Choice of notes and note usage

A private lesson from Jazz master Eric Bolvin

We’re now going to get a video lesson from a master of improvised music. Eric Bolvin is a well-known jazz trumpet player. We’ve received special permission to use his instruction videos. This is one of the most informative videos I know.

In this workshop Eric uses only one chord. This lesson is suited for beginners, more advanced players, as well as teachers.

Beginners should select the Blues 1 scale on the Magic Flute. This is the pentatonic minor scale. With this scale you can’t play the last two exercises. Advanced players can use the G major scale. Below the video you’ll find a play-along track. You can use this track for practising.

Extra information for this lesson

In lesson 1 you’ve learned that there are various church modes. These originated during the middle ages. In the next lesson we’ll be using church modes.

Eric uses the Dorian scale, which is one of the church modes. This scale is often used in jazz. The Dorian scale consists of 7 notes (=diatonic). On the piano, the Dorian scale of D can be played on the white keys only.

Formula for the note distances: 1 ½ 1 1 1 ½ 1

D E F G A B C D

For the Dorian scale with A as the key note you can use the same formula

A B C D E F# G A

Not all of these scales have been built into the Magic Flute, but that’s not necessary. For A Dorian you can pick Scale 7 which includes all the right notes.

Scale 7 G Major
C4 D4 E4 F#4 G4 A4 B4 C5 D5 E5 F#5 G5 A5 B5 C6

Mike Fabish “play along”

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Workshop Magic Flute

1. Improvisation on the Magic Flute
2. Choice of notes and note usage
3. Playing songs for beginners
4. The power of the pentatonic scale
5. Turn your computer into a Magic Flute sound module
6. “Jazz up your switch”
7. Working with the iPad in combination with the Magic Flute