Music Lesson on "These Are the Days" by Jamie Cullum

Hi, I'm James!
Today, we're looking at this Grade 8 piece called "These Are the Days" by Jamie Cullum. It's part of the Rock School Grade 8 syllabus. It's a really nice piece with beautiful jazz soul vibes.

Background

• Written by Jamie Cullum and his brother Ben Cullum.
• This pair is known for their strong songwriting partnership.
• "These Are the Days" was a chart hit with lovely elements of soul and gospel.

Structure of The Piece

• The performance mainly involves an accompanying role.
• The exception is a short solo where we play underneath the singer.
• In our setting, we'll be performing the role of the piano player.

Groove and Accents

• Most of the time, focus on the groove, play soulful lines and hang back.
• There are two key moments to step forward:
  1. The intro (when we're on our own).
  2. The solo section (starting at Bar 33).
• We recommend checking out the original version to understand Jamie's accents, especially in the introduction (Bars 1, 2, and end of Bar 4).

Quote:

"Really knocking those accents in."

Harmony

• A lovely harmonic section occurs in Bar 3 during the introduction with C over D (also referred to as a sus chord).
• It feels like a cadence that needs resolution, much like a five-one perfect cadence in gospel music.

Page Turning Strategy

• This piece has a lot of pages, making it challenging to turn them during a performance.
• Consider:
  • Taping your music together.
  • Spreading out all six pages for easy access.

Tip:

"Many a great exam has been ruined by a pause in the piece. Remember, the backing track isn't going to stop."

The Solo Section

• The solo is the most difficult part:
  • Notation: Features semiquaver triplets, quintuplets, demi-semiquavers, and big fourth voicing sections.
  • Tempo: At 73 BPM, but feels double-speed.

Key Points:

• Use a classic blues line at the start of the solo, hit it punchy and bright.
• From Bar 34, focus on the quintuplet; it's more about achieving a glissando effect.
• Recommend putting the pedal down for sustain on A7 arpeggios.

Difficult Segments in the Solo

• At Bar 36, big leaps lead into Bar 37.
• These large gaps require focus to jump from high to low notes.

Memorization Advice:

"If possible, memorize the solo. It helps with flow and hitting the right notes."

Final Section Dynamics

• The final section invites dynamic fluctuations:
  • Start strong from Bar 55 and tail off towards the end.

Dynamics Overview:

• Mezzo forte at the start.
• Transition to piano and build up at Bar 28.

Summary

This is a super soulful piece to enjoy. Key takeaways:

• Emphasize the intro and solo.
• Take the solo slowly, practicing hand separately.
• Focus on getting the right vibe, especially in Bar 34 arpeggios.
• Pay attention to page-turning logistics during the exam.
• Explore dominant sevens and sus chords for added texture.

In Closing:
Harvest interesting voicings to elevate your playing; you'll sound like a pro in no time!
See you next time!