Hal Galper Master Class - Rhythm and Syncopation

Book: Forward Motion
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Recording: Cubist
amzn.to/2q3eKBR
Book: The Touring Musician
amzn.to/2yujzIK
Book: Jazz Piano Voicings: Transcribed Piano Comping
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Hal Galper is accepting appointments for live video lessons for individuals and group coaching via Skype or FaceBook Video Chat. Sign up at www.halgalper.com
www.halgalper.com and please check out Hal's Trio recording, E Pluribus Unum - Live in Seattle tinyurl.com/2c42fja
And: forwardmotionpdf.com/
From a clinic at the University of Colorado in Boulder, April 2, 2010

[@reddclay]

I wonder if I can sue all my other jazz teachers who never mentioned all of this to me. And all the money I spent. Of course, I don't want to sue anybody. But recognize how faulty our education system to let 1000's of students graduate from music school without understanding rhythm and syncopation. I have been born again. Thank you Hal Galper

[@anniebailey4315]

To Hal - I have watched many of your videos on line and revisit them often, and share them with friends. I am continually astounded by the depth of your knowledge, and the way that you articulate your message in each video. I get there eventually! Thank you so much for doing this. I want to shout out to your volunteer students who allow them to be captured and posted in the videos - you are all fine, brave musicians, and thank you all for agreeing to participate. I have no words to say how valuable all of these video lessons are to me, and how much I get from them. Thanks, and keep 'em coming!!

[@TheAcidHairball]

I lol'd when I heard, "Hey, I went downtown and saw my man, and copped a bag and bomp bomp bomp".

[@Tabu11211]

This is why I practice freestyle hip-hop rap or whatever because it forces me to think about rhythm. And even better it forces me to sync contrapuntally about my rhythm. It really helps me play piano I promise

[@serseriherif9530]

Its the african thing man, they have from carribeans, to brasil, to senegal and to ghana. Its a kind of polyrhythmic beat (3 over 4 etc) with rhythmic 'keys' (clave) and then they mess around with that, add some stuff, or even 'modulate' to other keys. The possibilities are endless! It's the basis of jazz rhythm and in my opinion alot more natural because it immediately felt (makes you dance). Learning all these different 'feels' is the best way to build rhythmic vocabulary imho

[@stroids]

10:01 describing a drug deal? "hey i went downtown and i saw my man and got the bag.....(big smile)" a true cat lol

[@Marius1988Roma]

I thought exactly the same! ahahahaha

[@DaveSolazzo]

i took a lesson with hal a while back. really great experience! he introduced me to some ideas and concepts that i had never heard anyone talk about before!

[@horbergus]

WOW! The ONLY free online lesson that has anything good in it!

[@johnferguson8993]

Great ideas. I think I'll start all over again, I'm only 74 and have been teaching music for about 60 years.

You're 74 & taught music for 60 years? Wow. That's really old school. My mother was the same way. The only difference being, she played and taught accordion as a teenager. When I was growing up, I remember Saturday evenings during the summer months, she'd be playing all the popular Polka hits. All the old timers from Poland would come and listen.

[@jay10249]

Great teacher, great lesson. As a guitarist trying to learn jazz, I've spent a long time studying scales, modes, and all that. This guy just taught me the error of my ways. Thanks so much, back to the practice room!

[@trappedsoul7]

clark terry said: "imitation, assimilation, innovation". hal galper's insights are great!

[@dangreenwood]

This is beyond amazing! Thank you for uploading this.

[@BoxCubeSquare]

This is amazing. This changes everything for me.

[@mharbaugh]

"You're gonna sound stupid, and I'm gonna sound hip." Awesome!

[@MisterstereoOso]

Hal’s the man . What a master !

[@wreckingrow6566]

So great to hear this very important perspective on rhythm. I notice the participants aren't moving their body at all as they sing rhythmically. How can you really produce a rhythm without involving your physical body. If your body is like stone you CAN'T connect rhythmically to anything. Movement is SO important to understanding rhythm.

[@heyassmanx]

so true my friend, dalcroze's eurythmics is a testament to that !

[@WilliamSlaght]

+Joshua Stewart well even there Hal would disagree with you. Hal says to remove any physical attachments to rhythm.

