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Season 2 Finale - 26 Top Tips For Playing Jazz
28 Jun 2024
00:46:20
In this episode, Brent wraps up season two of the podcast with a special finale episode, reflecting on the journey and the changes implemented over the years. Originally starting in 2016, the podcast evolved from informal episodes to a structured season-based format in 2024, aiming to engage with listeners' questions. Throughout season two, Brent has provided invaluable insights and advice on various jazz topics. He encourages listeners to revisit past episodes to extract actionable knowledge and reflect on their learning journey.
In celebration of the season, Brent shares his top 26 tips for playing jazz, highlighting essential practices such as active listening, learning solos by ear, and focusing on instrument-specific techniques. He emphasizes the importance of listening deeply to jazz music to truly understand its language and the benefits of transcribing solos to enhance ear training and muscle memory. Brent also stresses the significance of practicing techniques tailored to individual instruments, ensuring that technical limitations do not hinder one's ability to express musical ideas.
Concluding the episode, Brent underscores the critical role of rhythm in jazz, the necessity of developing a strong ear, and the value of frequent improvisation. He advises listeners to study jazz harmony to gain a comprehensive understanding of chord progressions and to establish a strategic practice routine to avoid aimless noodling. Brent's tips provide a roadmap for continuous improvement, encouraging jazz enthusiasts to engage deeply with the music and cultivate their skills methodically.
In this episode, Brent answers a question from Kevin Pritchett about the importance of bass lines for non-bass players. Kevin, a piano player, wonders if learning bass lines can benefit his playing and improvisation. Brent explains that understanding bass lines is valuable for all musicians, not just bass players because it helps in grasping chord tones, time feel, and melodic resolutions. He emphasizes that playing bass lines can enhance one's overall musicality and time-keeping skills.
Brent shares his personal experience of learning bass lines and how it helped him during his early gigs with a piano player. He discusses the importance of practicing quarter notes, which are foundational in jazz, and how bass players' focus on chord tones and rhythmic patterns can benefit other instrumentalists. Brent also highlights that learning bass lines can improve a musician's sense of pulse and time, essential for any jazz player, whether they are accompanying or soloing.
In addition to learning bass lines, Brent encourages musicians to explore solos and techniques from other instruments, broadening their musical perspective. He concludes by urging listeners to try learning a bass line, regardless of their primary instrument, to gain new insights and improve their jazz playing.
In this Fast Track Friday episode, Brent discusses the common pitfalls musicians face when preparing for and performing at jazz gigs. Drawing from his extensive experience, he offers invaluable advice to ensure you’re fully prepared and professional, such as the importance of being over-prepared, arriving early, and ensuring you have all your necessary gear. These foundational tips are crucial for setting yourself up for success and avoiding stressful, last-minute scrambles.
Whether it's controlling your volume to suit the venue or avoiding selfish playing that overshadows your bandmates, Brent suggests that understanding your role in the performance is key. He shares anecdotes to illustrate these points, highlighting the significance of making the gig enjoyable not just for yourself but for your audience and fellow performers as well.
Finally, Brent touches on maintaining professionalism during gigs, such as managing alcohol consumption and adhering to appropriate break lengths. He stresses the impact of your demeanor on the audience and the importance of maintaining a positive and professional attitude, even when mistakes happen. This episode is packed with practical tips and insights that can help any jazz musician elevate their gig experience, making it a must-listen for those looking to improve their live performance skills.
Brent is wrapping up the week on the podcast with a Fast Track Friday episode, reflecting on the fascinating discussions from the week. Topics ranged from bebop scales to the role of music theory in the journey of jazz greats. However, he identifies a potential pitfall: the "patternistic" and linear approach often associated with theory and scales.
In response, Brent introduces a powerful exercise aimed at enhancing your melodic prowess. The focus shifts to allowing your ear and intuition to guide your improvisation, fostering a melodic approach over a theoretical one.
Learn through practical examples as he demonstrates the beauty of creating tension, resolution, and evolving melodies without the shackles of predetermined constructs.
The exercise promotes a more organic, responsive, and melodic style of playing that aligns with the essence of jazz.
In this Learn Jazz Standards podcast episode, Brent addresses a question from Tim Sly about whether jazz greats from the early days thought about music theory. He emphasizes how early jazz evolved spontaneously and wasn't necessarily written down.
Discover how jazz evolved without heavy reliance on theory, and why embracing both theory and ear training is crucial for a well-rounded musical journey.
Brent shares insights into the balance between learning by ear and understanding theory, creating a harmonious approach to jazz education.
Learn the role of theory in jazz while emphasizing the importance of improvisation and the rich heritage of this extraordinary musical genre.
