Some reflections on the use of melodica in the process of learning jazz

[jazzman1945]

For the past two years, I use their own methods of working with students, using the melodica. Although I'm actually most of the time play on it, but my students of course, as everywhere - pianists, guitarists, horn players and vocalists.
Any jazz educator knows that the problem number one for jazz novice - rhythm ,swing and articulation. As the basis of the study piano and horn playing built on the classical repertoire and the consequent classical technique, with changeover to jazz requires adapt its that usually does not go smoothly.
The process of adaptation takes place along two dimensions: the mental and instrumental. For the mental progress must listen a lot of music, but instrumental progress is connected with the selection of means, suitable for jazz, from the total repertoire of a learned technique. There is no classical teacher can help (and jazz educators are not always in a classical pianism ).
The well-known psychological phenomenon: any played sound we first articulating inside us . Therefore, mistakes in the rhythm and articulation can be establish before playing on instrument, which means fix already in this stage. Exactly for this we just need to use scat pronunciation .
However, this is only the first stage, the second-transfer to the keyboard or horn. This division in stages creates for student difficulties : he sings with ease , but on instrument isn't coming out.
Melodica easily - in seconds - solves this problem because pronunciation into instrument creates sound almost without technical training (can only In relation to breath) . So a student creates for itself an example of how it must sound on his main instrument ; and then finds the technical means to do so.

[jazzman1945]

In connection with all what was said above, I drew attention to Bob Stoloff book "Scat!" , which turned out to easily adapted to performance on melodica .This is a very powerful way, and - as it seems to me, Bob took him on board.
However, I decided to go further, based on my experience playing together with tap dance professor LaVaughn Robinson.
The main idea is this: to combine the rhythm that occurs in the brain, its prosody into melodica, building basic riffs on the keys and rhythmic movements of the body - from a simple walk to the real tap dance, though not necessarily at the highest level.
Students pleasure is provided, but benefit too!

Melodica in general has value as a music educational tool for children, and not just in jazz, with a much greater extent than was expected by its first manufacturers in Germany. Already have a tendency to resistance to introduction melodica in general school education - someone sensed the danger to the traditional recorder...

[jazzman1945]

Hi all! It would be interesting to know if anyone ever tried to use melodica to work on rhythm and improvisation, and what came of it .

[Aquatist]

Hey, long time no see. Thanks for the input and will look into this. ^

[jazzman1945]

Yeаh, but the eye sees, and a finger on the pulse ...

[Kevin Murray]

Originally Posted by jazzman1945

Hi all! It would be interesting to know if anyone ever tried to use melodica to work on rhythm and improvisation, and what came of it .

I regularly practice improvising on melodica. I find that, along with piano, it is the easiest instrument for me to express my melodic ideas on. The light keys and physical "close-ness" that is required to play the melodica make it fun and easy to improvise on. I find ideas flowing faster, and with more energy.

For rhythm, I tend to stick with drums

[jazzman1945]

Originally Posted by Kevin Murray

For rhythm, I tend to stick with drums

Do you remember, Kevin, as You start playing the drums? How long does it take You to play quickly and precisely this? -



And how long does for a child who began to learn the piano? - On melodica - half a minute, no more.

And this is very serious!

[Kevin Murray]

Originally Posted by jazzman1945

Do you remember, Kevin, as You start playing the drums? How long does it take You to play quickly and precisely this? -



And how long does for a child who began to learn the piano? - On melodica - half a minute, no more.

And this is very serious!

It took me about 15 seconds. I think certain people connect with certain instruments -- Charlie Parker on the alto, Miles Davis on trumpet. Some people, however, are able to express their musical ideas on any instrument, with the same flow of ideas. It has been said many times the Bobby Hutcherson (just one example) could have played trumpet, or any other instrument, and he still would have the same amount of influence and success.

Another thing is, it depends on the child/student. I, for example, am bad at reading rhythms (it took me 15 seconds), but I think I could have repeated the rhythm after you played it immediately. Again, everyone is different in their learning styles, and while certain instruments may be more accessible, I think for some people, the instrument does not matter.