Semester Version
Here is the semester format syllabus from Leadology Volume 1. It is set up for a sixteen week semester and is designed as a freshman-level curriculum. there are also referfence links to the appropriate portions of the Jazz Trombone Website pages on this site.
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Dig Ye One-And-All!
Syllabus
Here is a framework syllabus (sans the typical “boilerplate” fare usually required of said) for a way to incorporate Leadology into a semester of study for a freshman level jazz trombone student. As far as a non-jazz major performance student, you can simply add the Leadology portion to your current syllabus of traditional trombone solo and orchestral/chamber group literature studies and methodology. I also personally recommend that the jazz trombone major add as much non-jazz traditional literature and methodology studies to their curriculum as well, even to the point of studying with the “classical” trombone professor along with the jazz trombone prof. Today’s trombone student needs to have a deep and robustly diverse background in order to function in the 21st Century world. This syllabus is for REAL! (Guaranteed!)
WEEK 1 (Freshman Level)
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First meeting: discussion of goals and professional desires. Shoot for the moon… then figure out how to get there! (We will review these goals at the end of every semester)
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Introductory playing session: standard tunes with and without backing tracks.
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Discuss the basic concept of “to air is human.” Letting the air work for you. Go over the gliss tone warmups and basic lip slurs.
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Assign basic jazz scales. Refer to the scale list on our jazz trombone studio website.
ASSIGNMENT: Learn two standards by ear from listening to them on YouTube. Refer to the standards list provided on our jazz trombone studio website. Leadology: Legato Etude #1 “Part of a Healthy Breakfast.” Minor pentatonic scale in all keys.
WEEK 2
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Student must demonstrate the gliss tones and lip slurs from Leadology. Then, continue the warm up with “Part of a Healthy Breakfast.” Discuss the legato etude concept.
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discuss vibrato methods and use
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Play through the two memorized standards. Improvise and discuss.
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Play minor pentatonic scales. Discuss how to make “music” and melodies with these scales and their application to the standards played today (always with a metronome)
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Read through the charts recently passed out or assigned for jazz ensemble, small groups, and trombone band.
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Read through and assign vocabulary from Jerry Coker’s “Elements of Jazz.”
ASSIGNMENT: Learn two standards by ear from listening to them on YouTube. Refer to the standards list provided on our jazz trombone studio website. Leadology: Legato Etude #2 “Bob, Look at My Face.” Two vocabulary patterns in all keys from Jerry Coker. Choose three solos to transcribe.
Refer to the transcription section and list on our jazz trombone studio website. Continue to work on minor pentatonic scales.
WEEK 3
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Warm up on Legato Etude #2 “Bob, Look at My Face.”
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Play minor pentatonic scales. Discuss their inherent music and application.
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Play through the two new memorized standards. Stive to incorporate aspects of the Jerry Coker vocabulary and minor pentatonic scales. Improvise and discuss.
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Discuss the concept of a business plan and why it is important to put one together. Refer to the business plan template handed out at this lesson.
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Discuss and listen to the three solos chosen to transcribe and the basics of transcribing.
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Discuss the David Hazeltine transcription method (“A Practical Approach to Jazz Improvisation”)
ASSIGNMENT: Learn two standards by ear from listening to them on YouTube. Refer to the standards list provided on our jazz trombone studio website. Leadology: Legato Etude #3 “My Diary.” Two new vocabulary patterns in all keys from Jerry Coker. Choose three solos to transcribe. Bebop scales in all keys. Refer to our scale section on the jazz trombone studio website. Leadology: Work on vibrato methods
Organize and plan a weekly jam session with your friends to work on tunes
Jazz Trombone Freshman Student Basic Syllabus Framework. Continued…
WEEK 4
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Warm Up on Legato Etude #3 “My Diary”
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Play bebop scales. Discuss their inherent music and application.
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Play through the two new memorized standards. Stive to incorporate aspects of the Jerry Coker vocabulary and bebop scales. Improvise and discuss.
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Discuss preparations for the weekly jam session
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Assign the business plan template from the jazz trombone studio website. Discuss your posted example.
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Spend the rest of the hour working on the process of transcribing. Begin by learning the first of three solos chosen by ear.
ASSIGNMENT: Learn two standards by ear from listening to them on YouTube. Refer to the standards list provided on our jazz trombone studio website. Leadology: Legato Etude #4 “Robert in the Sky With Diamonds” Two new vocabulary patterns in all keys from Jerry Coker. Finish memorizing transcription solo #1, practice playing it with the recording. Bebop scales in all keys. Refer to our scale section on the jazz trombone studio website.
WEEK 5
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Warm Up on Legato Etude #4 “Robert in the Sky With Diamonds.”
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Play bebop scales. Discuss their inherent music and application.
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Play memorized Jerry Coker patterns, discuss application
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Play through the two new memorized standards. Stive to incorporate aspects of the Jerry Coker vocabulary and bebop scales. Improvise and discuss.
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Discuss the blues scale, listen to blues “heads” from the jazz trombone studio website
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Leadology: Perform the various vibrato methods
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Jazz ensembles report? Play through and discuss any challenging literature, changes, etc.
