brad Mehldau. Of the popular American Songbook composers, I've always found Jerome Kern's compositions quite interesting. He didn't let conventional song forms or harmonic movements limit his imagination. He tends to be able to find interesting ways to take simple ideas to unfamiliar and fresh places!

Chris Ziemba and I recorded this as part of our August 2016 digital release - "Live in Memphis" on Outside in Music (www.outsideinmusic.com) - from a live in studio concert at Young Avenue Sound in Memphis, Tennessee. 

We hope you enjoy! Please leave us your thoughts in the comments section, and share with your communities!

See you next time -

Nick

April Free Jazz Arrangement - Freight Trane for Octet

April's Free Jazz Arrangement: Freight Trane by Kenny Burrell

This month's free arrangement is an octet version of guitarist Kenny Burrell's "Freight Trane" from the record he did with John Coltrane. This tune is an Ab "Bird Blues".

The arrangement features the melody, a soli for the ensemble, and solo section with backgrounds.

Scored for 5 horns and Rhythm:
Alto
Tenor
Bari
Trumpet
Trombone
Piano
Bass
Drums

Download the arrangement for free HERE!

I hope you can check it out! Let me know if you decide to use the arrangement - I'd love to hear the performance!

- Nick

February Free Jazz Arrangement - Beautiful Love for Sextet

For February’s arrangement we have “Beautiful Love” (Wayne King, Victor Young, Egbert Van Alstyne) scored for jazz sextet. This arrangement features a few subtle alternate changes, as well as some ensemble figures to aid in bringing the melody to life!

It is important to note that during the solos (on the whole form - first ending and second ending) the changes should line up 2 beats or 4 beats per chord. The anticipations written into the head should straighten out.

Enjoy! 

Instrumentation:

Trumpet

Tenor Sax

Trombone

Rhythm Section

Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Order this FREE Arrangement here

- Nick

Free Jazz Arrangements for 2014! January: Triste

For 2014, I've decided to post a new arrangement to my online store each month - free! Feel free to share and perform with school ensembles, bands you play with, or just to read through.

January's arrangement is an octet arrangement of Antonio Carlos Jobim's great piece "Triste".

Vist: https://nickfinzer.storenvy.com  to download today! After February 1st it won't be free...! Let me know what you think about it by dropping me a line at nick@nickfinzermusic.com or leaving a note on my FB page.

Here's some more about this month's arrangement:

Difficulty: Intermediate
Instrumentation:
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Trumpet
Trombone
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums
Description:
This octet arrangement of Antonio Carlos Jobim’s “Triste" was originally written for the Jazz Standard Youth Orchestra in New York City for one of their weekly performances. This arrangement features the lead voice as the trumpet, with solos for any instrument, and a shout chorus that trades with the drummer. This arrangement includes full score plus eight parts, provided in .PDF format.
Performance Notes:
This tune is in the traditional Bossa Nova style from Brazil made popular first in New York by jazz musicians like Stan Getz. Be sure to check out some of the original recordings that feature the composer Antonio Carlos Jobim on piano (both instrumental and vocal versions). The intro layers in starting with the rhythm section and then adds in the horns.This intro should grow gradually into the first opening statement of the melody at letter B. Each repeat should be played twice (i.e. as written). The form of the song is all of letter B,C, and D (the form of the sections is ABAC with a tag), the first time is the statement of the melody and then opens up into solos. Each part has chord changes, so anyone who wants to can improvise! Measure 43 is cued after solos are finished (marked “After Solos”), ensemble should play strong to send off each drum solo section. At the conclusion of letter F (end of measure 76) D.S. back to letter C (measure 9). Play letter C as before for the recapitulation of the melody, and go directly to the CODA at the end of measure 40. The Coda should be played as written, with diminuendo. The last chord should come in strong, drums be sure to set it up. Be sure to attend to the detail of phrasing each ensemble passage together, minding articulations and making a dynamic statement with each phrase!

Hope you enjoy this arrangement! Questions? Email Nick at nick@nickfinzermusic.com

Want help with this? Contact Nick to schedule a consultation or in person session - nick@nickfinzermusic.com

For more arrangements visit Nick’s online store at www.nickfinzermusic.com