Jazz is smart people music! I first heard these words from the great pianist Harold Mabern. Walking through the practice rooms at school one day, as was usually the case, a group of eager students...Read More
Jazz is smart people music! I first heard these words from the great pianist Harold Mabern. Walking through the practice rooms at school one day, as was usually the case,...Read More
This is a box. This is your mind in a box. Many people's minds never leave the box. Why? Thinking creatively is something we all do naturally. It's our instinctive and ordinary way of being....Read More
This is a box. This is your mind in a box. Many people's minds never leave the box. Why? Thinking creatively is something we all do naturally. It's our instinctive...Read More
It's already May and before you know it those lazy months of summer are going to sneak up on you. And just as quickly they'll be gone, leaving you wishing you had more hours in...Read More
It's already May and before you know it those lazy months of summer are going to sneak up on you. And just as quickly they'll be gone, leaving you wishing...Read More
Each day when you get your instrument out of its case and set out to practice improvisation, your goal is to play the right notes. Whether it's playing with great technique and great sound or...Read More
Each day when you get your instrument out of its case and set out to practice improvisation, your goal is to play the right notes. Whether it's playing with great...Read More
If there is one thing about playing jazz that's shrouded in mystery, it is improvisation. Improvisation exists in other types of music, even in musical traditions from the far reaches of the globe, but in...Read More
If there is one thing about playing jazz that's shrouded in mystery, it is improvisation. Improvisation exists in other types of music, even in musical traditions from the far reaches...Read More
So you want to learn how to improvise jazz and that’s great, but where on Earth do you start jazz improvisation?!?! There’s so much information out there that figuring out where to begin playing jazz...Read More
So you want to learn how to improvise jazz and that’s great, but where on Earth do you start jazz improvisation?!?! There’s so much information out there that figuring out...Read More
As an improviser, you can transcribe solos. You can improve your technique. You can listen to your favorite recordings for hours each day. You can practically live in your practice room. But, no matter what...Read More
As an improviser, you can transcribe solos. You can improve your technique. You can listen to your favorite recordings for hours each day. You can practically live in your practice...Read More
Just learn a few ii V licks in all keys, learn how to use them, and that's jazz, right? Unfortunately not. ii Vs make up the bulk of chord progressions found in all western music...Read More
Just learn a few ii V licks in all keys, learn how to use them, and that's jazz, right? Unfortunately not. ii Vs make up the bulk of chord progressions...Read More
Transcription can be a real struggle sometimes. Some days it feels like you can spend an hour trying to learn a few measures, and after a dozen frustrating attempts, you end up in exactly the...Read More
Transcription can be a real struggle sometimes. Some days it feels like you can spend an hour trying to learn a few measures, and after a dozen frustrating attempts, you...Read More
When we practice jazz improvisation, we zoom in on one area of study so much that we often lose sight of the whole. How do we practice in this truly focused way, while simultaneously train...Read More
When we practice jazz improvisation, we zoom in on one area of study so much that we often lose sight of the whole. How do we practice in this truly...Read More
Great solos don't come from nowhere. The ability to apply innovative harmonic concepts, flawless instrumental technique, and appropriate musical language doesn't just materialize out of thin air. These prized aspects of excellent musicianship have to...Read More
Great solos don't come from nowhere. The ability to apply innovative harmonic concepts, flawless instrumental technique, and appropriate musical language doesn't just materialize out of thin air. These prized aspects...Read More
I practice a lot. Some days more than others, but I try to get in a couple hours everyday no matter how busy I am. In many jobs I've had, I've even been known to...Read More
I practice a lot. Some days more than others, but I try to get in a couple hours everyday no matter how busy I am. In many jobs I've had,...Read More
Recently I've been checking out a book called "You are Your Own Gym: The Bible of Bodyweight Execises." The author, Mark Lauren, is a former instructor and trainer for elite special forces soldiers. The central...Read More
Recently I've been checking out a book called "You are Your Own Gym: The Bible of Bodyweight Execises." The author, Mark Lauren, is a former instructor and trainer for elite...Read More
It's as easy as getting from point A to point B, right? Of course it is. But what they fail to mention is that the distance between the two points is not a straight line!...Read More
It's as easy as getting from point A to point B, right? Of course it is. But what they fail to mention is that the distance between the two points...Read More
Recently we've gotten a few questions regarding chord tones: how to work on hearing them, how to aim for them in your lines, and how to connect them when you're improvising over a chord progression....Read More
Recently we've gotten a few questions regarding chord tones: how to work on hearing them, how to aim for them in your lines, and how to connect them when you're...Read More
You've heard it time and time again...PLAY WHAT YOU HEAR!! But when it comes to improvising jazz, how do you actually go about playing what you're hearing? And how do you mentally hear the beautiful...Read More
You've heard it time and time again...PLAY WHAT YOU HEAR!! But when it comes to improvising jazz, how do you actually go about playing what you're hearing? And how do...Read More