[@wreckingrow6566]

It's not physical attachment it's feeling

[@eloyhbermudez]

i heard hal galper on john scofield first albun rough house !!!totally insane solos!!!

[@RedAlEarttDramaMeanWhoDat]

You should cop more of Hal's work... including the albums that he's LED!!!

[@jandemencik6130]

Just perfect ! Love his way to make the People come in to the rythme 👍👍👍👍

[@mandohat]

I love it! thank you for posting this awesome stuff.

[@wyeth1023]

I love this guy, what a great teacher!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

He is a great teacher and superb musician, as well.

[@EarthMedia2009]

Thank you Hal Galper

[@saxfish]

! FANTASTIC !

[@Odiculeoj]

Most right on stuff ever ...!!

[@znmaf]

There are more than 500 ethnicities in Africa each has at least 5 rhythm style Syncopation and Polyrhythms

[@JazzVideoGuy]

you are correct

[@politereminder6284]

Speaking as an "African" (whatever that means🙄) There are a lot of ethnic and genre differences , it is true, but there are also a lot of features that tie us together. The way we *prioritize* and *layer* rythm in music is universal across the continent. Thus he is correct (I've just realized this is a 3 year old comment. I hope you wont be mad)

[@thanhmvo]

Totally amazing, congratulations and thank you!!!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Thank you too!

[@Jeleosimi]

Awesome Class ! Jazz is all about rhythm and Syncopation.Well said Sir ! not that 1-2-3-4 quarter notes.I was going crazy trying to play that stuff.Once i got my rhythm.It's taken my playing to another level..This video confirmed to me I was 't crazy after all. !

[@RedHotRamble]

Rhythm! Amen brother.. and man, do you have it!

[@benrose7346]

Thanks for posting these clips!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

No problem!

[@larsio72]

Hal rocks!

[@janiceslater5547]

Thanks. So insightful.

[@RSchramek]

Wow! Great post Bret!!

[@pentest]

Awesome!

[@JulioHerrlein]

Very Inspiring !!! Thanks.

[@kennybradshaw2122]

Excellent.

[@swamiaseem]

great way to explain!

[@freebird1969]

Awesome. Love the topic . Thank you !

[@Ayo.Ajisafe]

@ballistix01 Oh My god I'm such a beginner but over the last couple of weeks that 'rhythm first' concept has seriously been knocking me on the head. Its unbelievable this guy is saying a bunch of stuff I had no idea about and other things that as a self taught guitarist had actually occurred to me naturally.

[@Lihuezapallo]

I'd love a "5 hours LOOP of 4:15"

[@shanjayaweera3036]

this is great

[@andersmogensen1]

Great! Very informative!

[@JazzVideoGuy]

yes!

[@toughtenor]

fascinating!

[@guitaryouns]

Jazz rhythm Zombies at 10:45 :) Very interesting video, like his other master classes !

[@kmvenezia4337]

Imitation, assimilation, innovation

[@mnr146]

very interesting!

[@jazz12726]

Why don't you find out for yourself. Everybody has the right to reject an idea but only after they have mastered it.

[@kingpleasure]

@punchingdoll Most great drummers sang the rhythm as they played. Elvin, Art, Philly Joe et al. There's a lot of tunes where you can hear them doing it in the background.

[@uneedtherapy42]

the number, notes and letters are European the rhythm is african that's gotta be the most concise and "to the point" definition of jazz I have ever heard

[@znmaf]

Check out Africa The continent is awash with various rhythm Most musicians are uncomfortable with an Association with ‘backward’ Africa .That crossed a musician is free .Polyrhythm .... I am glad this Master at least mentioned Africa .,a bit too transient perhaps

[@millneraudio]

Amen!

[@anitadavideduo]

Cool!

[@ThomasHutchingsMusic]

I love this at 6:29. "Now here's the problem you're gonna face, you probably really don't know the traditional rhythms and you're going to sound stupid and I'm going to sound hip, but that's not the point. Ya know. The point is the interaction"

[@tapexperience]

The best way to understand about syncopation is to tap dance!

[@lesterfalcon1350]

I tried that, but I kept falling in the sink.

