Week 3/4

I was ill last week so I missed the class.  An update on what I've been doing, however;

I purchased "The Jazz piano Book", written by Mark Levine, a renowned jazz pianist.  It's probably the best thing I've ever bought.  If you know your theory and all 12 keys in both major and minor, the book is perfect for any wannabe jazz pianist.   It goes through the circle of fifths, the II V I chord progression, modes used for improvisation, and many other things I haven't yet covered.

Along with reading that, I've been listening to a lot more jazz lately.  Since my phone's been cut off due to lack of bill paying, I can't use spotify on my phone.  And my computer needs reformatted, so I can't download anything new.  This means I can only listen to the little jazz I have saved to my phone when not at home.  Meaning all I have to listen to is Bill Evans.  Which I have no complaints about at all.  I've started transcribing some of his songs.  I've made a start on some of the licks in "How deep is the Ocean?".  I've nothing to slow it down, though, so my transcribing basically means me sitting at a table listening to the same three seconds of music over and over and over and over again, and even then I'm likely getting the wrong notes because he plays so bloody fast.  However, it's helping me realise that I can't actually write rhythms down very well.  I will take what I do into Simon for analysis.  Hah.

Once a lick has been written down, I transpose it into every single key possible.  Which is a lot easier than I thought it would be.  I've not tried playing any yet, but I will eventually.  I'm not seeing a difference in my improvising yet, but once I start learning the licks I'm transcribing on the piano, I'll be able to use them while soloing.  Maybe.  Hopefully.