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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
You're on stage. In the practice room. Or rehearsing with your friends. It's time to run through yet another jazz standard. But here's the thing, this time you're not going play it like you always...Read More
You're on stage. In the practice room. Or rehearsing with your friends. It's time to run through yet another jazz standard. But here's the thing, this time you're not going...Read More
Have you ever noticed how there's a special group of improvisers that seem to know EXACTLY what to play over any tune at any time – no matter what it is? The key doesn't matter,...Read More
Have you ever noticed how there's a special group of improvisers that seem to know EXACTLY what to play over any tune at any time – no matter what it...Read More