How Much Do I Need to Practice to Get Great At Jazz?
07 Feb 2024
00:10:29
In this episode, Brent answers a question from Kevin, an Inner Circle member. This time, the spotlight is on a dilemma many players face: how much should you practice, and when does the time come to ease up?
Brent shares insights into the effectiveness of consistent, strategic, and enjoyable practice, emphasizing quality over quantity. Is it about practicing for hours on end, or can efficient and focused sessions get you where you want to be?
Discover the keys to mastering the art of practicing from the best jazz musicians and how it contributes to their proficiency. Whether you're starting your jazz journey or navigating the path to becoming a pro, this episode promises valuable insights to make your practice time truly count.
How Do I Analyze Chord Changes And Construct Solos?
06 Feb 2024
00:10:14
In this podcast episode, Brent answers a question from Ed from St. Louis on how to construct killer solos when the breaks are short and snappy.
Whether facing a 12-bar blues or navigating complex jazz standards, Brent discusses his principles that hold the key to unlocking improvisational prowess.
Listen as he provides examples and encourages experimentation. Learn about his perspective on the practical application of bebop scales in improvisation.
In this podcast episode, Brent breaks down the application of bebop scales in major, dominant, and minor chords, revealing the magic of chromatic passing tones. He emphasizes viewing the bebop scale as a tool to grasp chromaticism in jazz language rather than as rigid improvisational rules.
Discover the art of improvisation and learn how bebop scales can elevate your jazz playing. Uncover practical insights and gain a fresh perspective on utilizing scales in your musical expression.
The goal is to deepen the understanding of the bebop scale's practical application in jazz playing.
In this Fast Track Friday episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent discusses strategies for developing one's own sound in jazz improvisation. He emphasizes the importance of taking influence from a wide variety of jazz musicians, exploring other instruments, and diversifying musical influences outside of jazz.
Brent suggests that learning solos from musicians who don't play the same instrument can provide fresh perspectives and ideas. Additionally, he encourages the practice of composition as a means of internalizing and expressing individual musical ideas.
Finally, Brent recommends experimenting with different approaches to the instrument, such as exploring various scales, fingerings, or tunings, to foster creativity and unique sounds.
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent addresses Gary Cavallar's question on shifting focus from playing notes to creating more organic saxophone solos. Brent explores ways to enhance creativity and improvisation. He suggests analyzing habits and incorporating new tools to break repetitive patterns.
Learning more jazz language, including licks and solos from musicians, is crucial for expanding musical ideas. Brent emphasizes the importance of composition, either composing full solos or individual choruses, to internalize and refine ideas.
Lastly, he advises self-analysis by recording and evaluating one's playing to identify strengths and areas for improvement, thus fostering a more creative and natural approach to improvisation.
How Jazz Pianists and Guitarists Should Play Together
31 Jan 2024
00:12:21
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent addresses the age-old question of proper etiquette when two chording instruments, such as guitar and piano, play together in a jam session.
He emphasizes the importance of serving the music and avoiding a chaotic clash of chords. Brent suggests various scenarios, such as taking turns comping or having one instrument play a more subtle role. Personal preference may lead to being the primary or secondary comper, but the key is always serving the music and respecting each musician's role.
The key is to prioritize musicality and ensure that everyone contributes to creating a cohesive and enjoyable musical experience.
In this podcast episode, Brent addresses a question from Roxanna, a classically trained pianist struggling with jazz rhythm and phrasing. Brent explains the essence of the swing feel in jazz, emphasizing the triplet-based rhythm.
He advises starting with simple exercises, such as playing major scales with a swing feel. The discussion extends to jazz phrasing, highlighting the importance of learning by ear from great jazz musicians.
Brent encourages musicians, especially those from classical backgrounds, to internalize jazz phrasing and rhythm through this immersive process, making it an integral part of their practice routine.
In this podcast episode, Brent addresses Jacqueline's question about chromatic passing tones and accents. He emphasizes the importance of understanding swing feel and how it influences accenting in jazz.
Brent introduces two types of chromatic note and provides insights into accenting these notes, highlighting that accents often depend on individual musical intuition and can vary based on the context, the musician's style, and specific nuances in phrasing.
Brent encourages experimentation and learning from other musicians to develop a natural feel for accenting chromatic lines.
In this episode, Brent tackles a fantastic question from Arjun about mastering jazz solos by ear. He highlights the importance of this skill for learning jazz language and improvisation, while also clarifying that it's not the only way to learn. He acknowledges that different methods, such as theory and reading notated solos, can also be effective for some learners.
Brent introduces his LIST process for learning solos by ear, which stands for Listen, Internalize, Sing, and Transfer. This method ensures that the learner deeply understands the solo before attempting to play it, making the transfer to the instrument smoother and more intuitive.
