Alisdair's Areas Of Musical Study

Central to all my teaching is audiation. All concepts are taught with regard to the ear and "feeling in the body". Execution skills/Technique on the instrument are developed to allow the musician to express what is audiated, they two go hand in hand, technique develops fastest and easiest when the student can audiate what they are wish to play.

I specialize in Jazz improvisation and harmony.

Here are some potential areas of technical study:

Style Studies: Jazz including swing and bebop, Rock, Pop, R&B, Funk, Folk, African Music, Caribbean Music including Soca, Calypso and Reggae.
Music Reading: Single Line, Chords, Melodic Rhythm Studies.
Improvisation: Tonal and Rhythm Pattern Studies, Breaking a tune down to it's essential elements, Goal/Target Notes, Chromatic Targeting, Scale & Arpeggio Studies, Phrasing, Melodic Structures in Improvisation, Transcribed Solos, Pentatonics, Jazz Improvisational Techniques, Chord Scale Theory, Rock Improvisation,
Theory: Reading and Writing Music, Scoring
Bass: Closed hand technique (Franz Simandl), Open hand technique (Franke system), Rest/Hammer Strokes, Pick Technique, Bowing. Transitioning/Doubling on Bass Guitar and Upright Bass.
Guitar: Guitar MACRO and MICRO Triad System, Picking Techniques: Alternate, Sweep, Finger-Picking, Chord Melody Studies, Accompaniment: Comping, Funk Rhythms, Bass-Lines, Fretting-Hand: Hammer-Ons, Pull-Offs, Slurs
Ear Training: Rhythm Patterns, Tonal Patterns, Call and Response, Intervals, Chords
Harmony: Chord Construction, Voice Leading, Harmonizing Melody
Arranging: Arranging, Lead sheets and MIDI File Production
Building Repertoire: Commercial/Wedding Band, Standard Jazz, Classical
Performance: As a multi-instrument player I am able to provide the student with practical experience of playing with other instruments in a performing situation. For example we will perform guitar and bass duets, using both commercial (Rock, Pop etc.), Jazz and Classical material. This interaction provides a more realistic performance learning experience than can be provided by a single instrument instructor.

My Teaching Philosophy and Approach ; My Music Teaching Background ; Areas Of Music Study ; Student Comments