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Student performs chosen transcribed solo #1 by memory with the recording
ASSIGNMENT: Learn two new standards by ear from listening to them on YouTube. Refer to the standards list provided on our jazz trombone studio website. Leadology: Legato Etude #5 “Hey…You Hurt My Leg” Two new vocabulary patterns in all keys from Jerry Coker. Begin notating transcription solo #1 and memorizing transcription solo #2, practice playing it with the recording. Blues scales in all keys. Refer to our scale section on the jazz trombone studio website.
WEEK 6
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Warm Up on Legato Etude #5 “Hey…You Hurt My Leg.”
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Play blues scales. Discuss their inherent music and application.
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Play memorized Jerry Coker patterns, discuss application
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Play through the two new memorized standards. Stive to incorporate aspects of the Jerry Coker vocabulary and blues scales. Improvise and discuss.
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Discuss the harmonic minor scale, listen to “What is This Thing Called Love” from the jazz trombone studio website
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Weekly jam session report
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Jazz ensembles report? Play through and discuss any challenging literature, changes, etc.
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Present notated transcribed solo #1
ASSIGNMENT: Learn two new standards by ear from listening to them on YouTube. Refer to the standards list provided on our jazz trombone studio website. Work on “What is this Thing Called Love?” Leadology: Legato Etude #6 “I Woke up This Morning as a Roach” Learn two blues “heads” from the jazz trombone studio website. Two new vocabulary patterns in all keys from Jerry Coker. Begin memorizing transcription solo #3, practice playing it with the recording. Begin notating Transcription solo #2. HW Diminished scales in all keys. Refer to our scale section on the jazz trombone studio website.
WEEK 7
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Warm Up on Legato Etude #6 “I Woke Up This Morning as a Roach.”
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Play HW diminished scales. Discuss their inherent music and application.
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Play memorized Jerry Coker patterns, discuss application
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Play through the two new memorized standards. Stive to incorporate aspects of the Jerry Coker vocabulary and all scales learned so far. Improvise and discuss.
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Work on using HW diminished scales on “What is This Thing Called Love?”
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Weekly jam session report
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Jazz ensembles report? Play through and discuss any challenging literature, changes, etc.
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Student performs chosen transcribed solo #2 by memory with the recording
ASSIGNMENT: Learn two new standards by ear from listening to them on YouTube. Refer to the standards list provided on our jazz trombone studio website. Leadology: Legato Etude #7 “Well, THAT Explains a Lot” Learn two blues “heads” from the jazz trombone studio website. Two new vocabulary patterns in all keys from Jerry Coker. Finish memorizing transcription solo #2, practice playing it with the recording. Begin memorizing transcription solo #3. Continue HW diminished scales in all keys. Refer to our scale section on the jazz trombone studio website.
WEEK 8
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Warm Up on Legato Etude #7 “Well THAT Explains a Lot.”
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Play HW diminished scales. Discuss their inherent music and application.
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Play memorized Jerry Coker patterns, discuss application
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Play through the two new memorized standards. Stive to incorporate aspects of the Jerry Coker vocabulary and all scales learned so far. Improvise and discuss.
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Work on using HW diminished scales on “What is This Thing Called Love?”
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Weekly jam session report
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Jazz ensembles report? Play through and discuss any challenging literature, changes, etc.
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Present notated transcribed solo #2
ASSIGNMENT: Learn two new standards by ear from listening to them on YouTube. Refer to the standards list provided on our jazz trombone studio website. Leadology: Legato Etude #8 “I Need GPS” Learn two blues “heads” from the jazz trombone studio website. Two new vocabulary patterns in all keys from Jerry Coker. Finish memorizing transcription solo #3, practice playing it with the recording. Begin notating transcription solo #3. Lydian major scales in all keys. Refer to our scale section on the jazz trombone studio website.
WEEK 9
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Warm Up on Legato Etude #8 “I Need GPS.”
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Play Lydian major scales. Discuss their inherent music and application.
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Play memorized Jerry Coker patterns, discuss application
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Play through the two new memorized standards. Stive to incorporate aspects of the Jerry Coker vocabulary and all scales learned so far. Improvise and discuss.
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Begin studying 7-3 resolutions on a jazz blues progression (listed on jazz trombone studio website)
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Weekly jam session report
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Discuss Dorian modes, play over “So What?”
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Student performs chosen transcribed solo #3 by memory with the recording
ASSIGNMENT: Learn two new standards by ear from listening to them on YouTube. Refer to the standards list provided on our jazz trombone studio website. Leadology: Legato Etude #9 “Nightmares Wear Me Out” Learn two blues “heads” from the jazz trombone studio website. Two new vocabulary patterns in all keys from Jerry Coker. Finish memorizing transcription solo #3, practice playing it with the recording. Finish notating transcription solo #3. Dorian modes n all keys. Refer to our scale section on the jazz trombone studio website.
WEEK 10
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Warm Up on Legato Etude #9 “Nightmares Wear Me Out.”
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Play Lydian major scales. Discuss their inherent music and application.
