how to practice music anywhere

5 Ways to Practice Anywhere

By

Eric

Jazz Advice and Tips, Visualization

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 it’s because of appointments, travel, school, or work commitments, it seems like there is always something getting in the way …

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5 Simple Things You Can Do Today To Play Better Solos

By

Eric

How to Practice Jazz, Inspiration, Jazz Advice and Tips

You’re constantly practicing, listening, and striving to improve your ability to improvise…yet for some strange reason, the next level of playing somehow seems to elude you. Etudes aren’t doing the trick. Scale patterns have become boring and predictable. And memorized lines simply won’t translate into amazing musical phrases. Despite all of your time and effort, …

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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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rhythmic ear training

Hearing Time: Rhythmic Ear Training

By

Eric

Composition, Ear Training, Playing Techniques

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 your improvising for the better. However, ear training isn’t only limited to improving your harmonic sensitivity. Developing rhythmic awareness and …

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