Developing accessible jazz transcriptions for beginning trombonists

Carrasquillo, Benjamin M.

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/120024 Copy

Description

Title

Developing accessible jazz transcriptions for beginning trombonists

Author(s)

Carrasquillo, Benjamin M.

Issue Date

2023

Keyword(s)

• jazz transcription
• trombone
• jazz education
• jazz vocabulary
• trombone pedagogy
• ear training
• blues
• aural skills

Language

en

Abstract

Transcription is a critical component of the jazz learning process, in which a student acquires vocabulary through the act of learning another player’s improvised solo first by ear, followed by notating the solo for further analysis. However, many beginning trombonists who wish to learn jazz struggle to find appropriate material to transcribe, often because existing recordings of trombonists fall outside the range of their technical expertise on the instrument. With this project, I plan to address many of the issues that beginning trombonists and music educators face when searching for appropriate material to transcribe. This project will focus on the development of a set of exercises and etudes designed to introduce beginning trombonists to concepts of jazz rhythm, harmonic and melodic vocabulary. The project will consult with industry guidelines regarding writing for beginning jazz ensembles, as well as existing methodologies surrounding transcription, improvisation, and ear training. It will also draw on my own experience as a jazz trombonist and music educator with teaching beginning trombone players. This project is intended to serve music educators who find themselves in the difficult position of suggesting solos for a beginning improviser to transcribe, and is intended to be used in a traditional one-on-one lesson setting. Through this methodology, students will be able to engage with jazz language earlier in their playing careers, and build confidence in their transcription skills, allowing them to successfully engage with more difficult solos in their future studies.

Type of Resource

• text
• still image

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2023 Benjamin M. Carrasquillo

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