The Ballads, Songs & Vignettes (BSV) Collection [Part 8]

Found in: Miscellany & Merriment, Neil Moore

In the BSV series, each video will have a description, written by Neil–some of them are brief and some are longer. To watch the introduction, read the first installment in this series “The Ballads, Songs, & Vignettes Collection [Intro]”.

Song #13: “Dark Blue”

Here is the next ballad, “Dark Blue”. There’s no particular personal story behind this piece of music.

At the time I composed it I had just finished writing a blues piece that was fairly upbeat. I wanted a song that was stylistically a strong contrast to that, so I merely called this one Dark Blue as a result. It’s not a blues piece at all. In fact, the chords and voicing are far more jazz-style oriented.

Clearly it’s a piece that had a darker mood and tension, so the title is fitting. I really like playing this piece and, over the last 20 years or so, it has been a popular favorite of our Simply Music students.

Song #14: “If I only Had the Chance”

This is one of my all-time favorite compositions and one that I’m excited about developing a full orchestration for. I wrote it for my wife, Hunter, and the unsung message is that, in a heartbeat, I’d live my life over with her, if I only had the chance. I think of this piece as being about love and appreciation.

This piece is taught when our Simply Music students are deep into our Development Program. From a compositional perspective, although the piece is still relatively simple, there is a challenge in playing the piece with emotion, poise, restraint and sensitivity. The phrasing is important, as is the freedom to move with its rhythmic ebb and flow.

I love this piece, I hope you like it too.

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Licensed Teacher	A 'Licensed' Simply Music Teacher is the second level of teacher status. Licensed Simply Music Teachers have fulfilled the requirements for completing their Initial Teacher Training Program. Inquire with them to find out when and if they are ready to teach.
Certified Teacher	A 'Certified' Simply Music Teacher is the third level of teacher status. Certified Simply Music Teachers have successfully completed the Simply Music Certification process as well as other requirements needed to become Certified. This includes having taught Foundation Levels 1, 2, and 3 as well as all applicable Special Programs (Composition & Improvisation, Arrangements, and Accompaniment 1). Certified Teachers present the Simply Music Programs exclusively to their beginning students, and they have shown that they follow our carefully-designed curriculum authentically.
Advanced Teacher	An 'Advanced' Simply Music Teacher is the fourth level of teacher status. Advanced status is only achieved after being a Certified Teacher for at least 4 years and teaching students through Foundation Level 9 plus all associated Special Programs (Composition & Improvisation, Arrangements, the Accompaniment Programs, the Reading Programs, Blues & Improvisation, and Jazz Clues). An Advanced Simply Music Teacher has demonstrated that they are an educator with a high degree of experience. Advanced Teachers present the Simply Music Programs exclusively to their beginning students, and they have shown that they follow our carefully-designed curriculum authentically.
Master Teacher	'Master' Simply Music Teacher is an honorary position and the highest status level that can be achieved. It is offered by Simply Music's founder, Neil Moore, to members of the organization who have demonstrated, over an extended period of time, that they are teachers who possess exemplary skills and qualities. They are mentors and a model to their fellow Simply Music Teachers and are considered leaders in our teaching community.

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