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Play memorized Jerry Coker patterns, discuss application
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Play through the two new memorized standards. Stive to incorporate aspects of the Jerry Coker vocabulary and all scales learned so far. Improvise and discuss.
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Continue working 7-3 resolutions on a jazz blues progression (listed on jazz trombone studio website) and add 7-#11 resolutions.
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Weekly jam session report
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Discuss Phrygian modes, play over “Spain”
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Present notated transcribed solo #3
ASSIGNMENT: Learn two new standards by ear from listening to them on YouTube. Refer to the standards list provided on our jazz trombone studio website. Leadology: Legato Etude #10 “Floating a Good Idea” Learn two blues “heads” from the jazz trombone studio website. Two new vocabulary patterns in all keys from Jerry Coker. Work on the head to “Spain.” Deep-dive study on the David Hazeltine transcription method!. Phrygian modes n all keys. Refer to our scale section on the jazz trombone studio website.
WEEK 11
SEMESTER ASSESSMENT DAY!
How well are you following this syllabus and taking care of business on your ASSIGNMENTs? We shall discuss!
Plan your Semester Jury
Jam Session: “Spain” “What is This Thing Called Love” Blues head of your choice.
Discuss the David Hazeltine Transcription Method
ASSIGNMENT: Learn two new standards by ear from listening to them on YouTube. Refer to the standards list provided on our jazz trombone studio website. Leadology: Legato Etude #11 “Not Old For $500 Alex” Study the Steve Wiest video on this etude on leadtrombone.com Learn two blues “heads” from the jazz trombone studio website. Two new vocabulary patterns in all keys from Jerry Coker. Begin work on transferring your three transcribed solos into a Hazeltine etude.
WEEK 12
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Warm Up on Legato Etude #11 “Not Old For $500 Alex.”
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Listening session for “G’Day Mates” Analyze and play selected sections.
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Play memorized Jerry Coker patterns, discuss application
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Play through the two new memorized standards. Stive to incorporate aspects of the Jerry Coker vocabulary and all scales learned so far. Improvise and discuss.
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Continue working 7-3 resolutions on a jazz blues progression (listed on jazz trombone studio website) and add 7-#11 resolutions.
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Weekly jam session report
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Discuss Phrygian modes, play over “Spain”
ASSIGNMENT: Learn two new standards by ear from listening to them on YouTube. Refer to the standards list provided on our jazz trombone studio website. Leadology: Legato Etude #12 “My Cosmic Valentine” Learn two blues “heads” from the jazz trombone studio website. Two new vocabulary patterns in all keys from Jerry Coker. Continue work on your Hazeltine etude. Leadology: Take “G’Day Mates to the shed!
WEEK 13
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Warm Up on Legato Etude #13 “My Cosmic Valentine.”
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Continued listening session for “G’Day Mates” Analyze and play selected sections.
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Play memorized Jerry Coker patterns, discuss application
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Play through the two new memorized standards. Stive to incorporate aspects of the Jerry Coker vocabulary and all scales learned so far. Improvise and discuss.
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Blues in all keys (choose three) Blues heads of your choice, improvise using all scales and resolutions worked on this semester
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Weekly jam session report
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Present current work on David Hazeltine etude
ASSIGNMENT: Learn two new standards by ear from listening to them on YouTube. Refer to the standards list provided on our jazz trombone studio website. Leadology: Legato Etude #14 “Strange Roadkill” FINISH work on your Hazeltine etude. MEMORIZE your Hazeltine etude
WEEK 14
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Warm Up on Legato Etude #14 “Strange Roadkill.”
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Listening session for “Sir Wellington of Locksley” Analyze and play selected sections.
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Play through the two new memorized standards. Stive to incorporate aspects of the Jerry Coker vocabulary and all scales learned so far. Improvise and discuss.
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Blues in all keys (choose three) Blues heads of your choice, improvise using all scales and resolutions worked on this semester
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Weekly jam session report
ASSIGNMENT: Learn two new standards by ear from listening to them on YouTube. Refer to the standards list provided on our jazz trombone studio website. Leadology: Legato Etude #15 “That’s When it Starts to Smell Better” Memorize your Hazeltine etude in two more keys.
WEEK 15
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Warm Up on Legato Etude #15 “That’s When it Starts to Smell Better.”
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Listening session for “Gottaluvit” Analyze and play selected style choices..
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Play through your semester jury multiple times. Assess and discuss
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Weekly jam session report
ASSIGNMENT: Continue to work on all aspects of your semester jury. Leadology Etude #16 “Not Hot Anymore”
WEEK 16
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Warm Up on Legato Etude #16 “Not Hot Anymore.”
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Play through your semester jury multiple times. Assess and discuss
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Plan next semester
ASSIGNMENT: Continue to work on all aspects of your semester jury.
SEMESTER JURY
As you can see from this very intense course of study, the student who follows this will certainly get their money’s worth! It is important to stay on track and not fall behind with a high-level curriculum of this sort. Learning this virtuoso music is NOT easy, but if you want to grow and achieve your personal best, then you need to dig in and find the time to accomplish ALL of this! How do you think Slide Hampton got to be so good?
Yep…THE SHED!