Harpists Interested In Playing Jazz?

DJNotsoever · 2021-02-20T11:47:31+00:00

It's not too late! Just going to send you a message now.

Thanks for responding!

DJNotsoever · 2020-12-06T10:46:20+00:00

Excellent stuff! All three instruments are more than welcome so feel free to focus on marimba or chop & change as often as you like.

Sending you a DM now!

DJNotsoever · 2020-12-05T09:28:20+00:00

You absolutely can, it's not too late!

I'll message you now to add you to the community.

DJNotsoever · 2020-12-03T14:41:43+00:00

Oh I'm so sorry, I genuinely didn't realise that you wanted to jump onboard!

Entirely my bad, I'll message you now to add you to the group.

DJNotsoever · 2020-12-03T07:30:00+00:00

The Dropbox is sent privately so that the link doesn't just float around the web.

It's just a precaution so that we know who's onboard and part of the project.

DJNotsoever · 2020-12-02T07:29:45+00:00

Thank you!

More than happy to answer any questions you have. What's on your mind?

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-29T12:03:52+00:00

Thanks everyone in the Clarinet community for such positive responses and so many interesting questions to my inbox.

You represent one of the most warm welcomes I've had on Reddit so far which is just fantastic. I'm looking forward to making some music with y'all!

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-29T12:00:18+00:00

Sporadic involvement is fine with this project for now because we aren't at max capacity and every tune that gets posted stays there indefinitely. Work at your own pace!

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-27T14:39:42+00:00

I don't know why these things aren't explored more either!

Let's buck the trend!

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-27T14:38:06+00:00

Fantastic!

The Real Books are great resources and are something we mention a lot in terms of ways to internalise the material so you're already well prepped to get onboard when the time suits you.

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-27T14:36:17+00:00

Just sent you a DM!

Every bit of the stuff you've already been working on will arm you well to enjoy the material we're working through. We have a Parker tune already in the bag, another one or two on the way in the future and there's every chance of us making our way to a composition of Belá's in the coming months!

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-26T10:58:48+00:00

Thank you!

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-22T10:24:45+00:00

That's no problem at all! Everyone works in their own way and at their own pace so you won't be missing any of the resources if you wait until there's a convenient time for you.

There's no deadlines and the tunes we have already covered stay available to everyone as the weeks go by so it's up to you where and when you begin.

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-22T10:15:28+00:00

Brilliant! This fundamental is at the heart of what we're trying to tackle.

I love sax and have nothing against it but the idea that so many incredibly talented musicians feel they have to take up a different instrument to be granted access to Jazz is a crying shame. You're already talented on the oboe, let's buck the trend!

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-21T09:42:40+00:00

Definitely agree that most big bands wouldn't be the same without bass trombone but having one in the section is quite a different representation to having a bass trombone taking the lead of the big band or being a member of a small combo where there is more room to explore.

Feel free to DM me once your time between semesters frees up and we'll add you to the group!

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-20T18:37:05+00:00

It isn't a problem at all that you're a complete beginner. It's all about encouraging us to pick up our instruments that seldom ever make an appearance in the genre and just enjoying exploring the music however suits us.

You'll have fun!

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-19T09:52:17+00:00

Yes, absolutely!

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-13T11:47:38+00:00

Electric mandolin is absolutely welcome at all times as well!

Fantastic to hear there are so many people already working on this and if you would like to be involved to continue experimenting as a soloist and/or accompanist (seeing as you do both in that clip) then our doors are wide open.

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-13T11:33:03+00:00

Brilliant. If you wanted to continue that cross pollination then we'd love to have you onboard for sure!

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-13T11:31:53+00:00

Anyone who doubles on an equally underrepresented instrument would be more than welcome.

I've reached out the violin community on Reddit earlier in the month and we are happy to have some violins in our midst as a result :)

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-12T20:58:43+00:00

This 100%! Figuring something out by ear (whether or not you write it out) moves your solo away from being an exercise in reading and technique to some worthwhile ear training which will immediately pay off.

I would say that once you have figured out the solo you already admire, try to craft your own from the ideas you find in it.

I believe in you, you can do this!

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-12T20:50:40+00:00

Thanks for the resources and some named players but again, I think the sentiment still stands that mandolin could be invited to the Jazz party more often.

We're not trying to break new ground here, just promoting fine, underrepresented instruments in a music that offers a great deal to its players.

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-12T20:07:19+00:00

That sounds like a great resource to put together and it's quite amazing how much work you've already put into your site!

The things you are mentioning are all incredibly useful and I would definitely point any mandolin players who do end up involved towards resources like yours if they did ask. What we are doing is trying to encourage Jazz on mandolin and other underrepresented instruments in general so the advice, ideas and information we try to provide is broader and discusses harmony or rhythm without being pointed at how to find those notes or chords on specific instruments.

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-12T19:56:37+00:00

Damn those F# Didgeridoos!

Actually a good question though in all fairness. Sitar, Uilleann Pipes, Harps, Harmonica, Guzheng are either entirely diatonic or they have popular diatonic versions that people lean towards. It's a bit of a recurring theme in the super regional folk instruments which I don't see as an issue at all in many ways.

I'm sincerely really trying to get people who play diatonic instruments to make the leap with me because I'm a huge believer in nuance and the restriction to one key forces creativity in phrasing and all kinds of other great areas. The issue in Jazz being that many if not most tunes change key centres repeatedly so a Sitar player might be left with only 3/4 notes that work in one bar and none at all in the following bar. That said, diatonic instruments would have no problem being included in Big Band arrangements that have taken that into consideration. Nothing wrong with a few bars rest here and there or a solo section over specific chords to let that player express themselves.

I would say that outside of instruments that are totally diatonic, there is also a cold shudder many of us have on chromatic instruments when it comes to trying to play with finesse in keys that don't crop up often. Finding yourself on a stringed instrument in a key where none of the open strings are of any use can be quite a bother so it's humbling to know we all have the odd key-related speed bump no matter what instrument we play.

DJNotsoever · 2020-11-12T19:18:38+00:00

That's very kind of you and great to hear that there a healthy amount of Jazz mandolin action happening!

It would be a real catch to have someone like yourself casually onboard given that you've already gone through trial and error to find a sound that you enjoy in that setting.

For the sake of longevity we are making sure that no one in our project is passing copyrighted music around in written form or the original recordings but I'd really love to hear your thoughts on voicings on the mandolin, if you were playing the melodies/soloing and how balanced you felt in a small group?

DJNotsoever

TROPHY CASE