Perspectives

    Are You Trying To Learn Jazz Improvisation in Reverse??

    You learn scales. You faithfully practice triads and arpeggios in every key. You memorize chord progressions & learn tunes. And then you improvise... Sound familiar? This is the standard approach to jazz improvisation that you...Read More

    You learn scales. You faithfully practice triads and arpeggios in every key. You memorize chord progressions & learn tunes. And then you improvise... Sound familiar? This is the standard approach...Read More

    Discipline For Musicians: How to Get It Without Going Crazy

    To an outside observer, I look like a disciplined person. The kind of person who works hard and puts the time in to move forward on their goals. And to some degree this is certainly...Read More

    To an outside observer, I look like a disciplined person. The kind of person who works hard and puts the time in to move forward on their goals. And to...Read More

    How Master Improvisers Actually Think About Tunes

    As a musician, you often find yourself listening to the best improvisers you can. Searching for inspiration, guidance, and answers to the challenges you're facing. Especially when it comes to those records that include the...Read More

    As a musician, you often find yourself listening to the best improvisers you can. Searching for inspiration, guidance, and answers to the challenges you're facing. Especially when it comes to...Read More

    How to Beat the “I Don’t Know What to Play” Syndrome in Your Solos

    You're staring at a chord progression on a lead sheet. Thinking through the first few bars of a jazz standard. You're getting ready to start your solo and carefully choosing the first phrase you'll play... ...Read More

    You're staring at a chord progression on a lead sheet. Thinking through the first few bars of a jazz standard. You're getting ready to start your solo and carefully choosing...Read More

    How to Practice in Your Head – Brain Training 101 For Jazz Musicians

    After hours spent in the practice room are you still having trouble remembering the chord changes to a standard you endlessly practiced, or the details of a jazz line you drilled over and over? Why...Read More

    After hours spent in the practice room are you still having trouble remembering the chord changes to a standard you endlessly practiced, or the details of a jazz line you...Read More

    How to Think About Chords & Tunes Like a PRO…

    Have you ever noticed how there's a special group of improvisers that seem to know EXACTLY what to play over any tune at any time – no matter what it is? The key doesn't matter,...Read More

    Have you ever noticed how there's a special group of improvisers that seem to know EXACTLY what to play over any tune at any time – no matter what it...Read More

    15 Mistakes Beginner Jazz Improvisers Make

    Every single person who wants to play jazz starts out as a beginner. There’s no way around it!! And over the first couple years of learning how to improvise, only a small handful of beginners...Read More

    Every single person who wants to play jazz starts out as a beginner. There’s no way around it!! And over the first couple years of learning how to improvise, only...Read More

    Why Perfection is The Enemy of Jazz

    Everyone hopes to be perfect one day. Play with perfect intonation, the perfect sound, perfect lines…But what if I told you that the whole idea of perfection is actually what’s holding you back? That aiming...Read More

    Everyone hopes to be perfect one day. Play with perfect intonation, the perfect sound, perfect lines…But what if I told you that the whole idea of perfection is actually what’s...Read More

    3 Transitions in the Blues You Gotta Nail: Charlie Parker Bosses the Blues

    Blues is the backbone of so much in jazz. The melancholic feeling. The soul. The call-and-response phrasing, walking groove, and clearly defined melodic statements…blues is ingrained in jazz at its very roots. And every jazz...Read More

    Blues is the backbone of so much in jazz. The melancholic feeling. The soul. The call-and-response phrasing, walking groove, and clearly defined melodic statements…blues is ingrained in jazz at its...Read More

    How to use the 4 stages of learning to achieve your dreams as a musician

    Why is learning how to play jazz so hard? Is it that there are a million tunes to know? Or the thousands of great jazz solos to transcribe? Or is it all that crazy music...Read More

    Why is learning how to play jazz so hard? Is it that there are a million tunes to know? Or the thousands of great jazz solos to transcribe? Or is...Read More

    Why Melody is the Secret to Playing Better Jazz Solos

    Ask  any musician or teacher what you should practice to develop exceptional jazz improvisation skills, and you usually hear words like "Scales" and "Modes" or  "Guide-tone lines." Sometimes even "Transcribing"... This is all useful information....Read More

    Ask  any musician or teacher what you should practice to develop exceptional jazz improvisation skills, and you usually hear words like "Scales" and "Modes" or  "Guide-tone lines." Sometimes even "Transcribing"... ...Read More

    The Part of Practicing Music That No One Talks About

    I wish I could tell you it’s all fun. That every time you practice music is meant to be super creative, interesting, and joyful. That it never feels like you’re just working and trudging through....Read More

    I wish I could tell you it’s all fun. That every time you practice music is meant to be super creative, interesting, and joyful. That it never feels like you’re...Read More

    The Inconvenient Truth About Becoming a Better Improviser…

    Making progress as an improviser is tricky business. I'm not talking about the baby steps along the way like learning a new tune, transcribing a solo, or even practicing a few scales. I'm talking about...Read More

    Making progress as an improviser is tricky business. I'm not talking about the baby steps along the way like learning a new tune, transcribing a solo, or even practicing a...Read More

    8 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me About Practicing Jazz Improvisation

    Let's be completely honest...My amazing teachers did tell me many of the things that I'm about to tell you...I just didn't listen! Why didn't I listen? I don't know. Immaturity. Stubbornness. The belief that there...Read More

    Let's be completely honest...My amazing teachers did tell me many of the things that I'm about to tell you...I just didn't listen! Why didn't I listen? I don't know. Immaturity....Read More

    How Thinking Like a Writer Will Make You a Better Jazz Improviser

    Sometimes a change in perspective is all you need. Jazz improvisation is a demanding pursuit, one that combines intellect, feeling and expression. It's easy to grasp the music theory side of things, but it's much...Read More

    Sometimes a change in perspective is all you need. Jazz improvisation is a demanding pursuit, one that combines intellect, feeling and expression. It's easy to grasp the music theory side...Read More

    What’s the Difference Between an Amateur and a Pro??

    Mastering jazz improvisation seems simple in theory. At least every great player makes it sound that way. And on paper it all looks pretty straight forward. Memorize the chords, learn a few scales, and listen...Read More

    Mastering jazz improvisation seems simple in theory. At least every great player makes it sound that way. And on paper it all looks pretty straight forward. Memorize the chords, learn...Read More