Jump to content
HAPPY NEW YEAR, TO ALL OUR HARMONY CENTRAL FORUMITES AND GUESTS!! ×

Jargon Question


Recommended Posts

  • Members
Posted

So, I'm scoping out schools to audition to, and many of them want a recording of you playing before they'll let you audition in person. The issue is, a lot of them seem to just assume you'll know what something means.

 

Specifically, I'm looking at a school which wants you to send them a recording of a jazz standard, with you both improvising and playing with the rhythm section.

 

The trouble is, "playing with the rhythm section" could be interpreted in one of two ways: Playing the chords, or playing the melody. I'm guessing the mean playing the melody, but I'd hate to send them something that wasn't what they wanted.

 

So you experienced auditions of HC: Would you interpret that to mean playing the melody, or playing along with the chords?

  • Members
Posted

Are they using this request for all instruments or just guitars? If all instruments, then I'd have to assume it means playing the melody. If I were a guitarist making such a recording, I would play the melody, then a solo, then a chorus worth of accompaniment. I probably wouldn't even use a rhythm section.

 

Now, speaking as someone who has applied to a million schools for all sorts of things, I can tell you that it's more than okay just to call the admissions people and ask what they want, and that's what I'd recommend in this case. What tune are you going to play?

  • Members
Posted

So, I'm scoping out schools to audition to, and many of them want a recording of you playing before they'll let you audition in person. The issue is, a lot of them seem to just assume you'll know what something means.


Specifically, I'm looking at a school which wants you to send them a recording of a jazz standard, with you both improvising and playing with the rhythm section.


The trouble is, "playing with the rhythm section" could be interpreted in one of two ways: Playing the chords, or playing the melody. I'm guessing the mean playing the melody, but I'd hate to send them something that wasn't what they wanted.


So you experienced auditions of HC: Would you interpret that to mean playing the melody, or playing along with the chords?

If they separate it in two in that way, I suspect playing "with" the rhythm section means "as part of" the rhythm section. IOW, chords, as if comping behind a soloist. As a jazz guitarist, you'd be expected to do that at least as well as improvise a solo. Most of your time as a jazz guitarist is spent comping behind other soloists, not soloing yourself.

If you have recording facilities, you could do both at the same time. Record a rhythm track, including you playing the chords; then add a lead part on top - melody first, then a solo, then maybe melody again to end.

 

But it would be a good idea to check with a school exactly what they do mean. It can do no harm to ask the question.

  • Members
Posted

 

So, I'm scoping out schools to audition to, and many of them want a recording of you playing before they'll let you audition in person. The issue is, a lot of them seem to just assume you'll know what something means.


Specifically, I'm looking at a school which wants you to send them a recording of a jazz standard, with you both improvising and playing with the rhythm section.


The trouble is, "playing with the rhythm section" could be interpreted in one of two ways: Playing the chords, or playing the melody. I'm guessing the mean playing the melody, but I'd hate to send them something that wasn't what they wanted.


So you experienced auditions of HC: Would you interpret that to mean playing the melody, or playing along with the chords?

 

 

Honestly, I'd call them and ask what they mean. Keep asking questions until you really understand what they want.

 

If you guess wrong, and do your "wrong" answer well, you'll fare much worse than if you do a bad job at answering the "right question"

 

Get my drift?

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...