Nearly every day we get asked, "What should I practice?" And, this is not an easy question to answer. In fact, it's pretty complicated. So, in an attempt to help everyone who has always wondered...Read More
Nearly every day we get asked, "What should I practice?" And, this is not an easy question to answer. In fact, it's pretty complicated. So, in an attempt to help...Read More
Arecurring theme on this site seems to be language - acquiring, practicing, and applying the jazz language. There is a reason behind all the repetition, however. Language is a very powerful concept when it comes...Read More
Arecurring theme on this site seems to be language - acquiring, practicing, and applying the jazz language. There is a reason behind all the repetition, however. Language is a very...Read More
Being successful as a jazz musician isn't all about practice routines, ii-V licks, or memorizing tunes. Sometimes getting to the next level as a player is all about having the right perspective. Here are 20...Read More
Being successful as a jazz musician isn't all about practice routines, ii-V licks, or memorizing tunes. Sometimes getting to the next level as a player is all about having the...Read More
Iused to frequent the Village Vanguard to go see my teacher Rich Perry perform all the time. As you gaze upon the walls of the Vanguard, you peer into the past...jazz legends, the inventors, live...Read More
Iused to frequent the Village Vanguard to go see my teacher Rich Perry perform all the time. As you gaze upon the walls of the Vanguard, you peer into the...Read More
Learning jazz language is vital to your success as an improvisor. Without it you're truly lost. You may know a scale, a chord, a concept...but without the fundamental ideas of what to do with these...Read More
Learning jazz language is vital to your success as an improvisor. Without it you're truly lost. You may know a scale, a chord, a concept...but without the fundamental ideas of...Read More
It sounds so complex. So difficult. So advanced. Great jazz musicians sound as though they're implementing highly complex and difficult concepts that mere mortals could never hope to access, but in reality, professionals think simpler...Read More
It sounds so complex. So difficult. So advanced. Great jazz musicians sound as though they're implementing highly complex and difficult concepts that mere mortals could never hope to access, but...Read More
As he stood in the hallway, the students gathered round. You could see the crowd growing, one-by-one as the people walking by heard what was happening. Harold, animated and speaking with vibrant energy, was sharing...Read More
As he stood in the hallway, the students gathered round. You could see the crowd growing, one-by-one as the people walking by heard what was happening. Harold, animated and speaking...Read More
In my first 3 Gems Harold Mabern Told Me, we learned how much Harold stresses: relying on your ear, being greedy for the music, and the difference between inspiration and motivation. Harold's full of incredible...Read More
In my first 3 Gems Harold Mabern Told Me, we learned how much Harold stresses: relying on your ear, being greedy for the music, and the difference between inspiration and...Read More
If you took a quick survey and asked a few people to describe the components of bebop, you might come up with some answers like: "fast tempos, lots of notes, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, b9's,...Read More
If you took a quick survey and asked a few people to describe the components of bebop, you might come up with some answers like: "fast tempos, lots of notes,...Read More
Ever spend a lot of time learning a tune, only to realize that you've completely forgotten it a few weeks later? When you're not achieving your desired results in pretty much anything, check your methods....Read More
Ever spend a lot of time learning a tune, only to realize that you've completely forgotten it a few weeks later? When you're not achieving your desired results in pretty...Read More
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...Read More
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...Read More
A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention - Herbert Simon, Nobel Laureate. Let's be honest, we're pretty lucky as jazz musicians in this day and age. As a musician interested in jazz today,...Read More
A wealth of information creates a poverty of attention - Herbert Simon, Nobel Laureate. Let's be honest, we're pretty lucky as jazz musicians in this day and age. As a...Read More
Your mental approach to the things you do can have everything to do with your success or failure. In fact, the way that you think about things like setting goals, learning new skills, or creating...Read More
Your mental approach to the things you do can have everything to do with your success or failure. In fact, the way that you think about things like setting goals,...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
Hey, did you just hear that? Look, did you just see that? Wait, can you feel that? What's that smell? Wait...what?! On a daily basis our senses are bombarded with information. Sights, sounds, smells, and...Read More
Hey, did you just hear that? Look, did you just see that? Wait, can you feel that? What's that smell? Wait...what?! On a daily basis our senses are bombarded with...Read More
Every so often you'll make a musical discovery that will drastically change the way you approach improvisation. One day you're struggling over the same tunes, growing more and more frustrated with your own predictable patterns...Read More
Every so often you'll make a musical discovery that will drastically change the way you approach improvisation. One day you're struggling over the same tunes, growing more and more frustrated...Read More