You’re a musician. Or at least you used to be one...You played an instrument in high school, faithfully took private lessons, and performed at dozens of recitals and concerts. Maybe you even went on to...Read More
You’re a musician. Or at least you used to be one...You played an instrument in high school, faithfully took private lessons, and performed at dozens of recitals and concerts. Maybe...Read More
The Chord-scale system has become the most established and widespread method for teaching jazz improvisation...And it's no mystery why. So often, scales—more specifically the modes of the major and melodic minor scales—get passed-off as the most...Read More
The Chord-scale system has become the most established and widespread method for teaching jazz improvisation...And it's no mystery why. So often, scales—more specifically the modes of the major and melodic...Read More
Have you ever wondered how the best players can play incredibly fast, regardless of the key, the chords, or the tune? I’m not just talking about running memorized licks and technical patterns...I mean soloing at breakneck...Read More
Have you ever wondered how the best players can play incredibly fast, regardless of the key, the chords, or the tune? I’m not just talking about running memorized licks and technical...Read More
Let’s be real. New Year's Resolutions don’t work. Every year, January 1st comes and people act as if they’re going to entirely reinvent themselves, that this is the year. The year that’s different than all...Read More
Let’s be real. New Year's Resolutions don’t work. Every year, January 1st comes and people act as if they’re going to entirely reinvent themselves, that this is the year. The...Read More
Your mother probably taught you not to steal…That taking something that wasn’t yours was wrong or that pocketing an item from the shelves of a store could land you into a world of trouble. But what...Read More
Your mother probably taught you not to steal…That taking something that wasn’t yours was wrong or that pocketing an item from the shelves of a store could land you into a...Read More
Believe me. I know how frustrating jazz improvisation can be. There have been many periods where I’ve wanted to quit for good. Never play again. Times when I’ve seriously considered putting my horn on Ebay,...Read More
Believe me. I know how frustrating jazz improvisation can be. There have been many periods where I’ve wanted to quit for good. Never play again. Times when I’ve seriously considered...Read More
Every musician wants to sound hip and modern...To play complex lines that move outside of the harmony and above the time. Solos that'll make your fellow musicians shake their heads in disbelief and leave the...Read More
Every musician wants to sound hip and modern...To play complex lines that move outside of the harmony and above the time. Solos that'll make your fellow musicians shake their heads...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 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
The dominant chord is one of the most versatile chords in the jazz repertoire, and it's your best bet for adding harmonic tension and melodic interest to your lines. The only problem is that many...Read More
The dominant chord is one of the most versatile chords in the jazz repertoire, and it's your best bet for adding harmonic tension and melodic interest to your lines. The...Read More
Practicing is the most important thing you can do as a musician. Or so everyone says...But let's be honest, practicing can be a real drag sometimes. It can feel like the daily chore that you...Read More
Practicing is the most important thing you can do as a musician. Or so everyone says...But let's be honest, practicing can be a real drag sometimes. It can feel like...Read More
Scales can be one of the most overwhelming parts of learning jazz improvisation. Between you and me, it can seem like there's a scale to learn for every chord, a scale for every progression, and...Read More
Scales can be one of the most overwhelming parts of learning jazz improvisation. Between you and me, it can seem like there's a scale to learn for every chord, a...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. 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
In case you were starting to mistake jazz musicians for super-humans...Or highly talented individuals that know thousands of tunes, have perfect pitch, and transcribe solos in mere minutes, I thought I’d write a post to...Read More
In case you were starting to mistake jazz musicians for super-humans...Or highly talented individuals that know thousands of tunes, have perfect pitch, and transcribe solos in mere minutes, I thought...Read More
Every serious improviser has to deal with the blues. From the players just starting out in school, to the musicians at local jam sessions, to the biggest names performing on international stages. Because the blues...Read More
Every serious improviser has to deal with the blues. From the players just starting out in school, to the musicians at local jam sessions, to the biggest names performing on...Read More
Talent. It's a word that's thrown around in all professions and all parts of life. From sports and academics to art and music. And nowhere is it more prevalent than in jazz improvisation. We listen...Read More
Talent. It's a word that's thrown around in all professions and all parts of life. From sports and academics to art and music. And nowhere is it more prevalent than...Read More
It's the subtleties of articulation that make melodies come alive. But, being so subtle, articulation is one of those concepts that's difficult to grasp, or for that matter, even teach. And it's personal. Nearly every...Read More
It's the subtleties of articulation that make melodies come alive. But, being so subtle, articulation is one of those concepts that's difficult to grasp, or for that matter, even teach....Read More