"Transcribing"

    How The Chord-Scale System Has Failed You: 6 Steps to Freedom With Scales and Modes

    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

    Overcoming Mental Limitations in Music

    I can’t. We’ve all said these fateful words at one point or another. Fill in the blank for your own situation. “I can’t (____)”...draw, run long distances, wake up early, stop eating cheesecake. Every day...Read More

    I can’t. We’ve all said these fateful words at one point or another. Fill in the blank for your own situation. “I can’t (____)”...draw, run long distances, wake up early,...Read More

    20 Things Every Improviser Should Know

    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

    6 Reasons You Should Start Composing Today

    Ican't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones - John Cage. At some point as an improviser, whether you welcome it with open arms or avoid it like...Read More

    Ican't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones - John Cage. At some point as an improviser, whether you welcome it with open...Read More

    5 Essential Skills for the Performing Improviser

    Many times we forget about the musical skills that we should be developing until it's way too late. Right in the middle of a gig you're put on the spot and in a moment of...Read More

    Many times we forget about the musical skills that we should be developing until it's way too late. Right in the middle of a gig you're put on the spot...Read More

    How Thoughtful Off Time Can Help You Become The Player You Wish To Be

    Daily practice is the key to growing into the player you wish to become. Everyday, building upon the knowledge you learned the previous day, moving forward, getting closer and closer...that's the goal. But what if...Read More

    Daily practice is the key to growing into the player you wish to become. Everyday, building upon the knowledge you learned the previous day, moving forward, getting closer and closer...that's...Read More

    Learn New Material by Total Immersion

    One thing you always want to be doing is learning new material. New lines, new tunes, new concepts...there's always something new to learn. We preach the mantra "Quality Over Quantity" in practically everything we write....Read More

    One thing you always want to be doing is learning new material. New lines, new tunes, new concepts...there's always something new to learn. We preach the mantra "Quality Over Quantity"...Read More

    Your Next Musical Milestone: Chromatic ii-V’s

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    The process of learning to improvise is a journey. A long and rewarding journey and one that is punctuated by a series of milestones. This can be hard to see from that comfy seat inside...Read More

    The process of learning to improvise is a journey. A long and rewarding journey and one that is punctuated by a series of milestones. This can be hard to see...Read More

    Building Your Repertoire Part II: 10 Key Tunes

    In a recent post: A Blueprint for Building Your Repertoire, I outlined some ideas to ponder while creating a repertoire of tunes. Concepts like how to learn, listen to, and how to approach the Great...Read More

    In a recent post: A Blueprint for Building Your Repertoire, I outlined some ideas to ponder while creating a repertoire of tunes. Concepts like how to learn, listen to, and...Read More

    3 Steps to Freedom In All 12 Keys

    The ability to play fluently in all 12 keys is essential for every improviser. Initially, it may seem like you rarely play in certain keys or even that it's just not necessary to play in...Read More

    The ability to play fluently in all 12 keys is essential for every improviser. Initially, it may seem like you rarely play in certain keys or even that it's just...Read More

    Learning to Be Your Own Teacher

    The difference between many subjects and jazz improvisation is that the latter has no single correct and well-defined path. Every person takes a different route depending how they learn, how they hear, what they want...Read More

    The difference between many subjects and jazz improvisation is that the latter has no single correct and well-defined path. Every person takes a different route depending how they learn, how...Read More

    Navigating Altered Dominants: Strategies for the V7#9 Chord

    Areader recently asked: "I was wondering about how to play over altered dominant chords. What are some strategies for playing over Dominant 7 #9 chords, specifically." This question comes up frequently for many improvisers. It...Read More

    Areader recently asked: "I was wondering about how to play over altered dominant chords. What are some strategies for playing over Dominant 7 #9 chords, specifically." This question comes up...Read More

    Time Management for the Improviser

    One of the most frequently asked questions that we get concerns finding time to practice or improving with a limited amount of practice time. "What should I do if I don't have enough time to...Read More

    One of the most frequently asked questions that we get concerns finding time to practice or improving with a limited amount of practice time. "What should I do if I...Read More

    Speaking to the Listener: 4 Ways to Perform More Effectively

    We've all seen concerts that have affected us greatly and left a lasting impression on our musical perception and even our lives. Performances that seem to transcend the stage into another form of communication and...Read More

    We've all seen concerts that have affected us greatly and left a lasting impression on our musical perception and even our lives. Performances that seem to transcend the stage into...Read More

    Mythbusting the Top 5 Myths About Jazz Improvisation

    Learning how to improvise is not nearly as clear as people think. And what makes it worse is that there are quite a few myths about it. Today, in no particular order, we're going to...Read More

    Learning how to improvise is not nearly as clear as people think. And what makes it worse is that there are quite a few myths about it. Today, in no...Read More

    Great Jazz Ears: How to Get a Vivid Aural Imagination

    The extent to which your aural imagination is developed, largely determines: the quality of lines you play, how you play those lines (articulation, swing feel, inflection), and the sound you play with. Nothing has such...Read More

    The extent to which your aural imagination is developed, largely determines: the quality of lines you play, how you play those lines (articulation, swing feel, inflection), and the sound you...Read More