Essential Elements Jazz
Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble is a comprehensive method for jazz style and improvisation written by renowned jazz musician and educator Mike Steinel from the University of North Texas. This series provides a great starting point for young musicians to learn the style and nuances of jazz music as well as an introduction to improvisation and more advanced concepts. View Brochure on Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble.
Audio Tour
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Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble - Book 1
A Comprehensive Method for Jazz Style and Improvisation
For more information, click on each of the bullet points below:
- Every exercise and arrangement recorded by professionals
- Repeated exercises feature rhythm section only
- Download / Stream at www.myeelibrary.com.
- How jazz and "traditional" music are different
- Swing style introduced gradually using scat syllables
- Includes Swing Era, Bebop and Latin/Rock
- Includes additional specialized material for piano, guitar, bass and drums
- Rhythm players can either play along with the full band or study individually
- Basic stylistic periods
- Composers and performers
- Carefully paced performance pieces
- Sample improvised solos included
- Starts with 2-measure phrases
- Teaches how to "jazz up" a melody
- Matches correct scales with chords
Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble - Book 2
A Comprehensive Method for Jazz Style and Improvisation
For more information, click on each of the bullet points below:
- Every exercise and arrangement recorded by professionals
- Repeated exercises feature rhythm section only
- Download / Stream at www.halleonard.com/mylibrary/.
- The book starts with a brief review of the basics of the jazz style and other important concepts introduced in Book 1 such as jazz theory and improvisation.
- Several pages of daily drills, warm-ups and workouts for the start of rehearsals comprises the first full section of the book covering scales, modes, rhythms and more.
- The lessons section covers a variety of jazz styles and improvisation concepts. Each lesson ends with a full band performance piece. The instructional material can be used in a full band setting or individually.
- 9 rewarding full band pieces that reinforce each lesson are provided. These performance spotlights also include information on the cities, regions, and people influencing the evolution of jazz.
Essential Elements Jazz Play-Along
Jazz Play-Along Books for Beginning Improvisation
by Michael Sweeney and Mike Steinel
- Ideal for introducing improvisation to developing players
- Introduces well-known songs
- Professionally recorded play-along audio CD with Tempo Adjustment Software (for computer)
- Choice of full recording (with melody) or rhythm section only administrator
- Sample written solos and improvising hints
- Rhythm book includes bass lines, piano voicings and drum patterns
- Scale/chord correlation chart
- Biographical sketches of key jazz figures
Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble Series - Grade 1-2
Full jazz ensemble performance compositions and arrangements
by Michael Sweeney and Mike Steinel
- Written for full band, playable with 3 Saxes, 2 Trumpets, 1 Trombone, Rhythm Section
- Uses concepts taught in the Essential Elements for Jazz Ensemble Method Book
- Each arrangement is a self-contained teaching unit with exercises for melody, rhythm, and improvisation
- Full-length recordings available for each arrangement
