Taught by renowned trumpet player
Stuart Mack
If you're brand new to jazz, this is the place to get started. Stuart Mack discusses the absolute basics you need to practice your first tunes, understand the basic harmonic unit of jazz (the ii-V-I) and begin transcribing. Good luck as you launch into this new and exciting domain of musical expression!
A Brief History of Jazz Trumpet
Before he kicks off the course, Stuart shares some context surrounding the history of jazz, why listening is so important, and a bit about some of his favorite players.
Jazz Style
The jazz style is characterized by a specific time feel and articulation on the trumpet. In this lesson, Stuart provides a basic introduction to these elements of jazz.
ii-V-I
The ii-V-I (pronounced 2-5-1) progression is the most ubiquituous unit in jazz harmony. For this lesson, Stuart teaches us the simple music theory knowledge required to understand the ii-V-I, and shares basic patterns you can practice to develop mastery.
Your First Practice Tunes
Let's dig into repertoire! Stuart starts with three tunes: Mack the Knife, an original Blues, and Sunlight, a contrafact of the tune Solar. He also includes a fourth challenge tune titled Seamstress, a contrafact of Beatrice.
Backing Tracks
To help you practice, we recorded some top rhythm sections musicians in LA playing over these repertoire tunes. Use the lead sheets in the workbook to practice for yourself!
Intro to Transcribing
This short lesson is for anyone who has never transcribed before. Stuart explains why transcribing is important, and why picking the right solo to start with is even more important.
Transcribing
Stuart shares some insight into transcribing for those of you who have done it a few times. How should we extract transcribed language into our solos? How do we avoid simply copying the licks we learn?
Performances of Transcriptions
Stuart wrote out a number of solos over each of the four tunes in this course, and plays them here, along with rhythm section accompaniment, for you to start transcribing! If you feel ready, pause and slow down the video to learn these solos, one note at a time.
Style
To conclude this course, Stuart discusses the subject of individual style in jazz. No two musicians will ever play exactly the same! Stuart plays Autumn Leaves in three different styles to demonstrate this point.
Click here to download the course workbook PDF and see the full syllabus →Stuart Mack, winner of the 2015 International Trumpet Guild Jazz Competition, works as a freelance trumpet player and composer in New York City,
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