Is this really what happens to students who don't practice??!!
Want to learn to play jazz?
Well, enough space in my diary has been freed up for this popular guitar programme once again. Details below. It follows a similar programme that I've been running for learning to play blues guitar too.
'Want play jazz?'
If you've been playing guitar for a year or so already and have built up the basics of playing the instrument playing blues, rock, classical or country it's not as hard as you might think. In fact a lot of what you already know can easily be adapted to play jazz on the guitar.
'Learn to play jazz by learning tunes and their chords'
Together we'll sit down and tailor-make a 12 week course for you, to move you from where you are in your playing now, to where you'd like to be in 3 months time.
The 12 week course will contain between 6 and 8 tunes to learn, each one negotiated between us to work out which tunes will suit you best to develop your playing style. Each week you'll study your tunes, work through the chord changes, the melody, the rhythm and your approaches for improvisation for best results. Some will be simple, others more challenging, all of them fun to play!
The tunes selected will include those played regularly at jam sessions, i.e. jazz standards, blues, ballads, latin, bebop heads etc. At the end of the 12 weeks you'll know the 'heads' and the 'changes' to your chosen tunes, along with different 'comping' styles, and a range of strategies for improvising on them.
The pathway include a free 1 hour introductory lesson to evaluate your starting points including technique, aural and musical understanding, so we can hit the ground running the day you start your first proper lesson.
'Includes a free 1 hour introductory lesson'
Introductory Lesson - includes an assessment of your current technique, level of understanding and preferred learning styles. Discussions on what targets we set, likely practice regime and noting useful text books/reference sources to support your progress.
The course will typically fall into 3 broad areas:
Foundations - Weeks 1 - 4: typically this will include: getting your ears in gear and fingers moving efficiently around the fretboard, so you play what you want to, not what your fingers are limited to. Chords and progressions, triads, scales and modes, arpeggios, double string studies, fingerings, note names, aural studies, and rhythmic and timing foundations, that apply to the tunes you have selected to work on. In short, building the musical scaffold that makes improvising possible. This stage also includes visualisation and memory techniques.
'Tap into your inner musical ear'
Moving on - Weeks 5 - 8: Putting all the above information and resources into your playing. Phrasing, fretboard mapping; getting a clear and simple understanding of how things really work everywhere on your fretboard. How to find the notes you want to hear in your playing and how to apply these to different jazz situations. Exercises and drills that are fun and you can put instantly into your playing. Building on your rhythm and timing skills. Hearing exercises - tap into the 'musical ear you didn't know you had' to make huge leaps in your playing. All of this while working on your next set of tunes.
Consolidating - Weeks 9 - 12: Building vocabulary. Turning scales, triads and arpeggios into licks and phrases. Common licks used with different chord changes, how to adapt licks to fit lots of playing situations. Filling out between phrases as part of your comping style. More on rhythm - swing, bebop, hard bop, cool, funk and latin styles. Get in the groove with other time signatures - 3/4, 6/8, 6/4, 12/8, 5/4. Apply all of this to your final set of chosen tunes.
Your commitment - Does that sound like a lot to cover in 12 weeks? Well it is! You will need to be sure you have a reasonable amount of practice time available each week to cover everything as we go through the course.
'Get a clear, simple understanding of how music really works'
To book your free introductory lesson, use the contact form to the right of this page, or email me at dave@davebold.com. Fees for the course are the same as my standard rates; info on the Lessons page.
August gigs
August already! Catch me with the Green Chain Quartet at the following public gigs this month:
.... Sunday 11th August 3 - 5pm - Parliament Hill Fields Bandstand, Hampstead Heath, (nr cafe & tennis courts) Highgate Road, London, NW5 1QR
.... Friday 30th August from 7pm-ish - Crofton Park Tavern, 330-332 Brockley Road SE4 2BT
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| Hoping PHF is not going to be as cold as this gig was! |
More gigs - Brockley, Petts Wood, Hither Green...
More gigs coming up with the fab Green Chain Quartet/Quintet soon, details below:
- Saturday 27th April @ Brockley Taproom, Harcourt Rd Brockley SE4 - 7pm start.
- Thursday 2nd May @ The Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, Bromley - 8.30pm start
- Monday 27th May (Spring Bank Holiday), Manor Park Gardens festival - pm, time TBC.
