"What To Practice"

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

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    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

    Use the Power of Visualization to Improve Faster than Ever. We’ll show you how …

    Picture this. You’re backstage before a big performance waiting for your turn to step into the spotlight. A few steps away from the curtain you can hear the murmur of the audience and your pulse starts...Read More

    Picture this. You’re backstage before a big performance waiting for your turn to step into the spotlight. A few steps away from the curtain you can hear the murmur of the...Read More

    Applying the Pareto Principle to Learning Jazz Improvisation

    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

    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

    How To Be Mediocre

    While we typically focus on ways to improve, this article is all about how to be mediocre. Now, chances are you don't want to be mediocre, so while many of these listed points are tongue-in-cheek,...Read More

    While we typically focus on ways to improve, this article is all about how to be mediocre. Now, chances are you don't want to be mediocre, so while many of...Read More

    Harmonic Anticipation: A simple technique to break free

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    Many times when we're soloing we get boxed in so to speak. We think that when we're on a particular chord, we must play that chord and that chord only. We have tunnel vision and...Read More

    Many times when we're soloing we get boxed in so to speak. We think that when we're on a particular chord, we must play that chord and that chord only....Read More

    Understanding Chord Tones

    Recently we've gotten a few questions regarding chord tones: how to work on hearing them, how to aim for them in your lines, and how to connect them when you're improvising over a chord progression....Read More

    Recently we've gotten a few questions regarding chord tones: how to work on hearing them, how to aim for them in your lines, and how to connect them when you're...Read More

    4 Reasons Why You Should Start Recording Yourself Today

    There are perks to being a musician. You get to step out into the spotlight and be the star of the show. You get to experience the exhilaration of creating music in the moment with...Read More

    There are perks to being a musician. You get to step out into the spotlight and be the star of the show. You get to experience the exhilaration of creating...Read More

    8 Easy Ways to Play Minor Chords Like Clifford Brown

    Minor chords are found in every style of music, especially in the jazz repertoire. From popular jazz standards and the minor blues, to the ii-V-I progression and the minor vamps that pop up in numerous...Read More

    Minor chords are found in every style of music, especially in the jazz repertoire. From popular jazz standards and the minor blues, to the ii-V-I progression and the minor vamps...Read More

    Why Jazz Theory Is Easier Than You Think…

    Let me guess...You’re smart. You know your stuff. And you have a sparkle in your eyes when you talk about music. You take lessons and you play in a band, and when you find a...Read More

    Let me guess...You’re smart. You know your stuff. And you have a sparkle in your eyes when you talk about music. You take lessons and you play in a band,...Read More

    Overwhelmed with Transcribing Jazz Solos? – Here’s the Secret That Will Speed …

    What solo should I transcribe? You've probably asked yourself this question. And you've probably searched far and wide for answers. If you look in the Aebersold Jazz Handbook you'll find a list with over 100...Read More

    What solo should I transcribe? You've probably asked yourself this question. And you've probably searched far and wide for answers. If you look in the Aebersold Jazz Handbook you'll find...Read More

    Goal Setting 101 for the Jazz Musician

    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

    How To Create the Perfect Solo: A Lesson With Herbie Hancock

    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