Bradley Sowash

Bradley Piano Straight.jpg (5285 bytes) You can receive quarterly updates like the one below announcing new releases, performance dates, and exclusive subscriber benefits by joining my opt-in mail list. I promise not to share your address or send more than 4 per year and you can easily and completely unsubscribe anytime. - Bradley Sowash

holly.gif (312 bytes)Bradley Sowash News, Winter 2009holly2.gif (1012 bytes)

Dear Music Lovers,

First up, here’s a recession buster: I've temporarily disounted all of my CDs to just $10. That’s the lowest price ever and I'll throw in free shipping if you buy 5 or more. Now you can give the gift of music and still afford candy canes!

The rest of this newsletter format is divided into sections so you can jump to the information that is most relevant:

(Choose an area of interest)
Fans | Music Students | Teachers | Directors

FOR FANS

Videos
Check out my new “Gotta Play That Lick” videos.
New Videos:
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3. Lone Ranger Theme video.gif (988 bytes)
4. Why Study Jazz? video.gif (988 bytes)
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Networking
One of my most loyal fans recently put up a fan page at Facebook. I was also LinkedIn by an associate.

Performances
I have concerts coming up in Virginia, North Carolina, and Ohio so if you live nearby, I'd love to meet you personally afterwards.

Roanoke, VA - World Premiere!
December 20, 2009
I’m so excited about this one. Imagine 4 trumpets, 5 saxophones, 4 trombones, piano, bass, drum set and a 45-voice choir performing six of my sacred jazz Christmas arrangements along with other holiday hits. We did this last year to a packed house so if you don’t want to stand, come early! Two concerts at 4 and 7:30 P.M. sponsored by Covenant Presbyterian Church in conjunction with Kingdom Life Ministries. Covenant Presbyterian Church

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Raleigh, NC
January 29 - 31, 2010
Wake Forest Baptist Church
Friday Jazz Jam Session 7:00 - 9:00
Sunday Jazz Worship 8:00 and 11:00
Sunday sacred jazz solo piano concert 3:00

Circleville, OH
February 21, 2010 at 2 pm.
Community United Methodist Church
Sacred solo piano concert

Lakeside, OH
August 4, 2010
8:15 pm – 75 min show, no intermission
Lakeside, The Chautauqua on Lake Erie
Sacred Jazz Quintet Concert

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FOR MUSIC STUDENTS

PIANISTS
The Jazz Academy

If you live in Central Ohio, you probably know about Jazz Arts Group that recently opened The Jazz Academy at the newly restored Lincoln Theater. The Columbus Dispatch ran an article about it that included a picture of my adult group piano class. I’ll be teaching similar classes this winter so if you’ve always wanted to play piano, here’s your chance.

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Creative Chord Style I – Group Piano Lessons Faculty: Bradley Sowash Dates/Times: Wednesdays, February 3 – March 24, 2010, 6:00 – 7:30 pm (8 weeks) Registration Deadline: Wednesday, January 27 Class Fee: $95.00* / $105.00 Age Recommendation: 14 years and up through adult, limited to 12 students; students who participated in the fall session are welcome to continue and new students are welcome. Description: How would you like to play personal renditions of tunes everyone knows in just a few weeks? Nationally acclaimed jazz educator Bradley Sowash offers just enough of the basics including keyboard geography, chord construction, and minimal music reading ability to get you quickly playing best-loved songs with both hands. On the last day of class, there will be an informal performance for family and friends. No prior experience is necessary. Access to a home keyboard for practice is required.

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Creative Chord Style II
– Group Piano Lessons Faculty: Bradley Sowash Dates/Times: Wednesdays, February 3 – March 24, 2010, 7:30 – 9:00 pm (8 weeks) Registration Deadline: Wednesday, January 27 Class Fee: $95.00* / $105.00 Age Recommendation: 14 years and up through adult, limited to 12 students; Description: Continue to advance your keyboard abilities. This course will build on the basics introduced in Creative Chord Style I, while moving your abilities forward. Students who participated in the fall session are encouraged to continue; new students with some piano playing knowledge are welcome. On the last day of class, there will be an informal performance for family and friends. Some experience is necessary. Access to a home keyboard for practice is required.
Learn more here.

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Private Lessons
I have two slots open for new students, every other Tuesday or Thursday. Learn more here.

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ALL INSTRUMENTS
Jazz Workshop Winter Session Life’s too short to play the same music twice. Learn to improvise at the Winter session of my Jazz Workshop sponsored by Chamber Music Connection.