To help listeners practice effectively, Brent recommends using tools like slow-down software to break the solo into manageable chunks and gradually learn it. He emphasizes the importance of quality practice time over quantity, ensuring that learners spend focused time with each solo to truly absorb the nuances of jazz language. Tune in to gain practical tips and insights that will enhance your jazz improvisation skills and make your practice sessions more productive and enjoyable.
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent discusses three mindset shifts to improve at jazz faster. The first mindset shift is the "growth mindset," inspired by Carol Dweck's book "Mindset," emphasizing the view that failures are opportunities to grow and learn, rather than fixed definitions of ability.
The second mindset shift is recognizing that "perfection is the enemy of progress." Brent encourages listeners not to obsess over perfection, but rather to embrace mistakes as part of the learning process, especially in improvisation.
The third mindset is "less is more," advising musicians to focus on fewer elements in their practice sessions, allowing for better retention and improvement. Brent emphasizes the concept of focusing on one jazz standard a month in the Learn Jazz Standards inner circle to illustrate the effectiveness of this mindset.
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent answers a question from inner circle member Kevin Pritchett about recognizing and using secondary dominants in jazz standards.
Brent explains the concept of secondary dominants and he illustrates the idea using a one, six, two, five chord progression in the key of C, emphasizing the importance of turning the six chord into a dominant seventh chord to tonicize the following two-chord. He highlights examples of secondary dominants in jazz compositions, such as rhythm changes and "But Not For Me."
He addresses Kevin's question on recognizing and applying secondary dominants by emphasizing the importance of analyzing jazz standards, learning new tunes, and understanding where secondary dominants naturally occur.
Brent concludes by discussing the application of tension and resolution in improvisation over secondary dominants, showcasing how jazz musicians enhance their lines with added complexity and interest.
In this podcast episode, Brent addresses a question from a listener named Lewis. Lewis is interested in transitioning smoothly between unrelated keys in jazz improvisation, specifically dealing with non-diatonic chord progressions.
Brent emphasizes the importance of thinking about voice leading, even when faced with unrelated chords. He uses examples from jazz standards like "Beatrice" and "Well You Needn't" to illustrate the concept. Brent suggests focusing on resolving notes melodically and encourages listeners to experiment with various ways of connecting unrelated chords.
He also touches on the importance of instrument navigation, suggesting that musicians explore different registers and positions to enhance their ability to connect chords seamlessly.
The episode concludes with a reminder to practice creatively and address specific musical challenges systematically.
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent addresses a question from Jim about learning jazz on non-traditional instruments, specifically the bluegrass-style five-string banjo. Brent emphasizes that, regardless of the instrument, all musicians need to focus on common aspects of jazz, such as learning songs, playing melodies, understanding chords, and improvisation.
He highlights that the core principles of playing jazz apply universally, regardless of the instrument played. Brent discusses the instrument-specific challenges that musicians may face but emphasizes that these are limitations specific to the instrument, not the genre. He mentions examples of ukulele, dobro, and lap steel players in the LearnJazzStandards Inner Circle, demonstrating how musicians with diverse instruments can contribute and learn together.
Brent also provides insights into how the Inner Circle can assist musicians on non-traditional instruments with its instrument-agnostic approach, offering resources like chord tone maps, guide tone maps, jazz solos, and ear training.
The episode concludes with Brent encouraging musicians to embrace the uniqueness of their instruments and explore the possibilities of playing jazz on any instrument.
In this podcast episode, Brent addresses a question from David Garcia about his biggest challenge in jazz. Brent candidly discusses the significant obstacle he faced throughout his jazz journey—the fear of sounding bad.
He emphasizes how this fear, rooted in concerns about ego and judgment, can impede progress, hinder creativity, and diminish the joy of playing music.
Brent shares his personal experience of gradually overcoming this challenge by adopting a growth mindset, embracing mistakes, and focusing on the joy of the musical journey. He highlights the importance of mindset in jazz and suggests that at least 50% of playing music is about cultivating a positive and growth-oriented mindset.
Brent concludes by encouraging musicians to equally prioritize their mental well-being alongside technical proficiency in their musical endeavors.
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent addresses a strategy to improve improvisation. He discusses the common issue of playing short and choppy phrases in solos and suggests an exercise called the "subdivisions exercise" to overcome this habit.
The exercise involves playing continuous quarter notes, eighth notes, and triplets against a metronome or backing track to develop longer flowing eighth note lines. Brent encourages musicians to exaggerate this process to make playing continuous lines feel more natural.
