Jazz Solfeggio Course – part three

Course description

In the third part of the course you will overcome the main difficulties you may have in reading modern sheet music. You will learn to read simple and compound times, cut tempos, irregular groups and syncopation. All the exercises are taken from authentic jazz, Latin, rock, blues and other genres, to get you used to all types of music.

COURSE STRUCTURE

Shifting of accents: the syncope

In this module we deal with a rhythmically complex figure: the syncope with eighth notes. In parts one and two of the jazz solfeggio course, you should have learned to read the notes on the staff with ease. The third part therefore focuses more on rhythmic aspects.

Quarter-note triplets in two movements

In this module we deal with a particular type of irregular group: the quarter-note triplet in two movements. This figure is recurrent in the repertoire of jazz standards, especially in ballads.

The sixteenth note

In this module you learn how to read the sixteenth figure. The exercises deal systematically with all possible combinations of the sixteenths with the other values studied so far.

Simple and compound times

In this module you will learn the difference between simple and compound times. You will read several examples of compound times. As usual the exercises are taken from authentic pieces in different musical styles.

2/4 time

In this module you will learn to read some songs in the binary time of 2/4. The exercises are quite long and contain complex phrases.

Cut time

The cut time is a binary time written as a 4/4. It is normally used in songs with a very fast tempo and in particular styles such as samba, bossa nova and ragtime.