GW RR Soul Band - London Marathon 2024
Gordon Webber's Road Runners Soul Band are back at the London Marathon on Sunday 21st April. Music starts about 11.30/12.00am. (later start as runners now have much more spread out start times.
Note we've also changed our performance spot to Deptford Creek; we are now on the raised pavement on Creek Road, on the junction of Creekside and Gonson Street - opposite The Duke pub (and just after the Creek Road bridge if you're running.. don't forget to wave!).
Nearest rail stations are Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich on the DLR line, Deptford Rail Station and Greenwich Rail and DLR station.
Check the TFL website for London Marathon day 2024 public transport details.
See you there!
Upcoming live music events April - May 2024
- 27th April @ Brockley Taproom, Harcourt Rd Brockley SE4 - 7pm start.
- 2nd May @ The Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, Bromley - 8.30pm start
Also the fantabulous Road Runners Soul Band are back at the London Marathon on Sunday 21st April. Music starts about 9.30am.
Note we've changed our performance spot to Deptford Creek; we are now on the raised pavement on Creek Road, on the junction of Creekside and Gonson Street - opposite The Duke pub (and just after the Creek Road bridge if you're running.. don't forget to wave!).
Nearest rail stations are Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich on the DLR line, Deptford Rail Station and Greenwich Rail and DLR station.
Check the TFL website for London Marathon day 2024 public transport details.
Fab Feb First @ The Daylight
Great to be back the Brockley Brewery for their Jazz January, looking forward to the next one there. Meanwhile.. I'm back at the Daylight with the Green Chain Quartet on 1st February. Doors 8pm. It'll be fab!
https://www.greenchainquartet.com/2024/01/fab-feb-first-friends.html?spref=tw
Merry Christmas and a Peaceful New Year
Thanks to all my students who I've had the pleasure of teaching this year - online and in-person.
Thanks also to the venues and musicians that I worked with from spring to winter, inside, outside and all points in between!
Wishing you all the best for Christmas and New Year and, as last year, and the year before, and the year before that... hoping it's better and more peaceful one for all of us than 2023
Dave
New guitar for Christmas? Grab a free lesson from me!
This offer has been popular for the last few years, so I'm offering it again this year!
Improving what you play already? This would be a great starting point. Many guitarists have used my lessons to widen their musical horizons by adding new styles into their playing: Blues, Soul, Jazz, Funk, Classical, Hard Rock. It could also cover improvising (all styles), sight reading, fretboard knowledge - in short, being able to play anywhere on the fretboard - and of course understanding music theory.
Complete beginner? I meet a lot people who say "Ah, the guitar: I bought one but couldn't get started on it..." Well the short answer is they probably would have, if they'd had a few pointers on how to get started; i.e. what to practice in those early stages so they could make good progress, how to get over those new beginners' 'humps' and how to start sounding musical as soon as possible.
So, if you're getting new guitar (or bass, or ukulele, or banjo!) for Christmas... Get started with a free lesson from me!
To take up this offer simply email me (dave@davebold.com) giving the name of the person receiving the guitar, I'll send you a personalised electronic copy of the flyer below. After that just contact me to arrange a time for your lesson. Job done.
This could also be a major help if you're making a New Year's resolution to play a few songs on your new guitar by Easter; what a great start this would be!
If you're gifting a guitar to someone it also makes the best of your Christmas present and helps sort out your wannabe a guitarist's New Years Resolution. And.... if your own resolution was to get them started on a musical instrument, that's two NY resolutions sorted in one hit! Simple!
Know someone else who may be interested? Use the buttons ⇙ below to share. Thanks.
Been busy!
After a run of recent gigs, mainly centring around the King's Coronation events and the London Marathon, I can take a break to concentrate on teaching. Then finish the month of May at Billy's in Manor Park, Lewisham (Sunday 28th pm) and Bank Holiday Monday at Pistachios in Manor Park Gardens, Hither Green, and then start June with another Daylight Inn event in Petts Wood on the 1st June.
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| Sunny Day with GCQ at Pistachio's! |
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| Another sunny day (with GCQ and Jimmy Beckley) at Petts Wood Street Party! |
Spring/Summer Gigs 2023
Spring / Summer public gigs. Catch me somewhere!
