You know how it goes…you're feeling super confident as you solo creatively over one of your favorite jazz standards and everything’s going well. But then, just for a split-second you lose focus. All of a...Read More
You know how it goes…you're feeling super confident as you solo creatively over one of your favorite jazz standards and everything’s going well. But then, just for a split-second you...Read More
After hours spent practicing technique: endless articulation, tone, range, and fingering exercises, are you still not matching up to what you're hearing on your favorite records? Are those same étude books and exercises you've been...Read More
After hours spent practicing technique: endless articulation, tone, range, and fingering exercises, are you still not matching up to what you're hearing on your favorite records? Are those same étude...Read More
When you begin something new, there’s so much to learn. Improvement is quick and often, practice is exploratory and fun. But after doing anything for a while, you settle into a routine and your once...Read More
When you begin something new, there’s so much to learn. Improvement is quick and often, practice is exploratory and fun. But after doing anything for a while, you settle into...Read More
You're staring at a chord progression on a lead sheet. Thinking through the first few bars of a jazz standard. You're getting ready to start your solo and carefully choosing the first phrase you'll play... ...Read More
You're staring at a chord progression on a lead sheet. Thinking through the first few bars of a jazz standard. You're getting ready to start your solo and carefully choosing...Read More
One thing that gets lost in the day to day mentality of practicing jazz improvisation is this simple fact – you don't have to solve EVERY musical problem each time you walk into the practice...Read More
One thing that gets lost in the day to day mentality of practicing jazz improvisation is this simple fact – you don't have to solve EVERY musical problem each time...Read More
With all the play-along sets and backing tracks available everywhere today, it’s becoming less and less common for people to learn tunes directly from recordings. I mean, why waste your time figuring out the changes...Read More
With all the play-along sets and backing tracks available everywhere today, it’s becoming less and less common for people to learn tunes directly from recordings. I mean, why waste your...Read More
Talent. It's a word that's thrown around in all professions and all parts of life. From sports and academics to art and music. And nowhere is it more prevalent than in jazz improvisation. We listen...Read More
Talent. It's a word that's thrown around in all professions and all parts of life. From sports and academics to art and music. And nowhere is it more prevalent than...Read More
Learning to improvise is a path with many steps leading to many different levels. Contrary to the belief held by some that improvising is a talent, or even a skill allowed to only a special...Read More
Learning to improvise is a path with many steps leading to many different levels. Contrary to the belief held by some that improvising is a talent, or even a skill...Read More
You've probably heard of the popular theory that when it comes to thinking, people are either left brained or right brained; they're either analytically predisposed or intuitively creative. The rationale is that artistic proclivity originates...Read More
You've probably heard of the popular theory that when it comes to thinking, people are either left brained or right brained; they're either analytically predisposed or intuitively creative. The rationale...Read More
Most improvisers cringe when they hear the words Giant Steps. Their hearts start pounding and they frantically try to remember the patterns they've worked out over the chord progression. If you've ever tried to play...Read More
Most improvisers cringe when they hear the words Giant Steps. Their hearts start pounding and they frantically try to remember the patterns they've worked out over the chord progression. If...Read More
Back in September we released a free presentation walking you through What You Should Practice. And in that presentation, we showed you and discussed the 3 essential pieces to practicing jazz improvisation... Getting new language...Read More
Back in September we released a free presentation walking you through What You Should Practice. And in that presentation, we showed you and discussed the 3 essential pieces to practicing...Read More
As an improviser, you can transcribe solos. You can improve your technique. You can listen to your favorite recordings for hours each day. You can practically live in your practice room. But, no matter what...Read More
As an improviser, you can transcribe solos. You can improve your technique. You can listen to your favorite recordings for hours each day. You can practically live in your practice...Read More
We get hundreds of questions every month. We do our best to answer as many as we possibly can and write articles about the most provocative ones. Below are answers to the most common...Read More
We get hundreds of questions every month. We do our best to answer as many as we possibly can and write articles about the most provocative ones. Below are...Read More
How creative are you each time you play your instrument? Think about it for a second...are you actually creating new musical ideas in your solos? Are you actually free when you improvise?? As a creative...Read More
How creative are you each time you play your instrument? Think about it for a second...are you actually creating new musical ideas in your solos? Are you actually free when...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 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
Just learn a few ii V licks in all keys, learn how to use them, and that's jazz, right? Unfortunately not. ii Vs make up the bulk of chord progressions found in all western music...Read More
Just learn a few ii V licks in all keys, learn how to use them, and that's jazz, right? Unfortunately not. ii Vs make up the bulk of chord progressions...Read More