Best Articles to Learn Jazz Improvisation, Standards, Scales • Jazzadvice

The Philosophy of Learning Jazz Improvisation: Thinking like a Composer

Chords, Composition, How to Practice Jazz, Jazz Advice and Tips, Jazz Education, Jazz Language, Myths, Perspectives, Playing Techniques, Scales, Transcribing

Composition is selective improvisation – Igor Stravinsky. In 15 seconds the difference between composition and improvisation is that in composition you have all the time you want to decide what to say in 15 seconds, while in improvisation you have 15 seconds – Steve Lacy. Learning to improvise is a big undertaking. Not only must …

10 more exercises for jazz improvisation

10 Exercises to Practice When You’ve Run Out of Ideas (Premium)

Eric

Ear Training, How to Practice Jazz, Inspiration, Jazz Advice and Tips, Jazz Standards, Premium Only, Rhythm, Scales, Transcribing

We often get a ton of great questions from our readers about what to practice. These inquiries range from players that are stuck in a daily musical rut to aspiring improvisers that simply don’t know the next step to take in the practice room. The truth is, every musician encounters frustrating days on their instrument …

Jazzadvice Needs You!

Forrest

Inspiration

To our beautiful readers – Jazzadvice has been around for several years now. During that time we’ve made it a point to provide you with the best possible content in a mostly ad-free environment, completely free of charge. The response has been overwhelming. We receive daily emails filled with praise and generous donations. We’re thrilled …

How to Use Pop Tunes to Improve Your Ear

Eric

Composition, Ear Training, Jazz Advice and Tips

Admit it. You listen to pop tunes. You probably even like them. But hold on a second, aren’t you’re supposed to be a serious musician? It’s OK, everyone listens to pop tunes. Just because you turn on the radio and check out the top 40 every now and then it doesn’t make you less of …

The Anatomy of a Sound: Overcoming the Barrier of Music Theory

Eric

Chords, Ear Training, Jazz Advice and Tips, Jazz Education, Jazz Language, Perspectives, Playing Techniques

From the moment we are born, the world tends to have a container already built for us to fit inside: A social security number, a gender, a race, a profession, an I.Q. I ponder if we are more defined by the container we are in, than what we are inside. Would we recognize ourselves if …

Becoming a Musical Character

Eric

How to Practice Jazz, Jazz Advice and Tips, Jazz Musicians, Perspectives, Transcribing

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 the performer played their instrument …

How One Note Can Change Your Ears and Spark Your Creativity (Premium)

Eric

Chords, Ear Training, How to Practice Jazz, Jazz Advice and Tips, Playing Techniques, Premium Only, Scales

Can one note really change your ears and improve your 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 lesson I looked over my practice …

How to Learn Jazz Standards with the Piano

Eric

Chords, Composition, Ear Training, Jazz Standards, Transcribing

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 going to put the hours …

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

Forrest

Perspectives

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, often subconsciously fitting everything around …

The Improviser’s Tipping Point

Eric

How to Practice Jazz, Jazz Advice and Tips, Myths, Perspectives

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 doing now really going to …

The Art of Teaching and Being Taught

Forrest

Inspiration, Jazz Education, Perspectives

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, La Clique, I knew that …

Jazz Contrafacts and Reharmonization: A Creative Approach to Jazz Standards

Eric

Composition, Jazz Musicians, Jazz Standards, Playing Techniques

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 stamp on your art form …