April
6th - 8-11pm: Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, Bromley. (Green Chain Qt)
23rd - 9am-12noon: London Marathon, Greenwich (Meantime Road Runners)
May
4th - 8-11pm: Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, Bromley. (Green Chain Qt)
6th - pm: Street Party, Beckenham (Green Chain Qt + guests)
7th - pm: Street Party, Bickley (Green Chain Qt + guests)
8th - 2.30-7.30pm: Golder's Hill Park Bandstand, Hampstead Heath (GCQ)
28th - 2pm Jazz In The Park - Billy's, Manor Park, Hither Green SE13 5QZ
29th - 2pm Pistachios In The Park, Hither Green (GCQ)
June
1st - 8-11pm: Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, Bromley. (Green Chain Qt)
14th - 3pm: Fellowship Arms event, Bellingham, Catford (Duo with Jimmy Beckley)
24th - pm: TBC Manor Park Festival (Green Chain Qt)
July
6th - 8-11pm: Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, Bromley. (Green Chain Qt + guests)
August
3rd - 8-11pm: Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, Bromley. (Green Chain Qt)
13th - 3-5pm: Parliament Hill Fields Bandstand, Hampstead Heath (GCQ)
September
7th - 8-11pm: Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, Bromley. (Green Chain Qt)
Has RGT morphed into LCM?
Well er.. not quite! The Registry Of Guitar Tutors (RGT) instruction and exam system has been part of the London Music College Exams group for a few years now. But things evolve and it is now fully part of the London College Of Music (LCM) and is now rebranded as ‘RGT@LCM’.
Since its creation in 1992, RGT has collaborated with the London College of Music (LCM), which is part of the University of West London (UWL), to provide internationally-recognised accredited exams across the spectrum of popular guitar music in electric, rock, acoustic, jazz, bass guitar and ukulele – from beginner to Diploma level.
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| Whatever the fretted instrument: RGT has it covered |
RGT@LCM will be managed by LCM Examinations, assisted by RGT’s current Chief Examiner Merv Young. LCM is working closely with RGT to ensure a smooth transition.
Anyone currently taking an examination or thinking of taking an examination in the future will not be affected by the merger, as RGT exams will continue to be administered and examined in the same way by the same skilled personnel.
There are currently no plans to change any of the existing RGT syllabuses or exam handbooks. The considerable benefits of RGT membership to guitar teachers will remain in place.
As ever more information is available at the RGT website: http://www.rgt.org/exams/index.php And on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/RegistryOfGuitarTutors/
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Thanks to all my students who I've had the pleasure of teaching this year - online and in-person.
Thanks also to the venues and musicians that I worked with from spring to winter, inside, outside and all points in between!
Wishing you all the best for Christmas and New Year and, as last year, and the year before, hoping it's better one for all of us than 2022!
Dave
Early Autumn Gigs 2022
Gigs continue with the Green Chain Quartet. Our monthly residency at The Daylight Inn in Petts Wood, Bromley is going well and has raised over £1,000 for charities since we started earlier this year.
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| The GCQ captured in glorious technicolor by Neil Stradwick |
You can catch us live on the first Thursday of every month 8pm for some soul-jazz boogaloo!
8pm Thursday 6th October @ The Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, Bromley. Guest vocalist Amanda Forbes. And special intermission guests: Felix's School Of Rock Choir.
8pm Thursday 3rd November @ The Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, Bromley. Special guest TBC.
For more information see the official Green Chain Quartet website
The GCQ are also playing the annual Hither Green Christmas FUSS Fair on Saturday afternoon of December 3rd. And I understand another Christmas outdoor special at Pistachio's In The Park, Manor Park Gardens, Lee, Lewisham date TBC.
My other dates this month include an early afternoon duo performance at The Fellowship Arms, Bellingham, with sax legend Jimmy Beckley: 12 til 2pm on 21st September.
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| Jimmy Beckley |
Green Chain gigs - August 2022
At the moment my regular gig is with the Green Chain Quartet, featuring old friends and London music legends John Gittos on Hammond, Mel Wright on drums and Dave Morris on saxophones.
But, because we've all played lots of different styles of music together, and we've been working with lots of guests across a wide spectrum of musical styles (most months at the Daylight Inn we feature a guest singer or instrumentalist) it's growing organically and, though originally we try to be as true as possible to the original soul-jazz boogaloo sound, I quite like the way we adjust to fit the styles required!