He emphasizes the importance of incorporating longer flowing lines to enhance the professionalism of a solo. The episode concludes with a reminder about the significance of taking action on acquired knowledge and engaging in effective practice.
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent addresses a question from Paul Elwood about connecting scales/arpeggios and improvisation. Brent emphasizes that scales and arpeggios are foundational tools but suggests a shift in mindset from thinking about chord tones or scales to improvising more instinctively.
He introduces a framework involving learning, recomposing, composing, and improvising to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and creative expression.
Brent encourages musicians to experiment, let their ears guide them, and embrace the joy of improvisation. The episode concludes with a reminder about the importance of knowledge in action and focused, effective practice.
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent answers a question from Marlene about ghost notes in jazz soloing. He describes ghost notes as less intentional and more of a stylistic and phrasing element in jazz improvisation.
Using the example of Charlie Parker's "Scrapple from the Apple," Brent illustrates how ghost notes are integrated into jazz melodies. He emphasizes that ghost notes are best learned organically through playing and phrasing jazz in a certain style, rather than planning them deliberately.
The episode concludes with a reminder about the importance of knowledge in action and the effectiveness of focused practice.
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent explores the question of who the greatest jazz guitarist is. Acknowledging the subjectivity of such a determination, Brent highlights influential figures like Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery, and many other jazz guitar legends.
Emphasizing the importance of studying various players regardless of one's instrument, Brent encourages listeners to delve into the unique sounds and styles of these guitarists to enhance their own musicality.
The episode concludes with a reminder that knowledge without action and quality practice is not truly beneficial.
In this episode, Brent from Learn Jazz Standards addresses a question from Elmer Pickett about hand position on the guitar neck to enhance ease of play and minimize the risk of injury.
Brent emphasizes the importance of technique in playing jazz well but acknowledges exceptions. He shares a personal experience with bassist John Patitucci providing guidance on hand position.
Brent explores the idea that the best technique is the one that allows you to play your best, citing examples of famous musicians with different approaches. The episode concludes with a reminder to prioritize good posture and technique to avoid injury and ensure longevity in playing.
In this episode, Brent addresses a fascinating question from William Tino about the benefits of notating jazz solos. Brent explores the immense value of learning solos by ear, emphasizing how it enhances your ear, muscle memory, jazz vocabulary, and rhythm. This foundational skill is highly recommended by jazz educators and offers a significant return on investment for your practice time.
He explains that while notation can help document solos for later use or provide a visual aid for analyzing phrasing and rhythms, it might not always be the best use of your time. If you’re proficient with notation software and find it beneficial, it can certainly be a useful tool. However, Brent argues that learning solos by ear is primarily about absorbing jazz language organically rather than simply memorizing and reproducing it.
While notation can be a helpful supplement, Brent advices that it is not essential for mastering jazz improvisation. He encourages focusing on quality practice time and using tools that best support the learning journey. Whether you're a seasoned musician or a jazz enthusiast, this episode is packed with valuable tips to help you enhance your jazz skills and foster your creativity. Tune in to gain deeper insights and practical advice for your jazz journey.
In this podcast episode, Brent introduces the "One Jazz Standard Strategy for Jazz." The philosophy behind this strategy is rooted in the belief that the most effective way to improve jazz playing is by learning new songs.
The strategy involves dedicating one month to learning a single jazz standard, focusing on the melody, chords, and choosing one specific area of improvement.
The approach aims to deepen understanding, address weaknesses, and manage practice expectations effectively. This focused strategy has proven successful for students, emphasizing the quality of practice over quantity.
In this episode, Brent addresses a question about balancing learning new jazz songs and retaining previous ones, especially with limited practice time. He highlights the importance of mindset, emphasizing that not every song needs to be remembered forever.
The key is understanding the purpose of learning a song for playing with others or educational benefits. Brent suggests incorporating periodic review sessions into practice routines, dedicating time to refresh and maintain the songs already learned.
Balancing learning new songs with occasional review helps strike an effective practice routine.
Brent discusses the role of metronomes in jazz practice, responding to a question about the pulse metronome. He emphasizes that metronomes help develop internal time and a steady time feel.
Suggesting online metronomes, he provides exercises for flexibility in time feel. Brent underscores the value of playing with recordings and adapting to different tempos, urging musicians to use metronomes judiciously as one tool among many.
In this podcast episode, Brent addresses a question from Cliff Dunn about counting while soloing. Brent advises against counting while soloing, emphasizing the challenge of trying to coordinate two different tasks simultaneously.
Instead, he recommends practicing feeling the time and provides various strategies, such as listening to recordings, working with a metronome, and breaking down the feeling of a measure. Brent encourages musicians to focus on feeling the music in their bodies and offers practical tips to improve time perception during solos.
