“Wade in the Water” and “Home” are pretty much the same assignment, but “Home” is a more advanced and involved version. Both improvisation assignments are in the key Bb minor, and both use the gospel song “Wade in the Water”. It is the teacher’s option whether to do only one, or both of the assignments.
Project Song Title: "Home" Bb minor blues scale
Instructions:
* There is no score, all parts are written in unison.
* There is no “click track” introduction, so just count off 16 counts (4 bars) and start playing the “pick up” note into bar #5.
* There are three improvisation solo opportunities in this song. Twice at bar #51 (that section repeats) and at bar #107. Note: “slash notation” indicates open for soloing.
* Play along with the music and use your Bb “Blues Clock” or other blues scale “tool” as you improvise at the appropriate spots. There are no chord changes, all soloing is done using the Bb “blues” scale.
Bonus or “Extra Credit” Projects:
1.) By listening to the arrangement of “Home” try to figure out the melody for “Wade in the Water” (at bar # 107) using your instrument (8 bars in length). Hint: You will ONLY! need to use the notes in your Bb “blues” scale. Play the “Wade in the Water” melody you come up with at bar #107 if you are not soloing at that time. Finally, the original is a vocal “acapella” arrangement. What do you think the word “acapella” means, type out a short definition and send it to your teacher. If you cannot figure it out, or are not sure, feel free to look it up.
2.) Listen to the original resource of this arrangement. Note the original is very different from my sketch which you are using to improvise along with.
3.) What is a “canon” in music? Type out a short definition and send it to your teacher. How and when is a “canon” used in this song?
Final Note: The original vocal arrangement is in the key of E minor, so you cannot play along with it on your band instrument.
Click below for all band parts:
Click below for all instrument “clocks”:
“Home” Finale Playback Audio File:
“Home” as performed by “The Pitchforks”