 Bradley
Sowash News, Winter 2009
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:
1. Peter Gunn 
2. Twilight Zone
3. Lone Ranger
Theme
4. Why Study Jazz?
More Sowash
videos 
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
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
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.
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.
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.
Private Lessons
I have two slots open for new students, every other Tuesday or Thursday. Learn more here.
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.
Jazz Workshop, Fall 2009 concert
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!
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.
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?
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.
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?
With deep appreciation for your support,
© 2009 Bradley Sowash (Distribute freely)
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