In this podcast episode, Brent addresses a question from Ed Robinson about the preference between a jazz trio or a quartet. Brent emphasizes the value of playing with other musicians and highlights the diverse challenges and experiences that come with different band settings.
He shares personal insights, expressing a preference for a quartet setting with bass, drums, guitar (himself), and a saxophone. Brett encourages musicians to explore various settings to grow as jazz players and musicians.
In this podcast episode, Brent talks about adopting the Batch Practice Method to improve jazz skills. and outlines a simple but focused approach to achieve measurable progress by breaking learning goals into small, manageable batches to master over multiple practice sessions before moving on incrementally.
Key steps include defining a concrete overall project like learning a new standard monthly, then batching subsets like intervals of melody, chords, or solos to deeply ingrain before adding more.
In this episode, Brent answers a question from an inner circle member of the Learn Jazz Standards community, on whether musicians should think while improvising or just play what they feel.
Brent explains that the best improvisers utilize both conscious thinking to guide their playing and subconscious reactions to melodies and emotions.
He advises practicing 'playing free' without goals to enter a relaxed mental state, as well as deeply studying theory, chords, and licks in the practice room so this knowledge becomes instinctive during performances.
In this episode, Brent answers a listener's question asking how to use melodic minor scales over dominant seventh chords in jazz improvisation. Brent explains music theory provides tools to conceptualize improvisation, though the goal is applying scales flexibly to add textures and flavors.
He demonstrates three uses of melodic minor scales: over half-diminished II chords in minor key progressions, a half-step up from the root of dominant V chords, and the root of minor I chords. Key takeaways are understanding scale applications as devices for tension and resolution rather than playing rigid patterns.
In this episode, Brent answers a listener's question on who was the first jazz musician in history. He explains there is no definitive single originator but rather an evolution in New Orleans reflecting diverse musical and cultural influences.
Key musicians mentioned are Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, and Louis Armstrong, among others. Brent emphasizes understanding jazz history and listening to key recordings to appreciate how the music developed and continues evolving.
In this episode, Brent provides beginner jazz musicians advice on the best standards for learning jazz improvisation. He recommends simple tunes covering basic concepts like modal playing, blues forms, and ii-V-I progressions to get started.
Key takeaways explain building blocks like scales, relative major/minor keys, and chord/melody relationships.
In this episode, Brent answers a listener's question about preparing for a jazz gig. Discover effective strategies for fostering creativity and reducing pre-performance anxiety. Brent emphasizes the importance of relaxation, the benefits of light warm-ups, and how listening to inspiring music can boost your creative energy.
Whether it's taking a break to refresh your mind or engaging in different practice routines, Brent highlights the importance of flexibility and avoiding overthinking. By focusing on your technical readiness and keeping your mind at ease, you can create a conducive environment for creativity to flourish.
Tune in to gain insights into Brent's personal routine for gig days and learn practical tips to ensure you're mentally and physically ready to perform. Whether you're a seasoned musician or just starting, this episode is packed with valuable advice to help you bring your best to the stage.
Introducing Season 2 of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
01 Jan 2024
00:02:18
Today's episode marks the 2nd season of the Learn Jazz Standards podcast. Brent explains shifting the show's direction to better serve listeners by focusing on answering their specific jazz learning questions, with shorter 10-minute episodes four days a week and 'Fast Track Friday' strategy episodes. The host conveys excitement for the coming daily content and urges listeners to subscribe.
In this episode:
1. Taking Season 2 in a slightly different direction 2. New podcast schedule
Okay, so this is the second time I'm restarting recording this episode. I want to get this right. So I am taking a break from the Learn Jazz Standards podcast, and I'm going to talk about what's gone into this decision, what this means for the future, what it means for you as the podcast listener, and why I'm actually incredibly excited about the future and you should be too.
And why this isn't goodbye by any stretch or any sort of way. I'll leave with that up front, but let's talk about that.
How a Hobbyist Musician Created a Pro Jazz Album (feat. Christian Schrader)
02 Oct 2023
00:47:16
"Music and the opportunity for music is all around us. And you can find inspiration in conversation or just the rhythm of something happening around you. And so I would just take these snippets, get home, and say, what can I do with this?
And I would start to sing a melody around those words and think about what the story could be that surrounds those words."
That was Christian Schrader, a self-described hobbyist musician who recently created a pro jazz album. He described this as one of the biggest musical accomplishments of his entire life. And so if you're ever someone who's thought about reaching this really high aspirational musical or jazz goal, but just didn't feel like you had what it took, this is gonna be an inspirational episode.
I talked to Christian and we did an interview and just went through this whole process, went through his head, how did he create this album? And there are so many great lessons along the way. I'm excited for you to listen to this.
