Herbie Hancock is one of the greatest living improvisers. From his work with the great Miles Davis Quintet to his own musical explorations, he has spent decades evolving and pushing musical boundaries. But the thing...Read More
Herbie Hancock is one of the greatest living improvisers. From his work with the great Miles Davis Quintet to his own musical explorations, he has spent decades evolving and pushing...Read More
August is finally here and with the approaching end of summer looms the shadow of the fall marathon season. Across the country runners are stepping up their training for races that they've been preparing for...Read More
August is finally here and with the approaching end of summer looms the shadow of the fall marathon season. Across the country runners are stepping up their training for races...Read More
Every musician knows the feeling...You've picked out a tune to learn in the practice room. You've figured out the melody and memorized the chord progression. And you're ready to start improvising your solo. Then it...Read More
Every musician knows the feeling...You've picked out a tune to learn in the practice room. You've figured out the melody and memorized the chord progression. And you're ready to start...Read More
The torrential rain won't stop. Day after day it pours, keeping us inside. After an epic winter, the weather lightens up and the sun soaks up the moisture on the rocks. Finally, rock climbing season...Read More
The torrential rain won't stop. Day after day it pours, keeping us inside. After an epic winter, the weather lightens up and the sun soaks up the moisture on the...Read More
Anyone can improvise! - The phrase rolls off the tongue with the banality of many a late-night infomercial. "Anyone can get ripped abs! Anyone can make millions from home! Anyone can speak Navajo!" But when...Read More
Anyone can improvise! - The phrase rolls off the tongue with the banality of many a late-night infomercial. "Anyone can get ripped abs! Anyone can make millions from home! Anyone...Read More
The commonly known Pareto Principle states that 80% of the effects of something, come from 20% of the causes. In terms of learning, this means: figure out where the largest gains can be made and...Read More
The commonly known Pareto Principle states that 80% of the effects of something, come from 20% of the causes. In terms of learning, this means: figure out where the largest...Read More
Many chords are pretty easy to understand. But dominant seventh chords with an assortment of alterations…they’re a whole different animal! What's with all this b9, #9, b13, #11, b5 stuff! There seem to be a...Read More
Many chords are pretty easy to understand. But dominant seventh chords with an assortment of alterations…they’re a whole different animal! What's with all this b9, #9, b13, #11, b5 stuff!...Read More
Open up any music theory book and you'll find the term "lydian." A funny sounding word that refers to the fourth mode of the major scale. You’ve, no doubt, played this scale. You've probably even...Read More
Open up any music theory book and you'll find the term "lydian." A funny sounding word that refers to the fourth mode of the major scale. You’ve, no doubt, played...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 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
Learning to improvise is a life long pursuit. Constantly, we're bombarded with information on how to improve. From the teachers that give us private lessons, to friends who recommend their personal practice routines, it seems...Read More
Learning to improvise is a life long pursuit. Constantly, we're bombarded with information on how to improve. From the teachers that give us private lessons, to friends who recommend their...Read More
Everyone sets goals, but only a handful of people actually achieve them. And out of these highly-motivated people that achieve their goals, only a fraction of them are truly satisfied with their accomplishments. So what...Read More
Everyone sets goals, but only a handful of people actually achieve them. And out of these highly-motivated people that achieve their goals, only a fraction of them are truly satisfied...Read More
Perspective is a powerful tool. At times it's an unexpected wake-up call, uncovering hidden possibilities and pushing us to get to the next level. At others, it makes us step back and take a look...Read More
Perspective is a powerful tool. At times it's an unexpected wake-up call, uncovering hidden possibilities and pushing us to get to the next level. At others, it makes us step...Read More
Articulation...tonguing notes, it seems like a pretty simple concept, right? Well, not exactly. It has taken me quite a while and a ton of practice to figure out how to articulate my lines correctly when...Read More
Articulation...tonguing notes, it seems like a pretty simple concept, right? Well, not exactly. It has taken me quite a while and a ton of practice to figure out how to...Read More
Open up a music theory book and you’ll likely find pages and pages of definitions. Terms like apogituras, retograde inversions, mordents, hemiolas, turns...Good information, but not exactly stuff that you'd want to put into your...Read More
Open up a music theory book and you’ll likely find pages and pages of definitions. Terms like apogituras, retograde inversions, mordents, hemiolas, turns...Good information, but not exactly stuff that you'd...Read More
You want to play exciting solos. Ones that will make the audience sit on the edge of their seats, that'll make you stand out from every other musician in the room. But when you improvise...Read More
You want to play exciting solos. Ones that will make the audience sit on the edge of their seats, that'll make you stand out from every other musician in the...Read More
Composition is selective improvisation - Igor Stravinsky. In 15 seconds the difference between composition and improvisation is that in composition you have all the time you want to decide what to say in 15 seconds,...Read More
Composition is selective improvisation - Igor Stravinsky. In 15 seconds the difference between composition and improvisation is that in composition you have all the time you want to decide what...Read More