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Jazz Workshop, Fall 2009 concert

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FOR TEACHERS

I presented teacher training workshops sponsored by the Neil A. Kjos Music Company in Illinois, Ohio, New York, Georgia and Florida last summer and a few more this Fall in Ohio. If you’d like to learn how to integrate jazz into your teaching, I hope to see you at one of these clinics. Then we can eat lunch together afterward!

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Music Academy South
“Improvisation: Riffs, Rudiments, and Ad-Libs“ Students and/or teachers are invited to a Saturday morning workshop on improvisation and ear training. Students will have hands on experience in playing beyond the page, learning the value of ear training and how to use their harmonic knowledge to advance improvisational skills. Great for creative development and long-lasting musicianship skills. 9 – 10:30 AM for pianists and 10:45 AM – 12:30 PM for instrumentalists. $15 per person

Cincinnati, OH
March 5, 2010, 10:30 - Noon
Ohio Music Teachers Association Southwest District
Presenter for the Spring Conference

Columbus, OH
April 5, 2010
Central East District of Ohio Music Teacher's Assoc.
Presenter for the Spring Conference

Dallas, TX
July 6 - 9, 2010
National Piano Institute for Teachers and Young Artists
Southern Methodist University
Leading session(s) on teaching improvisation

Austin, TX
August 6 - 7, 2010
National Group Piano and Piano Pedagogy Forum
Leading session(s) on teaching improvisation

Are you active in your local music teacher’s association? Consider bringing me in for your next event as a guest speaker or workshop leader.

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The current issue of Clavier Companion includes an article I wrote. Here is an excerpt:

The Myths of Playing by Ear – Bradley Sowash

Playing by ear is one of those areas of teaching music that often goes overlooked. If you are not already teaching “off the page” alongside traditional reading skills, perhaps it's because you've unknowingly bought into some of the myths of playing by ear.

Myth #1
Playing by ear is an innate gift. While it's true that rare individuals possess extraordinary musical gifts, most musicians who play “off the page” began with nothing more than average musical talent. Like traditional musical skills, playing by ear, embellishing melodies and improvising are developed through study and practice.

Myth #2
Improvisation is difficult and intimidating. Anyone can improvise. In the beginning levels, it’s not any more difficult than acquiring other musical skills such as reading, counting, and all the rest. While it's true that master improvisers employ advanced scales and harmonies, students can begin playing full, two-handed improvisations with just a major scale and a few triads. The panic felt by many classically trained musicians when asked to “fake it” is not an issue for beginners. Start your students early and it becomes a fearless, natural way to make music.

Myth #3
Only experts can teach ear skills. Ideally, playing by ear would be a regular and expected part of standard music pedagogy rather than a quirky curriculum offered by only a few teachers. It’s beginning to change but many emphasize the eye skills of music reading to the exclusion of the ear. It’s easy to see why - reading is objective. Notes and rhythms are either right or wrong. Teaching to the ear requires a more subjective approach. Fortunately, as experienced music educators, we already possess the skills to do so. We know how to pace the lessons individually; we know when to introduce new challenges; and, most importantly, we know how to encourage and inspire, all of which come to play in helping a student tap their inner ear.

Myth #4
Improvising is only for jazz musicians. This one is easy to dispute. Playing by ear is downright useful. For example, what pianist hasn't been asked to play Happy Birthday on the spot sans music? What happens when friends or relatives ask your students to “play something” and they haven’t got their music tote bags with them? How many of them can accompany impromptu singers at a holiday gathering? Can any of them personalize a written melody with embellishment, improvisation or a change of key? Could your students stretch a written introduction in the pit band of a high school musical if an actress missed her song cue? What will they do on a wedding gig when the bride is only half way down the aisle and the final bar of the march is looming? Ear skills are as essential as eye skills. All musicians are eventually called upon to improvise.

Teaching to the ear as well as the eye prepares our students for a lifetime of enjoyable music making. The earlier they start, the better. What are you waiting for?

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FOR CHURCH MUSICIANS AND BAND DIRECTORS

Plan ahead for your holiday concerts next year. Combine your choir and instrumental ensemble for a Christmas concert they will never forget! I now have 10 jazz arrangements of Christmas favorites for SATB choir and 17 musicians. Last year’s premier had an enthusiastic standing room only audience. You could do the same thing at your church or academic institution.

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On a personal note, I’ve been spending most of my weekends fixing up a little spread on Southeastern Ohio where we keep our horses. Swinging a hammer outside provides a nice balance to composing and teaching during the week and I can’t seem to get enough of it or time on horseback. I guess that makes me a jazz cowboy?

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With deep appreciation for your support,

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© 2009 Bradley Sowash (Distribute freely)

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© January 26, 2010 Bradley Sowash Music, All Rights Reserved