In this episode: 1. Christian Schrader's "regular life" and his musical background 2. Favorite jazz musicians who influenced his love for jazz 3. How the album started and the little help he got from friends 4. The process of completing his music 5. On good attitude and the right connections
Do you ever get that feeling when you're looking at your instrument sitting there in the corner and you just don't feel like picking it up? It's kind of a strange feeling because deep inside you're excited about music and jazz and you want to improve and you know you have that idea of practicing but then when you actually go to do it there's some kind of resistance there.
And sometimes the reason that is is because practicing can sometimes be boring. That is if you practice in a boring way.
So in today's episode, we're going to talk about five ways to make practice not boring so that you're having fun when you go to pick up your instrument and learn new things.
In this episode:
5 Ways to Make Practice Not Boring
1. Practice things you like to practice 2. Practice high-leverage activities, things that give you big results. 3. Add purpose to your practice. Don't just be doing a meaningless task for no reason. 4. Practice in a fun way, ways that are fun for you to practice. 5. Practice with a goal in mind or goals in mind.
If you're a complete beginner to jazz, this episode is for you. If you are an intermediate jazz player, this episode is for you. And if you consider yourself an advanced jazz player, this episode is also for you.
In today's episode, we are going to be talking about the fundamentals of learning jazz. Whether you are brand new and you need to know this information or you're somewhere down the line, it is important for us to continually revisit what actually works and what we actually do need to know when it comes to learning jazz, improving as jazz improvisers and playing as we've never, ever dreamed we could.
In this episode:
The 4 categories for learning jazz:
Category #1: Fundamentals of learning jazz Category #2: Jazz Theory Category #3: The 3 Pillars of Jazz Improvisation Category #4: Practicing
So a common piece of advice when learning jazz and becoming a better improviser, learning songs is you should do it by learning it by ear rather than reading sheet music. And there are a plethora of reasons why teachers will say this is a good idea.
However, for someone who is new to this idea or who was trained to read music or use tablature, this could be a very scary, foreign, and frustrating concept.
So in today's episode, I want to go over ten tips that I regularly share with my Inner Circle members for how to learn music by ear.
In this episode:
10 Tips for Learning Music By Ear
Tip #1: Start small Tip #2: Adjust your expectations Tip #3: Check your work with notation at first Tip #4: Use a slow-downer Tip #5: Learn more tunes Tip #6: Practice melodic dictation Tip #7: Practice ear-training fundamentals Tip #8: Mindfully listen to music Tip #9: Sing before you play Tip #10: Have a process
The best way to learn jazz and improve over time is simply to learn more songs, aka jazz standards. But those jazz standards, those songs are made up of chord progressions.
The good news is that even though there are a lot of complex chord progressions, or at least seemingly complex chord progressions in jazz standards, a lot of them come up time and time again, over and over.
So once you learn one jazz standard in two or three, you're going to start seeing those same chord progressions come up in many, many other ones. So what are the chord progressions that you need to know for jazz?
In this episode, we're going to talk about nine of them that are really common and you'll see come up a lot.
In this episode:
1. The major 2-5-1 chord progression 2. The minor 2-5-1 chord progression 3. The major 1-6-2-5 chord progression 4. The minor 1-6-2-5 chord progression 5. Chord progression #5 is when the 3 chord replaces the 1 6. Chord progression #6 is when the sharp one diminished, replaces the 6th 7. The 1-4-3-6 chord progression 8. The chromatic 2-5s or sidestep 2-5s 9. The tritone sub of 5
Hey, my friends, Brent here from Learn Jazz Standards. Here on the podcast for the month of August, we've been doing a themed month called Free Masterclass August, where I've been giving away different Masterclasses that we've done in the past here on Learn Jazz Standards, whether it be from our virtual summits, retreats or otherwise, just to, you know, it's the summer, it's the end of the summer.
We're about to go into the fall coming up here soon, and I just kind of wanted to unleash a lot of value and information for you to kind of set you up for when perhaps you're going to be more active in practicing and getting back to it, improving and getting to your musical goals again.
Today's masterclass, honestly, if I'm being really honest with you, I had a little bit of a hard time pulling the trigger on sharing this one with you. The reason for that is because this is kind of one of our most valuable Signature Masterclasses that I usually ask for an exchange of an email address to receive this Masterclass.
So it usually is free, but of course, with the exchange of an email address. So I had a little bit of hesitation just kind of sharing this here on the podcast today. But again, in the spirit of the Free Masterclass August, I decided if it makes me feel just a tad bit uncomfortable, then it probably is a good thing just to unleash all the value on you this month and just help you improve.
