Steven Crowell Guitar Course
Ken
jazz guitar cousre (books and cassette tapes) that is being sold by Chord
Melody Productions? I'd love to get some feedback.
Thanks.
Ken
Glenn
Ken if looking at College level courses make sure you look at Rich Seversons
"Theory and Technique" course, Volumes 1-4. This is one of the better
courses like this that I've found. And Rich covers Everything in audio,
every exercise and concept is thourghly explained in the audio portion.
You should cover the Theory and Technique courses first before checking out
Rich's Jazz material. The T&T course will have you understanding music
notation and theory you will need to go into the jazz courses.
Check it out at http://www.guitarcollege.com/gctheory.htm .
Good Luck,
Glenn Shotwell
Lawson Stone
> Does anybody have any experience with or comments about the Steven Crowell
> jazz guitar cousre (books and cassette tapes) that is being sold by Chord
> Melody Productions? I'd love to get some feedback.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Ken
>
>
Yes, I have lots of experience with Crowell's material. I have the course,
all four chord-solo books, and several other things by him.
First, the 4 chord-solo folios are wonderful. The notation system is a bit
hard to use-standard notation, with each chord numbered and a block-chord
chart on the side. It encourages you just to read the notation, and refer to
the charts in a pinch. These solos are very well done. They are
intentionally pedagogic in nature. He "over arranges" often in order to get
in yet another chord-solo device, but still I find that his stuff forms
still the core of my (admittedly limited) repertoire, and after you do 10 or
12 of his arrangements, you begin to get ideas for doing your own. He also
sets these up so that you can transfer what you learn on one tune to
another. The recordings that go with the books are not that great, but they
do serve okay for hearing the arrangements.
The Course is also good, and I've worked in it quite a bit. It isn't really
a system, it has no magic bullets, and it doesn't really trade in tricks and
secrets. It's not even heavy on theory. he just starts you off on the
harmonized scales, then plunges directly into playing and analyzing
chord-melody arrangements. The course switches among chord-melody, comping,
and line playing more based on when he thinks you are going to be board or
discouraged. It's very practical and experience-based, not heavy on theory
or technique. You learn by doing.
His separate books tend to be pretty good, but you tend there to miss the
theory. It's all good stuff, but somehow not as effective as the low-balling
theory is with the lessons. Still, his books have been well worth the price.
I've had some correspondence with Steve and find him a very personable and
communicative individual. He likes knowing what you're doing with his stuff
and he enjoys the feedback.
I recommend his stuff without hesitation once you accept that it's a no
short-cuts, no magic bullet, learn-by-doing approach.
*****************************************************
"Go sleep it off Ike; you talk too much for a fighting man"--Wyatt Earp
*****************************************************
Lawson Stone-Professor of Old Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary
Always Trolling for Conversation about: Jazz Guitar, Cowboy Action Shooting,
Leathercraft, Horses, Old West History and Lore
RG
it. I learned and enjoyed a couple of the chord solos, but the single
note solo lessons were down right nasty. =8-) Pages of straight
eight arpeggios, over 'Rhythm Changes' performed on what sounds like a
$69 MIDI keyboard. In fact, the audio quality of the whole tape was
mediocre to poor.
I've been satisfied with other stuff I've bought from Chord Melody
Productions (transcriptions, books, etc.), just not this course.
-RG
On Wed, 8 Dec 1999 16:09:42 -0800, "Ken" <kbro...@ix.netcom.com>
wrote:
Steve Bocckino
for Jim Hall's version of "Georgia on My Mind" and the Wes intro to
"Baubles, Bangles and Beads." Both were pure pleasure.
Steve Bocckino
In article <82ora6$jvc$1...@nntp9.atl.mindspring.net>, "Ken"
STEVE
On Friday, December 10, 1999 at 12:00:00 AM UTC-8, RG wrote:
> I bought one of the Crowell SDM programs and wasn't real happy with
> it. I learned and enjoyed a couple of the chord solos, but the single
> note solo lessons were down right nasty. =8-) Pages of straight
> eight arpeggios, over 'Rhythm Changes' performed on what sounds like a
> $69 MIDI keyboard. In fact, the audio quality of the whole tape was
> mediocre to poor.
>
> I've been satisfied with other stuff I've bought from Chord Melody
> Productions (transcriptions, books, etc.), just not this course.
>
> -RG
>
>
>