"Jazz Language"

    Eager to Improve? Don’t Make This Common Mistake in the Practice Room…

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    In case you were starting to mistake jazz musicians for super-humans...Or highly talented individuals that know thousands of tunes, have perfect pitch, and transcribe solos in mere minutes, I thought I’d write a post to...Read More

    In case you were starting to mistake jazz musicians for super-humans...Or highly talented individuals that know thousands of tunes, have perfect pitch, and transcribe solos in mere minutes, I thought...Read More

    The Music of Thelonious Monk: 10 Tunes You Need To Know

    There are certain composers in the jazz tradition...ones that have such a uniquely personal style that their compositions seem to take on a life of their own, becoming part of the jazz pantheon long after...Read More

    There are certain composers in the jazz tradition...ones that have such a uniquely personal style that their compositions seem to take on a life of their own, becoming part of...Read More

    How To Effectively Use Enclosure

    IWe all have lines we use frequently. Some lines we use so much, that we can't stand them, criticizing ourselves for playing them over and over, thinking we're being unoriginal and uncreative... It's ok. Even...Read More

    IWe all have lines we use frequently. Some lines we use so much, that we can't stand them, criticizing ourselves for playing them over and over, thinking we're being unoriginal...Read More

    What You Don’t Play Matters

    We spend a lot of time thinking about what we want to play, but how often do we think about what we don't want to play? I'm sure if you spent some time recording yourself...Read More

    We spend a lot of time thinking about what we want to play, but how often do we think about what we don't want to play? I'm sure if you...Read More

    Two Five Progressions Made Easy

    The ii V progression makes up the vast majority of chord changes within the jazz standard repertoire. Much of our success or failure as improvisors comes from being able to navigate this deceptively simple progression. ...Read More

    The ii V progression makes up the vast majority of chord changes within the jazz standard repertoire. Much of our success or failure as improvisors comes from being able to...Read More

    Why This Simple Jazz Transcription Hack Will Change Your Playing

    It's just past one in the morning. I'm standing on the sidewalk in lower Manhattan as garbage trucks rumble by and panhandlers hustle for loose change. I've just stepped outside of Smalls, the last note...Read More

    It's just past one in the morning. I'm standing on the sidewalk in lower Manhattan as garbage trucks rumble by and panhandlers hustle for loose change. I've just stepped outside...Read More

    The Inconvenient Truth About Becoming a Better Improviser…

    Making progress as an improviser is tricky business. I'm not talking about the baby steps along the way like learning a new tune, transcribing a solo, or even practicing a few scales. I'm talking about...Read More

    Making progress as an improviser is tricky business. I'm not talking about the baby steps along the way like learning a new tune, transcribing a solo, or even practicing a...Read More

    How to Get Unstuck – Conquer Any Jazz Tune In 5 Steps

    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

    10 Jazz Improvisation Tips to Remember

    There are countless tips for jazz improvisation that you'll want to remember, but these 10 are essential! 1.) Think quality over quantity Often we are in a hurry to 'catch up.' Wherever you are...Read More

    There are countless tips for jazz improvisation that you'll want to remember, but these 10 are essential! 1.) Think quality over quantity Often we are in a hurry to...Read More

    50 Jazz Education Clips That Rock

    Here's a collection of some of the best jazz improvisation educational video clips I've found. They include: Pat Martino, Jerry Bergonzi, Joe Lovano, Michael Brecker, Hal Galper, Joshua Redman, Bill Evans, John Scofield, Chris Potter,...Read More

    Here's a collection of some of the best jazz improvisation educational video clips I've found. They include: Pat Martino, Jerry Bergonzi, Joe Lovano, Michael Brecker, Hal Galper, Joshua Redman, Bill...Read More

    Is Improvising Really Improvising?

    If there is one thing about playing jazz that's shrouded in mystery, it is improvisation. Improvisation exists in other types of music, even in musical traditions from the far reaches of the globe, but in...Read More

    If there is one thing about playing jazz that's shrouded in mystery, it is improvisation. Improvisation exists in other types of music, even in musical traditions from the far reaches...Read More

    Slash Chords Made Simple

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    Areader recently sent in this question: "I was wondering if you could explain to me how to interpret slash chords for soloing. It seems like different sources have conflicting information. Also, what would I do...Read More

    Areader recently sent in this question: "I was wondering if you could explain to me how to interpret slash chords for soloing. It seems like different sources have conflicting information....Read More

    A Blueprint for Building Your Repertoire

    Learning tunes. Memorizing standards. Building a solid repertoire that continues to grow. These ideas are always hovering at the back of an improviser's mind. We make lists of tunes, print out lead sheets to study,...Read More

    Learning tunes. Memorizing standards. Building a solid repertoire that continues to grow. These ideas are always hovering at the back of an improviser's mind. We make lists of tunes, print...Read More

    Playing the Music of Now

    Oftentimes, we get pushed down a very narrow, prescribed path when it comes to learning and performing jazz. Without question, we get complacent with the established rules of others whether it's the guidelines of an...Read More

    Oftentimes, we get pushed down a very narrow, prescribed path when it comes to learning and performing jazz. Without question, we get complacent with the established rules of others whether...Read More

    The Power of One

    It's the time of year again when we make ambitious lists of resolutions and let me tell you, this year is shaping up to be different. Seriously…all those other years were just practice runs, this...Read More

    It's the time of year again when we make ambitious lists of resolutions and let me tell you, this year is shaping up to be different. Seriously…all those other years...Read More

    Finding a Fresh Approach to Playing the Same Old Tunes

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    Repetition. It's one part of learning to improvise that's par for the course. We practice scales over and over again until the technique is securely in our fingers, we spend hours repeatedly working out ii-V7...Read More

    Repetition. It's one part of learning to improvise that's par for the course. We practice scales over and over again until the technique is securely in our fingers, we spend...Read More