So in that spirit, I'm sharing with you our masterclass called Jazz Standards Mastery Formula, our signature masterclass. It really sort of gives the big overarching philosophy behind our company, Learn Jazz Standards.
How do you learn to play jazz songs? How do you improvise over jazz songs? This is kind of like our approach and really is a lot of what we actually do in our Inner Circle membership. You will hear me give a little bit of a hard pitch for the Inner Circle membership at the end of Jazz Standards Mastery Formula here.
But just know that everything I teach here in this masterclass can be used outside of our Inner Circle membership. Our Inner Circle membership just makes it easier for you to execute on some of these things.
And also, just a little note as well is, obviously this masterclass was originally presented in a video format, so there are examples on the screen at times. There are visuals, there are slides. And so while you won't be able to see those today, you'll still be able to really get a lot out of just listening to the master class in itself.
So, my friends, our signature masterclass Jazz Standards Mastery Formula.
In this episode:
1. Secret #1: How to learn jazz standards so you don't get lost or forget them. 2. Secret #2: How to start improvising over Jazz standards from scratch, from zero to hero. 3. Secret #3: The 3-Step strategy for Skyrocketing your practice results, all while practicing less. 4. What has pizza got to do with this? 5. Applying the L.I.S.T. process. 6. Less is always more.
Free Masterclass: Orchestrating Your Musical Breakthrough
21 Aug 2023
00:37:53
Hey, my friends, Brent here from Learn Jazz standards. We are continuing our themed month of August called Free Masterclass August, where I'm giving away some Masterclasses here on the podcast that we've done in the past at various different events and mediums just to give a little extra special, a little bit of fun here and value for finishing up the summer so.
So, I hope you enjoy it. We've had some great Masterclasses this month on the podcast. Already today, I want to share a Masterclass that was given during our Learn Jazz Live Virtual Summit in 2022 by a team member of mine, Brett Pontecorvo.
And those of you who are Inner Circle members know Brett very well because he's in the community coaching, and he creates some of our content for our monthly Jazz Standard Studies. And he gave a really great masterclass that year called "Orchestrating Your Musical Breakthrough".
So, a lot of us sometimes feel a little stuck in our playing, feel like we hit plateaus, or perhaps just don't really understand that we have so much potential as musicians. And so what Brett does is he talks about in this Masterclass ways for us to start achieving a musical breakthrough.
That "AHA!" moment where you feel like you're improving and you get excited. That moment that we're all really searching for when we sit down with our instruments. So without further ado, let's go ahead and get Brett Pontecorvo on to give this masterclass, "Orchestrating Your Musical Breakthrough".
In this episode:
Achieve breakthroughs and make progress in learning jazz with the following strategies:
1. Define a game you can win by setting clear and achievable goals with measurable victory conditions
2. Develop a strategy to achieve these goals by overcoming barriers like negative self-talk, lack of time, and lack of information
3. Take consistent action by practicing regularly in short bursts, making the process fun, and sticking to your plan
4. Acknowledge your wins and progress to stay motivated, and repeat the process to continue improving.
The overall mindset is to become the type of person who takes action and achieves breakthroughs through deliberate practice and persistence.
Hey, my friend Brent here from LearnJazz Standards. We are continuing our themed month here in the podcast of free masterclass August, where I'm giving away different masterclasses that we've done in the past here on LearnJazz Standards.
Last week, we came out with a free masterclass podcast episode and we're continuing that on here in today's episode. So really excited to dive into this one. This particular masterclass was a masterclass that was conducted at our Inner Circle Retreat earlier this year.
Now this Inner Circle Retreat was an invite -only event for our Inner Circle members, our LearnJazz Standards Inner Circle members. So you'll hear a lot of stuff in the masterclass referring to the Inner Circle and the things that we do in the Inner Circle.
So of course, if that's something that you're interested in, definitely go check it out, lgsinnersercle .com, or you'll find the link to that in the description down below. And just to note, this was, of course, a live event. So it was conducted over Zoom.
I was sharing slide presentations and so on and so forth. So there are visual elements to it. However, the audio version of this is going to work just fine. You'll also notice as well during the masterclass that I'm referring to other workshops and masterclasses that are yet to come, this being the very first masterclass we conducted during this retreat.
And so while we won't be giving those away, especially out of respect for our Inner Circle members who pay to attend this, you'll still get a lot of value from the material presented here at this masterclass, 100% really valuable stuff here.
So I hope you enjoy this masterclass. This is called your best jazz playing ever.