[@dr.brianjudedelimaphd743]

Tap Dance -- spot on, some of the best jazz drummers started this way as tap dancers

[@simyang4999]

Thanks for posting this inspiring video dude! You don’t mind allowing me to add subtitles of my language just to make it easier for my friends to understand? Thanks!

[@greggjarvis133]

would love to talk with him.. fantastic ideas i have been conveying for years to fellow stagemates- he's just better at it than i am

[@soufeliz59]

I sound so stupid after this! hahahaha Amazing! Thank u ,so much!!!

[@RedAlEarttDramaMeanWhoDat]

Hey, I went downtown and saw my Man, and copped a bag... " LMAO ! Hall is (and has always been) for the streets!

[@SIRONEDRAGON]

Good Stuff : )

[@BorysPomianek]

@Khaddar Cheers man - gonna my self a copy.

[@charlesbarry6730]

A jazz teacher.

[@sallybowles2781]

the second line March beat of new orleans? what is that? I don't understand what he says :'(

[@brokenskullz]

why does it have to have triplet inflection if it's free flow?...by the way ..nice class

[@seanmccune2517]

Ted Reeds Syncopation...

[@Simonewhitesim-1music]

Yes. But most don't understand the value of Syncopation...A super Book!

[@honeycombsful]

I think that what Mr. Galper means by syncopation is actually that jazz time is polyrhythmic, polymetic, and polypulsative. It's syncopated in comparison to Bach but that's not the rhythmic roots of jazz. The rhythmic traditions in India and Africa are polyrhythmic, polymeric and polypulsative, NOT syncopated. That's Mike Longo's main point in his books about rhythm.

[@macbarisch5768]

thx

[@Bharrisization]

@effsixteenblock50 I think what he is getting at is quarter note time should IMPLY a more active rhythm. Bass players can express a more active rhythm while only playing quarter notes using note choice (line), placement of the note, and/or accents.

[@kp6880]

Cannot find the book by Mike Longo anywhere

[@romainbertrand253]

Hi! Is there a complete shootage of Hal Galper masterclasses somewhere? Thanks for sharing this one and the others.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Not that I know of

[@Mahavishnu80]

I would recommend Ted Reeds book.

[@znmaf]

Visit Africa to fully understand Rhythm

[@GreggJohns]

Well, I got a bit lost. He says that to syncopate, but when he is demonstrating, his first two syllables are TA dum, with the accent on the first syllable. I do hear that those two notes could be heard as one beat, and an emphasized, unplayed beat be can be implied as coming right after them. So is he assuming that we understand that we do not always PLAY the emphasized beat, and in fact often don't, but must be aware of it, and more importantly, that when playing quarter notes r anything other than whole notes, the ones played over beats one and three can themselves have varying degrees of emphasis?And can get a lot of emphasis, so long as there is more on the 2nd and 4th beats? I wish he had said that, if so. Or am I not understanding at all? The demonstration with the TA dum is what confuses me.

[@alexcazet2694]

CU Boulder!

[@pauldjanson]

Imitate, innovate, improvise

[@effsixteenblock50]

I think completely discounting quarter note time in respect to swing feel is a bit simplistic. Things are more complex than that. One thing that seldom gets discussed is note *duration*. Ever hear a bass player in a duo situation swinging his ass off just walking quarter notes?

[@ebaylistentomusic]

The body posture of most of the students is the first problem. How the hell can you deal with rhythm slouched over with your hands in your lap?

[@webstercat]

If you can make a rhythm interesting then notes are icing on the cake. IMHO. If you are looking for second line look to Joseph "Zigaboo" Modeliste not Tommy Igoe for God's sake. Or Johnny Vidacovich is the real deal.

[@effsixteenblock50]

+Billy Barton Icing on the cake is right! You can teach a chimpanzee notes. Rhythm gets shoved under the rug because if a teacher were to stress the primacy of rhythm, many a student would become frustrated and quit.

[@webstercat]

Not saying anything against Tommy Igo. He is a total total bad ass!

[@mharbaugh]

"You're gonna sound stupid and I'm gonna sound hip."

