"What To Practice"

    How to Play Outside Like a Pro: 4 Techniques That’ll Make the ‘Wrong̵ …

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    You've heard solos with wrong notes. Unfortunate note choices that make you cringe, questionable scales that clash with the chords, and licks that sound forced and unnatural. But I'm guessing you've also heard players that...Read More

    You've heard solos with wrong notes. Unfortunate note choices that make you cringe, questionable scales that clash with the chords, and licks that sound forced and unnatural. But I'm guessing...Read More

    5 Tips to Use Sequences like Paul Desmond

    Paul Desmond plays the alto saxophone unlike any other…sweet, melodic, and precise, always leading the listener through a clear story from one musical idea to the next - It’s as if every single idea he...Read More

    Paul Desmond plays the alto saxophone unlike any other…sweet, melodic, and precise, always leading the listener through a clear story from one musical idea to the next - It’s as...Read More

    Your Jazz Improvisation Audit: 36 Questions That Will Show You What You REALLY Know

    It's time to get down to business...The business of finding out if you're on track to achieve your musical goals and develop into the musician you want to become. While we often focus on the...Read More

    It's time to get down to business...The business of finding out if you're on track to achieve your musical goals and develop into the musician you want to become. While...Read More

    Want to Master Rhythm Changes? Here are Six Solos that You Should Know…

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    Here's a question for you...Are you making the process of learning to play jazz standards harder than it has to be? ...searching for answers in theory books, obsessing over scales, and turning your daily practice session...Read More

    Here's a question for you...Are you making the process of learning to play jazz standards harder than it has to be? ...searching for answers in theory books, obsessing over scales, and...Read More

    Killer Triadic & Pentatonic Lines Made EasyA Lesson With Kenny Garrett

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    Kenny Garrett is an incredible musician. He's arguably had one of the largest impacts on alto saxophone since Charlie Parker. In fact, when he started to gain popularity, most every alto player in the world...Read More

    Kenny Garrett is an incredible musician. He's arguably had one of the largest impacts on alto saxophone since Charlie Parker. In fact, when he started to gain popularity, most every...Read More

    How to Take the Guesswork Out of Jazz Improvisation…and Unlock Your Creativity

    If you’re like me, you can picture it in your mind. Walking on stage in front of an audience and jumping right into a solo. Knowing exactly what you want to play and confident that...Read More

    If you’re like me, you can picture it in your mind. Walking on stage in front of an audience and jumping right into a solo. Knowing exactly what you want...Read More

    The Myth of The Linear Path

    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

    How to Train Your Ears Like a Jazz Musician

    Recently a reader wrote in wanting to know, “What makes jazz ear training different from just general ear training?” That’s a great question and I definitely had to think to arrive at an answer. They...Read More

    Recently a reader wrote in wanting to know, “What makes jazz ear training different from just general ear training?” That’s a great question and I definitely had to think to...Read More

    What, Why, Where, Who, When, and How to Transcribe

    Every day we receive countless variations of what, why, where, who, when, and how to transcribe questions in our inbox. Should I transcribe lines or whole solos? Do I need to transcribe from the recording...Read More

    Every day we receive countless variations of what, why, where, who, when, and how to transcribe questions in our inbox. Should I transcribe lines or whole solos? Do I need...Read More

    5 Steps to Mastering Sight-Reading

    Areader recently asked: At my college, to get into the lab bands you have to be a really great sight-reader. What are some ways to become a great reader besides just saying "read whatever you...Read More

    Areader recently asked: At my college, to get into the lab bands you have to be a really great sight-reader. What are some ways to become a great reader besides...Read More

    7 Harmonic Breakthroughs that Completely Changed My Playing

    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

    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

    Fast Tempos Made Easy

    Here's a recent question from a reader struggling with fast tempos: "Hi, I'm a saxophone player in Toronto. What might you recommend in terms of practice techniques to play on blistering fast tempos?" When it...Read More

    Here's a recent question from a reader struggling with fast tempos: "Hi, I'm a saxophone player in Toronto. What might you recommend in terms of practice techniques to play on...Read More

    7 Crucial Lessons from History’s Greatest Improvisers

    I'm guessing you've heard of Miles Davis. That you know Louis Armstrong and have listened to Charlie Parker and John Coltrane. But have you ever stopped and wondered why you know these names? Some of...Read More

    I'm guessing you've heard of Miles Davis. That you know Louis Armstrong and have listened to Charlie Parker and John Coltrane. But have you ever stopped and wondered why you...Read More

    5 Skills You Won’t Learn in School, Skill Three: The Secret to Great Time

    Ever feel like something is missing from your solos? You spend hours learning tunes and transcribing solos from your favorite recordings, you've memorized the chord progressions and diligently practiced the tricky fingerings, but when you...Read More

    Ever feel like something is missing from your solos? You spend hours learning tunes and transcribing solos from your favorite recordings, you've memorized the chord progressions and diligently practiced the...Read More

    How Master Improvisers Actually Think About Tunes

    As a musician, you often find yourself listening to the best improvisers you can. Searching for inspiration, guidance, and answers to the challenges you're facing. Especially when it comes to those records that include the...Read More

    As a musician, you often find yourself listening to the best improvisers you can. Searching for inspiration, guidance, and answers to the challenges you're facing. Especially when it comes to...Read More