Becoming a Musical Character

Have you ever seen a movie where a certain character stuck with you long after the film was over? Or what about a piece of artwork that kept popping up in your mind's eye? Maybe you've witnessed a speech that had the same lasting effect or attended a concert where ...Read More

Have you ever seen a movie where a certain character stuck with you long after the film was over? Or what about a piece of artwork that kept popping up ...Read More

How One Note Can Change Your Ears and Spark Your Creativity

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Can one note really change your ears and improve your musical creativity? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. But let me explain...A few years ago I took a lesson with the great trumpet player, improviser and composer Ingrid Jensen. As I hopped on the the N train and headed to the ...Read More

Can one note really change your ears and improve your musical creativity? Surprisingly, the answer is yes. But let me explain...A few years ago I took a lesson with the ...Read More

How to Learn Jazz Standards with the Piano

Learning tunes should be fun. If ever there was a secret to expanding your repertoire of tunes this would be it. You’re more likely to pursue an activity that’s exciting, interesting, and challenging rather than one that feels like an annoying chore. At the end of a long day you're ...Read More

Learning tunes should be fun. If ever there was a secret to expanding your repertoire of tunes this would be it. You’re more likely to pursue an activity that’s exciting, ...Read More

Critical Vs Creative Thinking: How Initial Judgments Can Cripple Your Learning

That's really good. And that's bad. That's ugly. And that's pretty. I like that. But I hate that. That sucks. But that's great. Our first instinct upon experiencing something, whether it's hearing something, seeing something, or meeting somebody new, tends to be that of judgment. We are creatures of classification, ...Read More

That's really good. And that's bad. That's ugly. And that's pretty. I like that. But I hate that. That sucks. But that's great. Our first instinct upon experiencing something, whether ...Read More

The Improviser’s Tipping Point

When exactly do I become good at improvising? Is there a single point that occurs where I can finally play like I want to? These are questions that inevitably pop up and hover at the back of your mind as you begin learning to improvise. Is all the work you’re ...Read More

When exactly do I become good at improvising? Is there a single point that occurs where I can finally play like I want to? These are questions that inevitably pop ...Read More

The Art of Teaching and Being Taught

Acrobatics is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. The physical prowess needed to do even the most basic maneuvers is on par with that of the Incredible Hulk, while the necessary flexibility exceeds even that of a ballerina. Upon seeing my first live cirque performance in Montreal, ...Read More

Acrobatics is one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. The physical prowess needed to do even the most basic maneuvers is on par with that of the Incredible ...Read More

Jazz Contrafacts and Reharmonization: A Creative Approach to Jazz Standards

Creativity in its most basic form is simply the act of taking something old and making it new. Whether you're a novelist, an architect, an engineer or an improviser, artistic creation stems from a desire to make something new within the existing confines of your craft. To put a personal ...Read More

Creativity in its most basic form is simply the act of taking something old and making it new. Whether you're a novelist, an architect, an engineer or an improviser, artistic ...Read More

8 Improvisation Improvement Projects That Will Change Your Playing

Practice is an essential part of your journey as a musician. We all do it every day…or at least we try our best to, however daily practice doesn't always guarantee improvement. Why? Simply because not all practice is created equal. If you look at the big picture there are two ...Read More

Practice is an essential part of your journey as a musician. We all do it every day…or at least we try our best to, however daily practice doesn't always guarantee ...Read More

Learning Tunes Your Way

On this site we’ve frequently written about learning tunes. This is no coincidence - learning tunes goes hand in hand with improving as an improviser. Whether you're practicing, performing, or simply listening to a few records with some friends you're dealing directly with tunes. Keeping this in mind, building a ...Read More

6 Common Chord Relationships that You Need to Know Now

How do I connect chords when I'm soloing? You're asking yourself this question in the practice room and you're frustrated when there doesn't seem to be an easy answer. But you're not alone. This is a question that every improviser struggles with as they create solos over tunes. Improvising over ...Read More

How do I connect chords when I'm soloing? You're asking yourself this question in the practice room and you're frustrated when there doesn't seem to be an easy answer. But ...Read More

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