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<\/p>\nThis is a very cool transcription from\u00a0a 1996 bootleg recording of Vincent Herring soloing over “All the Things You Are” on the alto sax. \u00a0I have no further information about the recording except that it is from 1-27-96.<\/p>\n
This transcription was done by a very talented 10th grade student of mine up here in northern Vermont named Jack Egan. \u00a0 Jack was my one and only in-person student when I lived up in Newport Vermont for a year and a half. \u00a0I knew I was in trouble up there when I met a neighbor after we moved in and he asked me what I did for work. \u00a0I said I was a musician and he replied “What’s that?” \u00a0I was caught off guard and replied “You know….., I play music on an instrument” \u00a0He \u00a0just looked at me like I was insane, that’s northern Vermont for you……….Let’s get back to Jack, unfortunately I ended up moving about 2 hours south of Newport the next year and I was bummed that I would lose Jack as a student. \u00a0He was only in 9th grade but was doing\u00a0incredibly well.<\/p>\n
The good news is \u00a0Jack and his parents decided to continue lessons with me. They travel about two hours each way to take lessons every 2 weeks\u00a0and I have to say that Jack is one of the hardest working students I have ever had. \u00a0If I say to practice something, Jack usually has it down by the next lesson two weeks later. Doesn’t matter what it is, if I say learn all the diminished scales, he comes back knowing them. \u00a0If I say learn all your altered scales, he comes back with them all mastered. \u00a0 I am very proud of him and he has grown tremendously as a player over the last year.<\/p>\n
As an example of Jack’s\u00a0incredible work ethic, we were working on “All the Things You Are” together and I found this Vincent Herring bootleg of it on my computer that I shared with Jack. \u00a0We were listening to it during the lesson and I offhandedly said “You should transcribe this!” \u00a0He replied “Really? \u00a0You think so?”. \u00a0I said\u00a0“Sure, give it a shot…….”<\/p>\n
Now I have to admit, \u00a0I have said this to many students over the years but very few follow through on the challenge. \u00a0Jack was not one of those students. \u00a0The next lesson he came in with a page and a half of a transcription and said he was about half done. \u00a0Here’s a picture of his page 1:<\/p>\n
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I asked Jack if he could play it with the recording and he gave it a shot. \u00a0He did really well and said he would continue to work on it. \u00a0Sure enough, two lesson later he had it completed. There were a few measures that he had a bit of trouble with that I took a crack at for the final version but you have to give props to Jack for\u00a0tackling this monster for his very first transcription in 10th grade. \u00a0Wow!!<\/p>\n
As far as the benefits of doing this, I think there are a multitude. \u00a0Jack improved his ear, he learned some cool new ideas that he immediately starting using in his solos, his phrasing sounded more mature, his sound became more confident and mature, \u00a0he started\u00a0working on imitating some of Vincent Herring’s stylistic nuances (vibrato, bends, falls,etc……..), his intonation improved in the upper register and lastly, he gained confidence from tackling a very hard challenge and finishing it. \u00a0I would say that he has made huge strides forward in the 6 weeks leading up to the finished transcription as well as the weeks afterwards.<\/p>\n
Now, before you write Jack off as just a supremely talented youth who could do this stuff blindfolded as he was leaving the womb, \u00a0I asked Jack how much he practiced everyday expecting him to say “I try to get an hour in a day” like most of my students. \u00a0Nope, Jack’s goal is 3-4 hours a day!! \u00a0I broke into a big grin when he told me that…….<\/p>\n
I’m looking forward to seeing Jack continuing to advance in the years ahead. \u00a0He is already light years ahead of where I was in 10th grade that is for sure. \u00a0Well done Jack! \u00a0Keep up the great work!! \u00a0I promise I won’t move any farther away in the next four years. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Mr. Neff<\/p>\n
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