Proficiency Booklet - Tp w Cover (2)

THE NEW SCHOOL FOR JAZZ AND CONTEMPORARY MUSIC

INSTRUMENTAL PROFICIENCY FOR TRUMPET The placement criteria in this document describe the minimum skills required to meet basic instrumental proficiency at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. All entering students are evaluated based on these guidelines; the results will affect assignment of the private lesson instructor. Until these skills are developed the student will work towards mastering them with an assigned teacher deemed most appropriate to the individual’s needs. When these skills have been mastered, the student will be allowed to choose an instructor with whom he /she wants to study, dependent on approval by the student’s advisor.

The New School for Jazz and Contem porary Music 55 W est 13 th Street, 6 th Floor New York, NY 10011 212.229.5896 x 4589

PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS ALL MELODIC AND CHORDAL INSTRUMENTS

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.

All major scales All minor scales (natural, harmonic, ascending melodic) All (2) whole-tone scales Pentatonic scales Blues scales All diminished scales Chromatic scales Bebop scales (ionian add #5; mixolydian add Maj.7; melodic minor add #5; mixolydian b2 b6 add Maj. 7; dorian add Maj.7; locrian add Maj.7)

*All of the above scales in 15 keys (7 sharp keys, 7 flat keys and the key of C) 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.

All dom 7th, min 7th, maj 7th, half dim 7th, dim 7th (and inversions) Dominant 7th arpeggios chromatically II-V progression arpeggiated from the root II-V pattern chromatically II-V pattern moving up in minor thirds Flat 5 substitutes in all keys Scale fragments (i.e. 1231/1235/1b761/1b765) – play in cycles of 5ths, chromatically, minor 3rds, etc. Scale fragments also applied to II-V progression Scale fragments combined in the cycle of 5ths

It is in the best interest of students and teachers to apply all of these scales and methods to practical applications of performance. Repertoire 1. Play “basic blues” in all keys (i.e. Bags Groove, Blues in the Closet, Buzzy, Bluebird, Now’s The Time, Cool Blues, Straight No Chaser, and other melodies). 2. Play “Rhythm changes” at least three keys. 3. Memorize three jazz standards, other than the blues, which are of a complex nature, i.e. “Donna Lee,” “Confirmation,” etc. 4. Be able to play with other musicians, keeping consistent time, keeping track of song form, and interacting. Practice 1. Student is shown practice techniques. 2. Student is shown how to organize his/her materials.

ADDITIONAL TRUMPET PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS

Technique A – Scales Scale Studies: (example with scale degrees) 1231, 3213, 12345, 54321, 1235, 5321, etc. in scale degree sequence 1. Ability to think about and perform any exercises based on the major scale in any key. 2. Ability to perform major scales starting on any degree within one octave. This will teach about the 7 modes found within the major scale. B – Chord Studies (example with scale degrees) 135, 531, 1353, 5313, 1357 – 2468; 7531 –8642, etc. 1. Ability to perform the chord parts of any chord progression in tempo (choose a song, set a tempo) 2. Student should be able to perform all the roots, 3rds, 5ths, and 7ths of each chord at the given tempo. C – Flexibilities/Technique 1. Basic improvement of technical areas pertaining to the brass instrument. 2. For brass: slurring-lip flexibilities studies based on the overtone series, in all 7 positions of the instrument (trumpet & trombone) 3. Tonguing studies using the basic subdivision chart of: whole note, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth, etc. adding in uneven subdivisions (3, 5, 7) D – Rhythmic Knowledge 1. Improvement of reading problems found in the reading of jazz rhythms, note groups, and jazz melodies, including syncopation. Melodies/Repertoire Learn the melodies of at least four jazz blues songs, play them in all keys. Creativity 1. Knowledge of how to think as a jazz musician 2. Improvisation and building of creativity studies, exercising of creative abilities 3. Understanding the jazz repertory 4. Projection of emotion