Much of the music that makes up the Doug Beach Music Catalog is written for developing musicians – grade levels 1-3. All of our music is original and the intent of the music has always been to provide charts that would teach concepts that could then be taken and applied to more difficult music as the musicians mature.
Here are three components that I think should be in all charts at this level:
- A strong melody that the rest of the chart can be built around.
- The use of basic rhythmic figures in the style of the chart. If it’s a swing chart, the eighth note-quarter note-eighth note figure would be a good example.
- A spot in the chart that can be opened up for solos. This provides the opportunity for teaching improvisation and can be made as long or short as desired. While this may not appear in a ballad, most other charts can incorporate this component