"What To Practice"

    The Four DirectionsThe key to practicing any jazz concept

    Asignificant part of practicing jazz improvisation consists of working on scales, chords, and patterns. Practicing them in a thorough manner will enable you to obtain the most benefit in the shortest amount of time. Unfortunately,...Read More

    Asignificant part of practicing jazz improvisation consists of working on scales, chords, and patterns. Practicing them in a thorough manner will enable you to obtain the most benefit in the...Read More

    Using Triads in Your Solos

    Premium Only

    After playing a tune for a while, it can seem like you are playing the same ideas or licks over the changes every time. For example, you see a D minor chord and think "okay...Read More

    After playing a tune for a while, it can seem like you are playing the same ideas or licks over the changes every time. For example, you see a D...Read More

    Keys to the Altered Scale

    The altered scale allows access to the beautiful tensions of a dominant chord in a flash. The effective use of this scale, however, is not easy. In this article, I've assembled what I have found...Read More

    The altered scale allows access to the beautiful tensions of a dominant chord in a flash. The effective use of this scale, however, is not easy. In this article, I've...Read More

    3 Reasons Why You Should Sing Everyday

    Have you ever wondered why great pianists, guitarists, bassists, and drummers often sing along as they improvise? Ever noticed how many of the best horn players also happen to be great singers? Great musicians all...Read More

    Have you ever wondered why great pianists, guitarists, bassists, and drummers often sing along as they improvise? Ever noticed how many of the best horn players also happen to be...Read More

    Piano Basics: Necessary Skills for the Non-Pianist

    At some point in your musical journey, regardless of what instrument you play, you'll find yourself in front of that 88-keyed beast we call a piano. This can be a daunting task for many musicians....Read More

    At some point in your musical journey, regardless of what instrument you play, you'll find yourself in front of that 88-keyed beast we call a piano. This can be a...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

    Learning Tunes

    It seems like jazz musicians are always thinking about tunes; knowing tunes, learning tunes, how does that one go again? Performing in different situations we are expected to know certain tunes that other musicians will...Read More

    It seems like jazz musicians are always thinking about tunes; knowing tunes, learning tunes, how does that one go again? Performing in different situations we are expected to know certain...Read More

    5 Jazz Survival Skills: Do You Have Them?

    You've seen it on TV or maybe you've even done it yourself. Trekking into the wilderness alone, armed with just a few essential tools and your own courage. Find your own shelter, find your own...Read More

    You've seen it on TV or maybe you've even done it yourself. Trekking into the wilderness alone, armed with just a few essential tools and your own courage. Find your...Read More

    6 More Mistakes You’re Making In Learning to Improvise

    In 6 Disastrous Mistakes You're Making In Learning To Improvise, we detailed some pitfalls that cause people to waste tons of time and cause years of frustration. Let's get right into it...here are six more...Read More

    In 6 Disastrous Mistakes You're Making In Learning To Improvise, we detailed some pitfalls that cause people to waste tons of time and cause years of frustration. Let's get right...Read More

    Why You Should Share Your Musical Knowledge

    There exists a hidden trap on the path of learning improvisation. One that you can fall into without even realizing it. In music school practice rooms, jam sessions, and even in the performance hall, the...Read More

    There exists a hidden trap on the path of learning improvisation. One that you can fall into without even realizing it. In music school practice rooms, jam sessions, and even...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

    A Simple Way To Hear Difficult Intervals: The 2-step method

    Premium Only

    Hearing larger intervals is difficult for most people. After a couple weeks of practicing your intervals, half-steps, whole steps, major and minor thirds, perfect fourths, perfect fifths, and major sixths fall into place, but the...Read More

    Hearing larger intervals is difficult for most people. After a couple weeks of practicing your intervals, half-steps, whole steps, major and minor thirds, perfect fourths, perfect fifths, and major sixths...Read More

    Developing Musicality: Applying Scales vs. Applying Language

    Arecurring theme on this site seems to be language - acquiring, practicing, and applying the jazz language. There is a reason behind all the repetition, however. Language is a very powerful concept when it comes...Read More

    Arecurring theme on this site seems to be language - acquiring, practicing, and applying the jazz language. There is a reason behind all the repetition, however. Language is a very...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

    Before You Transcribe or Learn Tunes…

    Learn tunes. Transcribe solos. The instructions for aspiring jazz musicians are pretty much the same everywhere you go. You want to play longer lines and master tricky chord progressions? "Learn tunes and transcribe solos." Need...Read More

    Learn tunes. Transcribe solos. The instructions for aspiring jazz musicians are pretty much the same everywhere you go. You want to play longer lines and master tricky chord progressions? "Learn...Read More

    Stop Running From Your Creativity

    Listen carefully...Can you hear that? Underneath the thoughts about your credit card bill and next Tuesday’s dinner plans. Past the anxiety about that upcoming job interview and the frustration with your painfully slow progress in...Read More

    Listen carefully...Can you hear that? Underneath the thoughts about your credit card bill and next Tuesday’s dinner plans. Past the anxiety about that upcoming job interview and the frustration with...Read More