Summary
Lesson time: (1min 16sec)
Mike Lovatt wraps up the Transposition Blues, recapping the swing techniques it covers, from vibrato and airstream to playing running quavers.
Course preview
This lesson is part of the course Play Authentic Swing Trumpet
Watch a preview of the full course below.
Lesson transcript:
Transposition Blues Piece: Swing Music Techniques
Okay. I hope you've enjoyed doing this transposition blues piece. It's really unlocked quite a few more techniques and styles to play swing music.
Techniques Explored
- Vibrato: We've looked at further techniques in vibrato.
- Shorts and Longs: We've also covered techniques in shorts and longs.
- Airstream: We've talked about how we can use the airstream to play running swing quavers.
Key Reminders
- Digging into Time: Remember to dig into that time.
- Maintaining Time: Keep the time going when we're playing softly as well as loud.
- Declamatory Style: We can play notes with a more declamatory style, reminiscent of that New Orleans early jazz sound, which Louis Armstrong did so brilliantly.
Listening Recommendations
- Basie Band: Listen to the Basie Band and get into the way that they play together. This can help you when you're playing in a band with other players who enjoy swing music.
Conclusion
Now that you've completed the swing course, you should be really cooking and enjoying making your swing playing funky and groovy.
Above all, have lots of fun and enjoy your swing playing!
About the instructor
Mike Lovatt studied at Trinity College of Music, where he was awarded the Jon Kelly Jazz Scholarship. He has performed and recorded across a huge range of styles with artists including Quincy Jones, Robbie Williams, Eric Clapton, the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Buble, Oasis, Michel Legrand, Tony Bennett, Shirley Bassey and Danny Elfman, among many others. As Principal Trumpet in London's West End, Mike has performed in Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita, The Producers, Billy Elliot, Guys and Dolls, Saturday Night Fever, My Fair Lady and Spamalot, amongst others. He has played on movie soundtracks including the James Bond films, Harry Potter with the London Symphony Orchestra, the award-winning Chicago, Kevin Spacey's Beyond the Sea, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Madagascar and The Corpse Bride. He is featured on trumpet and cornet in George Fenton's Mrs Henderson Presents, and on trumpet in Looking for Eric. Mike is principal trumpet with the Grammy-nominated John Wilson Orchestra and has been featured in their celebrated BBC Promenade concerts and recordings. Mike is sought after as a teacher and clinician, and is a professor of trumpet at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music. In April 2013 he was proud to be awarded the prestigious Derek Watkins' Chair of Trumpet at the Royal Academy of Music, London. In his MusicGurus courses, Mike shares the secrets behind his versatility, showing you how to nail authentic swing, rock and Latin trumpet styles so you can play any of them with confidence and the right feel. read more