In this episode:
Things that hold us back from attaining our jazz goals: 1. Doing the same things and expecting different results 2. Unrealistic expectations 3. Ineffective practicing 4. Loss of motivation
Steps to move us forward toward our jazz goals: 1. Step #1: Complete a monthly project that sets you up to win every single time 2. Step #2: Commit to taking 365 B.A.D. jazz solos 3. Step #3: Master P.B.R. practice
Join Brent in this insightful podcast episode as he discusses the essential characteristics of a great jazz band and its members. Responding to a question from Arjun in the Netherlands, Brent explores the importance of musicians supporting each other, focusing on collective music-making rather than individual performance. He cites how unselfishness and a cooperative spirit are vital for creating outstanding jazz music.
Brent also emphasizes the significance of responsibility and preparedness in a band setting. From showing up on time to being well-prepared with all parts of a song, these traits are crucial for a successful group dynamic.
Listening skills are highlighted as a key component, enabling musicians to respond to each other's cues and adapt to different performance environments. Tune in to gain valuable insights that will help you form and contribute to a stellar jazz band.
Free Masterclass: How to Effortlessly Improvise Amazing Jazz Solos
07 Aug 2023
00:26:01
During the month of August, we are doing a themed month called Free Masterclass August. For over the next four weeks, I'll be sharing with you different masterclasses that we've come out with in the past on Learn Jazz Standards.
Masterclasses that range from topics on jazz improv and practicing and theory and really just all kinds of stuff to help you improve your jazz playing. These are special masterclasses that were presented at events such as our Learn Jazz Live Virtual Summits that we've had in the past and then a few other mediums as well.
A special treat here for August to kind of end the summer here and jump right into September next month where a lot of us are gonna be diving a little bit deeper. And so I wanna give you guys a little bit of ammunition here to take into after the summer is over and start practicing.
So while most of these masterclasses are originally in video, they work really well for the podcast and the audio format, you'll still get quite a bit from them.
Today's masterclass is from our Learn Jazz Live 2022 Virtual Summit that we had. And this masterclass is called How to Effortlessly Improvise Amazing Jazz Solos. This is a masterclass that I gave at our Virtual Summit and I know that you're gonna find it really valuable.
Talking about how we go from learning jazz language, like learning solos by ear and licks by ear, stuff like this to actually bridging the gap to playing live, like going out and actually improvising so that stuff comes out naturally. Go over some really important strategies for how to do that.
In this episode:
1. There is a significant gap between learning jazz solos and actually improvising during live performances. 2. The L.I.S.T. method - listening, internalizing, singing, and transferring - is an effective way to learn solos by ear. 3. Learning jazz solos by ear is crucial for jazz improvisers to internalize the language and vocabulary necessary for improvisation effectively. 4. The LCI Strategy: The LCI (Learn, Compose, Improvise) strategy is a simple approach to bridging the gap between learning jazz solos and improvising. 5. Learn: The first step is to learn a jazz solo or part of a solo using the L.I.S.T method. 6. Compose: Composing involves slowing down the improvisation process and creating music based on what the learner can imagine at the moment. 7. Improvise: Improvisation is done in smaller sections or contexts rather than attempting to improvise over the entire piece at once.
Imagine someone calls you for a jazz gig that's to be performed in a couple of weeks and they hand you the list of repertoire, 20 songs, and you don't know any of those songs. What would you do in order to learn a lot of jazz songs quickly and is it even possible?
Well, in today's episode, I'm going to be talking about strategies to help you do that, to be successful in a situation like this, as well as some strategies that will help you in the long term.
In this episode:
Strategies and tools to help learn a large amount of jazz repertoire quickly for an upcoming performance
1. Get the list of repertoire. 2. Create a playlist. 3. Use chord charts. 4. Focus on the melody. 5. Batch your learning. 6. Manage your expectations. 7. Long-term learning. 8. Develop musical skills. 9. Learn jazz standards deeply. 10. Practice regularly: Consistent practice and exposure to jazz music will help you improve your skills and make it easier to learn new songs quickly when necessary.
Here at Learn Jazz Standards, our philosophy is that the best way to learn jazz and improve is to learn jazz songs, aka. Jazz Standards. The fastest the best way to improve is to simply learn more songs, even if you're starting at the very beginning of your jazz journey.
But there may be some holes for you for how to go about learning. Learning a song, especially a jazz song. It can be an overwhelming task. You may wonder what the best way to do it is, and you may wonder how to improve faster by learning jazz repertoire.
So, in today's episode, we're going to talk about just the best way to learn a jazz song.
In this episode:
1. Considering the time frame for learning a jazz standard. 2. Having a goal-oriented, focused practice based upon projects like learning a jazz standard in one month to improve exponentially over time. 3. Going through the L.I.S.T. process. 4. Learning the chords no matter what instrument you play. 5. The "Batching" strategy. 6. Applying one tool or strategy for improvising over a jazz standard.