Free Masterclass on Groove

The main thing that separates good brass quintet players from the great ones is not just having good time but having a great sense of groove.

One thing that all great conductors share is a great sense of groove.

All players who regularly do well in orchestral or military band auditions play with a great sense of groove.

The best soloists across all styles perform with a great sense of groove.

Groove is one of the nonnegotiable keys to excelling as a musical storyteller.

Released 50 years ago today, this album is a literal master class in groove. Close your eyes. Get lost in not just the time but the weight of the downbeats. The heaviness of the groove juxtaposed with a constant feeling of moving forward. Immerse yourself in how various articulations are used to create the groove.

If you go deep (Sam Pilafian's take on deep listening - headphones, eyes closed, phone on airplane mode) and truly get lost in it, I *guarantee* you that your Fountains of Rome or your Bolero or your whatever will be better on the other side of it. Full stop.

The Meters: Monday YouTube Fix

The Meters are a funk band from New Orleans. Their music is stripped down, not flashy, and just oozing with groove and character.

If you or a student of yours are looking for a way to work on groove, you can use this album as a tool.

Three Ways to Work on Groove:

1. You can have them sing along with any of these tracks. Have them start with just one note and encourage them to make it "fit into the song." Be sure to point out that fewer notes are better than a lot of notes when starting out.
    
2. Next have them play along with any of the tracks on just one note. It is pretty incredible how quickly even a young player will start to feel the concept of groove when they play along with an album like this.
    
3. Finally, have them play some very basic hand percussion along with it. A shaker, claves, anything laying around the band room. You can also have them march around the band room in time with the music to feel the groove.

I've seen this kind of thing work wonders with students of all ages and ability levels.

Happy grooving!

Provided to YouTube by Warner Music Group Cissy Strut · The Meters Funkify Your Life: The Meters Anthology ℗ 1969 Josie Records. Controlled By Rhino Entertainment Co. ℗ 1969 WEA International Inc.

Jason Newstedt of Metallica: Monday YouTube Fix

I saw Metallica perform at the Worcester Centrum on December 22, 1991 as a junior in high school.  I was blown away by their intensity and musicianship.  While all four of them were phenomenal, it was the bass and drums that were really driving the bus that night.

The number one challenge I face as a tuba player, whether it be as a soloist, in a brass quintet, or in a large ensemble, is articulation and clarity.  This is the case for all bass clef instruments.

This clip is the isolated bass track from Metallica's Jason Newstedt on the song "Blackened" from their album ...And Justice For All.  It is a great example of how super clean articulation can aid a bass clef instrument in groove and drive.  If you play any instrument in any genre with this kind of intensity, you tend to get compensated for your interests.

Enjoy!

Jason Newsted's bass track for blackened on its own, enjoy. \m/