Bradley Sowash News, Summer 2010
Dear Friends and Fans,
I've hit some kind of lucky streak or critical mass in my
career. For the first time ever, I'm being offered more opportunities than I am able to
accept. It's great to be in demand but also tough to keep up with it all sometimes!
Of particular interest is a recent work, titled "Can't
Resist the Music," that was commissioned for the New American Music Project by a
grant from the Johnstone Fund for New Music. The premier performance featured Chamber
Music Connection's Young Artists and the Columbus Children's Choir. Heres the direct
link to the performance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_FMsPZGHz0 While there, I encourage
you to read about my inspirations for this piece in the program notes that are included
with the video.
I was recently handed a DVD or a performance from last
summer that I didn't even know existed. It's an impromptu jam session with jazz violin
sensation, Christian Howe. We performed this unrehearsed rendition of George Gershwin's
"Lady Be Good" at Chamber Music Connection's summer festival faculty concert in
Worthington, Ohio. Check it out here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aNYT-b7Op14
If you enjoy these very occasional newsletters (the last
time I sent one was around Christmas) and would like more frequent updates, you might
consider following my professional activities on either of these social networks:
Fans: |
Colleagues: |
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The rest of this newsletter format is
divided into sections so you can jump to the information that is most relevant:
FANS
Upcoming Concert Dates:
Petoskey, Michigan
Aug 1, 2, 2010
Bay View Association
Lakeside, OH
Aug 4, 2010
Lakeside, The Chautauqua on Lake
Erie
Austin, TX
August 6 - 7, 2010
National Group Piano and
Pedagogy Forum
STUDENTS
Pianists: I have a few slots opening up in
my private teaching studio in the Fall
due to graduating seniors. They fill up fast and I usually have a waiting list by the end
of August so get in touch soon if you
want to learn to play more creatively.

Pianists: How would you like to play
personal renditions of tunes everyone knows in just a few weeks? I offer a range of
creative music making classes for all levels from first timers through advanced and even
piano teachers. Learn more here or
call Carol Argiro at 614.294.5200

All Instruments: Lifes too short to
play the same music twice. Learn to improvise at my Jazz Workshop sponsored by Chamber Music Connection.

TEACHERS

Teacher Training
I hope to see you at one of my workshops this summer where I'll be helping teachers unlock
the mysteries of playing by ear.
Here's the schedule:
Burnsville, MN (Twin Cities)
July 26, 2010
Schmitt
Music
"That's Jazz" showcase & clinic
Brooklyn Center, MN (Twin
Cities)
July 27, 2010
Schmitt
Music
"That's Jazz" showcase & clinic
Endina, MN (Twin Cities)
July 28, 2010
Schmitt
Music
"That's Jazz" showcase & clinic
Emporia, KS
July 29, 2010
Flints Hills Music
"That's Jazz" showcase & clinic
Long Beach, CA
July 30, 2010
Alley Kat Music
"That's Jazz" showcase & clinic
Austin, TX
August 6 - 7, 2010
National Group Piano and
Piano Pedagogy Forum
Clinics and Recital
Columbus, OH
August 10, 2010
Ohio Music Teachers Association - Central East District
Scale
Olympics Workshop with Cynthia Adams
Are you active in your local music teachers
association? Consider bringing me in for your next event as a guest speaker or workshop
leader. Learn more about my workshops for teachers here:

New Books
I have three new educational books coming out in late August as a part of my
Tha's Jazz series. The publisher requests that I stay mum about the
details but heres a hint: Youll want to start your students on them early so
theyll be ready for the holidays. Watch my website or Facebook Fan page for an
announcement soon. They are going to be sooooo awesome!!!
Review
My That's Jazz Performance books have been getting thoughtful and kind
reviews. Here's the most recent:
Bradley Sowash's That's Jazz performance series is intended
as a complement and supplement to the That's Jazz core method books, and each book begins
with a chart correlating pieces between the books. Even within the performance series
alone, Sowash impressively combines a presentation of solid repertoire with basic lessons
about scales, style, embellishment, and harmony.
The repertoire is comprised of brief-two-to-three
page-compositions with an emphasis on rock and straight-eighth styles like reggae, West
African kalimba music, and boogies. Since the tunes, especially in the earlier-level
books, use very few chords, students have the opportunity to learn scales and
improvisation. Because of the simple harmonies, the pieces aren't extremely fascinating,
but they are catchy, rhythmic, and fun and serve their pedagogical purposes quite well.
"Surf Board," from Book 1, for example, is a rock piece using the chords C, F,
and G. Sowash employs these three chords to teach "boogie bass," challenging
students to experiment with their own variations of simple left-hand accompaniment
patterns below the repetitive melody. "Jamaican Jam' from Book 2 is a reggae with
simple minor harmony that correlates to lessons about improvising with arpeggios and their
inversions.
One of the strengths of the book is the presence of
options; each piece is accompanied by a duet part, suggestion for MIDI sounds, lyrics, and
an improvisation challenge. There are also downloadable accompaniments from the Kjos
multimedia library. I love that each piece includes chord symbols; student can become
accustomed to thinking of harmony as independent from the specific notes and chords, even
if the student are not yet improvising.
When Sowash does ask student to improvise, the assignments
are generally simple: embellishing the melody, moving up and down a scale, or adding
rhythms to the left hand. Even the most stubbornly improvisation-resistant students should
be capable of these tasks, and example are always provided just in case. While Books 1 and
2 focus on building a musical foundation, Book 3 introduces principles of phrasing-call
and response, trading fours, and rhythmic variation-and more complicated chord-scale
relationships.
The That's Jazz performance series capably mixes repertoire
and pedagogy, providing a fine introduction to the possibilities of music creation. -
Jeremy Siskind for Clavier Companion
Learn more about the That's Jazz series here:
CHOIR AND/OR BAND DIRECTORS
Holiday Concert Concept
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 years premier had an
enthusiastic standing room only audience. You could do the same thing at your church or
academic institution. Get in touch to learn more.

Clinics
I also do jazz and classical improvisation clinics in music schools where I introduce
step-by-step musical tools and practical tips to get your students improvising
immediately.

Demonstrating rhythms on a hand drum for college music students
On a personal note
I recently turned 50 and I'm proud of it, gosh darn it. For some reason, shortly after my
birthday I became interested in poetry and bird watching. Are human beings hard wired to
enjoy these more subtle hobbies as the years pass by?
With deep appreciation for your support,

© 2010 Bradley Sowash (Distribute freely)

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