[@Odthean]

What book is he talking about? I can't find any book by Mike Longo called "Sight Reading Syncopation." I can find one called such by Bugs Bower and Kathryn Stanley Podwall. Does anyone have any input? I want to purchase the book to which he's referring for a fellow musician..

[@duearklar5795]

store.fastcommerce.com/jazzbe/2-dvd-book-combo-ff8080813cdb9e45013d2ba5c8512c8c-p.html

[@Lalaland.001]

Odthean here you go, enjoy it's in the public domain, so no need to buy it. ebooks.bharathuniv.ac.in/gdlc1/gdlc4/Arts_and_Science_Books/arts/music/Music%20Theory/Theory%20of%20Music/Music%20Reading%20and%20Theory/Books/How%20To%20Sight%20Read%20Jazz%20and%20Other%20Syncopated%20Rhythms.pdf

[@RedAlEarttDramaMeanWhoDat]

"How To Sight Read Jazz And Other Syncopated Type Rhythms"

[@Odthean]

@@RedAlEarttDramaMeanWhoDat thanks!

[@Mahavishnu80]

Miles Davis gets pissed as drummer doesn't get jazz beat 'stop... heres the beat.... (claps one time)' now i dig.

[@lexnuss791]

If you can conceive and believe you can achieve. "My Momma Done Told Me".

[@1Blastarr]

Does he have a DVD lecture?

[@RedAlEarttDramaMeanWhoDat]

Many

[@linusjazz]

Great video! There's really a lack of rhythm pedagogy in jazz education.

[@assistantairealestategroup5973]

Hal Galper is the John Goodman of jazz.

[@JazzVideoGuy]

Exactly

[@RedAlEarttDramaMeanWhoDat]

That's blasphemous! You obviously know nothing about Jazz or Hal Galper.

[@oliverpinelli3334]

grrrreat

[@JazzVideoGuy]

glad you dig

[@BorysPomianek]

Any idea where one might get that book Hal mentions? I searched for Mike Lango on Amazon but found nothing.

[@bogtheforest]

Actually 11:17

[@fishytank1land]

4:14

[@kentaro109]

I try to keep my own syncopation

[@bogtheforest]

11:18

[@Bassett457]

awkward room mumbles: skibbidybap de-doo be bap bing da ding bing bap ba ba

[@trampley]

Cool stuff. Coming from the Western classical tradition, the rhythm is so hard for me. But without nailing that, everything sounds like shit no matter how well you're putting things together harmonically.

[@Wheelly1]

Absolutely

Jazz is Bee Bop? If Miles was still alive, I wouldn't dare say that to him.

[@enzmusic]

sry it is "imitate, assimilate, innovate"

[@JazzVideoGuy]

@HendrixcommaMartin No. Can't shoot and sing.

[@drumjunkie99]

doope

[@emoboi951]

10:43 Bill Gates in green?!?!?!

[@ReckerRocker14]

he's human and you have Google so use it.

[@znmaf]

A mindset that Africa equates backwardness makes musicians shy from Africa’s wealth of understanding of Rhythm.Once a musician transcends that like Greats like Zawinul and Mike Brecker ,they eyes open

[@joemeyer6876]

Pullin teeth from white kids

[@lurchamok8137]

hahahaa "react..... bap is not a rhythm " hahaha 9:18

[@jelloboy61]

Pedagogy? If not enough of "us" know what 2nd line New Orleans drumming is, and it's the key to understanding "jazz" rhythm, why didn't he explain it? This kind of demagogue teaching is .... good for very little...

[@BuzzVenturion]

Um . . . he does. At about 9:50. Patience, my little grasshopper, patience.

[@RedAlEarttDramaMeanWhoDat]

You're a lost cause if you can't research what "2nd Line" is in New Orleans culture.

[@joshuaell6702]

@@RedAlEarttDramaMeanWhoDat i think you miss the point. I won't take your childish bait. My point was, as a teacher, one shouldn't denigrate students nor make statements about topics and not explain them. I assure you , my knowledge of second line drumming and how it forms the basis of swing feel, are just fine. While my initial post seems a bit strong, for which i apologize for, i stand by my statement that teachers ( even esteemed players like Mr Gelper) should be supportive and explain what they're talking about rather than make statements like " not enough of you know ...) it would've been more beneficial to share his knowledge