Hear us live at the following public events:
8pm Thursday 4th August @ The Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, Bromley. Guest vocalist Amanda Forbes.
3pm Sunday 7th August @ Hampstead Heath: Parliament Hill Bandstand, Parliament Hill Fields (near Tennis Courts) Highgate Road, London, NW5 1QR
8pm Thursday 1st September @ The Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, Bromley. Special guest TBC.
For more information see the official Green Chain Quartet website
Pistachios In The Park
Thanks to everyone who came along to hear the Jazz and Blues at Pistachio's In The Park at Manor House Gardens in Hither Green on Sunday. And special thanks to vocalist Chess Payne standing in at short notice for The Prof who was off with Covid.
I'm told there are more of these events to come at this lovely park setting so watch this space!
Full list of upcoming gigs with the GCQ at the GCQ website!
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| The Green Chain Quartet |
Live at The Daylight!
Lovely gig at the Daylight Inn in Petts Wood, Bromley last week with the fabulous Green Chain Quartet, It's a new monthly residency with guests.
Each month the event raises money for a charitable cause. This one was Bromley Food Band and a decent amount of money was raised for them.
Next one up at The Daylight is on Thursday 7th April. Doors open 8pm, music from 8.30pm. The charitable support for this one will be the people in Ukraine.
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| At 'The Daylight' (with extra lighting 🙄 ) |
Upcoming gigs
Well the gigs are starting to come back... Here's a selection of my events for 2022 with the fabulous Green Chain Quartet, including a new monthly residency with guests at The Daylight Inn, Petts Wood, Bromley. Looking forward to them!
2022
3rd March - The Daylight Inn, Petts Wood
7th April - The Daylight Inn, Petts wood
22nd April - Private Function Blackheath
5th May - The Daylight Inn, Petts Wood
4th June - Beckenham Street Party
25th June - Clandon Wood Jazz Evening, Surrey
7th August - The Bandstand, Hampstead Heath
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| In the pink with the Green Chain Quartet |
New guitar for Christmas? Get a free lesson from me!
This offer has been popular for the last few years, so I'm offering it again this year, although slightly different due to the Covid-19 Omicron restrictions in that my lessons are currently only online, through Skype, Zoom, Webex or Facetime. Although if anything like 2021 this will revert to face to face lessons as the pandemic risk reduces.
Improving what you play already? This would be a great starting point. Many guitarists have used my lessons to widen their musical horizons by adding new styles into their playing: Blues, Soul, Jazz, Funk, Classical, Hard Rock. It could also cover improvising (all styles), sight reading, fretboard knowledge - in short, being able to play anywhere on the fretboard - and music theory.
Complete beginner? I meet a lot people who say "Ah, the guitar: I bought one but couldn't get started on it..." Well the short answer is they probably would have, if they'd had a few pointers on how to get started; i.e. what to practice in those early stages so they could make good progress, how to get over those new beginners' 'humps' and how to start sounding musical as soon as possible.
So, if you're getting new guitar (or bass, or ukulele, or banjo!) for Christmas... Get started with a free lesson from me!
To take up this offer simply email me (dave@davebold.com) giving the name of the person receiving the guitar, I'll send you a personalised electronic copy of the flyer below. After that just contact me to arrange a time for your lesson. Job done.
This could also be a major help if you're making a New Year's resolution to play a few songs on your new guitar by Easter; what a great start this would be!
If you're gifting a guitar to someone it also makes the best of your Christmas present and helps sort out your wannabe a guitarist's New Years Resolution. And, if your own resolution was to get them started on a musical instrument, that's two NY resolutions sorted in one hit! Simple!
Know someone else who may be interested? Use the buttons ⇙ below to share. Thanks.
Christmas Bash at Pistachio's In The Park - Sunday 19th from 11.30
Thanks to everyone who came along to the Hither Green Christmas FUSS Fair!
The fab Green Chain Quartet are ending the musical year with a seasonal Christmas bash at Pistachio's In The Park in Manor House Gardens on Sunday lunchtime (12.00-1.00pm) 19th December and.. you're invited!
We've got all your favourite Xmas tunes, socially distanced (we're playing outside) to accompany your favourite seasonal coffee and pastries. There'll be festive singing too, we hope you're in good voice !
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| All the performers at Hither Green Christmas FUSS Fair (Thanks to Jilly Pepper for this photo) |
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