is jazz improvising really made up on the spot

Is Improvising Really Improvising?

By

Eric

Inspiration, Myths, Perspectives

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 jazz it goes much deeper. It is somehow vitally tied to the spirit of the music, and it’s not just …

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learning tunes your way

Learning Tunes Your Way

By

Eric

How to Practice Jazz, Inspiration, Jazz Advice and Tips, Jazz Education, Jazz Musicians, Jazz Standards, Perspectives

On this site we’ve frequently written about learning tunes. This is no coincidence – learning tunes goes hand in hand with improving as an improviser. Whether you’re practicing, performing, or simply listening to a few records with some friends you’re dealing directly with tunes. Keeping this in mind, building a solid repertoire of tunes should …

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harold mabern on practicing

How to Completely Change How You Think About Practicing: Words of Wisdom from Harold Mabern

By

Forrest

How to Practice Jazz, Jazz Advice and Tips, Jazz Musicians

As he stood in the hallway, the students gathered round. You could see the crowd growing, one-by-one as the people walking by heard what was happening. Harold, animated and speaking with vibrant energy, was sharing his experiences with a group of lucky students that happened to catch him in-between classes. While I was at music …

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4 simple jazz exercises

Stop right there! Don’t Touch Your Instrument until You Do these 4 Simple Exercises (Premium)

By

Eric

Ear Training, How to Practice Jazz, Jazz Advice and Tips, Jazz Education, Perspectives, Premium Only

All practice is not created equal. There’s the practice that’s fun. You’re in a room with your instrument and maybe a few friends and you just start playing. The minutes fly by, but you’re not exactly working. Then there’s the practice that feels like homework. You’ve got a lesson or a concert coming up so …

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Jazz Ear Training

How to Train Your Ears Like a Jazz Musician

By

Forrest

Ear Training

Jazz ear training – What makes it different from general ear training? That’s a great question and when a reader recently asked this, it definitely made me think. They both focus on intervals, chords, root movement, and have other common ground, but how are they actually different? Over the years, I’ve taken quite a few …

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myths about jazz improv

4 More Myths About Jazz Improvisation

By

Eric

Jazz Advice and Tips, Myths

When your goal is to improve at a skill like improvisation, you will stop at nothing to gather as much information as you can. Your search leads you in every direction: out of print books, the method books that the masters studied, seeking out jazz gurus and famous teachers, and searching for bootleg recordings. Along …

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