When exactly do I become good at improvising? Is there a single point that occurs where I can finally play like I want to? These are questions that inevitably pop up and hover at the...Read More
When exactly do I become good at improvising? Is there a single point that occurs where I can finally play like I want to? These are questions that inevitably pop...Read More
What’s the most important chord progression that you need to know as a musician? Well that's a good question...In the past we've explored some common chord relationships that you’ll encounter as an improviser, but there...Read More
What’s the most important chord progression that you need to know as a musician? Well that's a good question...In the past we've explored some common chord relationships that you’ll encounter...Read More
We all have those days in the practice room…days where you can't seem to get anything right. Where you're fighting your instrument and you want to scream... I'm sure you know the feeling of a...Read More
We all have those days in the practice room…days where you can't seem to get anything right. Where you're fighting your instrument and you want to scream... I'm sure you...Read More
When I think about what it means to "let go," detailed scenes from Hollywood hits come to mind. Scenes like Neo in The Matrix learning that "there is no spoon," and Tom Cruise in the...Read More
When I think about what it means to "let go," detailed scenes from Hollywood hits come to mind. Scenes like Neo in The Matrix learning that "there is no spoon,"...Read More
Everybody wants to play "outside" the chord changes. They think there is something mysterious about getting outside the changes. In my experience, the phenomenal players that I've studied with along with the legendary players I've...Read More
Everybody wants to play "outside" the chord changes. They think there is something mysterious about getting outside the changes. In my experience, the phenomenal players that I've studied with along...Read More
Sonny Rollins is one of those rare musical masters that seems to have it all figured out when it comes to improvisation. And if you're a musician that's been searching for the missing answers to...Read More
Sonny Rollins is one of those rare musical masters that seems to have it all figured out when it comes to improvisation. And if you're a musician that's been searching...Read More
On this site we frequently write about the benefits of ear training for improvising, with good reason. Hearing and singing intervals, melodies, chord progressions, etc. is one area of daily practice that will directly affect...Read More
On this site we frequently write about the benefits of ear training for improvising, with good reason. Hearing and singing intervals, melodies, chord progressions, etc. is one area of daily...Read More
Scales, Chords, Progressions, and Tunes... These are the words we all use to define and think about music. It's how we make sense of the songs we hear, how we talk about the solos we...Read More
Scales, Chords, Progressions, and Tunes... These are the words we all use to define and think about music. It's how we make sense of the songs we hear, how we...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 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
You've heard about the scales. You understand the music theory. And you've even played through the patterns in a few exercise books. But when it comes to actually improvising with the diminished sound, something is...Read More
You've heard about the scales. You understand the music theory. And you've even played through the patterns in a few exercise books. But when it comes to actually improvising with...Read More
Time in the practice room doesn’t equal improvement. Hey, wait a second...That’s right, you read that correctly. It’s time spent practicing the right things that leads to improvement. And this isn’t always the case with...Read More
Time in the practice room doesn’t equal improvement. Hey, wait a second...That’s right, you read that correctly. It’s time spent practicing the right things that leads to improvement. And this...Read More
Several readers have written us lately asking how to practice scales. Simply practicing them is not difficult, but attaining a high level of speed and accuracy, while keeping your sound consistent throughout all registers is...Read More
Several readers have written us lately asking how to practice scales. Simply practicing them is not difficult, but attaining a high level of speed and accuracy, while keeping your sound...Read More
We've all seen concerts that have affected us greatly and left a lasting impression on our musical perception and even our lives. Performances that seem to transcend the stage into another form of communication and...Read More
We've all seen concerts that have affected us greatly and left a lasting impression on our musical perception and even our lives. Performances that seem to transcend the stage into...Read More
Ever go to the practice room with a plan of what you want to get done, only to realize that an hour has passed and you've just muddled around? Playing your instrument is fun and...Read More
Ever go to the practice room with a plan of what you want to get done, only to realize that an hour has passed and you've just muddled around? Playing...Read More
One of the most frustrating feelings I have, is to get to the end of the day and realize that I haven't practiced enough, or even worse, that I haven't even touched my instrument. Whether...Read More
One of the most frustrating feelings I have, is to get to the end of the day and realize that I haven't practiced enough, or even worse, that I haven't...Read More
If you’re like me, you can picture it in your mind. Walking on stage in front of an audience and jumping right into a solo. Knowing exactly what you want to play and confident that...Read More
If you’re like me, you can picture it in your mind. Walking on stage in front of an audience and jumping right into a solo. Knowing exactly what you want...Read More