I'm so excited to start your week off with a conversation with Brent Vaartstra of Learn Jazz Standards! Brent is a fantastic jazz educator and guitarist from NYC. He also is the mastermind behind the website, podcast, and YouTube channel, Learn Jazz Standards. In this episode he discusses his Big 3 things you need to be practicing to accelerate your jazz skills. I know you're going to love this conversation so please enjoy! Visit Learn Jazz Standards Subscribe to the YouTube Channel … [Read more...]

This week continues our discussion on approaching and ultimately being able to use double time lines in our playing. Last week we discussed the differences between feel and articulation when using double time, this week, we start to discuss actually applying these lines to our solos. We are searching for opportunities to utilize a short ii V I progression. There are several readily available suggestions including the tune Confirmation and also Rhythm Changes. The beginning stages of starting to … [Read more...]

So very excited to be bringing you a tool that is going to bring your playing to the next level you've been searching for. The Next Level Blues Course is designed to get you from good to great solos. We cover every nook and cranny of the blues, leaving you with the skills to get you to the next level. This course is not an overview of the blues. We dive deep as you come along with me through each lesson. Video tutorials provide you with no guesswork. Audio examples allow you to play along … [Read more...]

This week's episode comes from a question and a topic Barb asked in the 10 Minute Jazz Lesson Community FB Group. Double time is an extremely advanced topic and something that many people have trouble with. In this episode, we give you a basic exercise that will start you down the path of getting your double time playing together. Just as with any concept in jazz, the most complicated facets come from humble beginnings. Enjoy the episode and make sure you grab the PDF! WANT THE PDF THAT GOES … [Read more...]

Is there any merit to reading pre-transcribed solos?? Listen to hear some thoughts.... Would you like to support the creators of this podcast? If so, please head over to our Patreon page and show your love by donating $3 or more each month. You get incredible benefits and this keeps the podcast coming at you regularly. Thanks so much! … [Read more...]

In this episode, we feature another listener contribution. One of our faithful listeners and jazz super star, Kris, posted an awesome version of the bridge to Have You Met Miss Jones in our 10 Minute Jazz Lesson Community Facebook group a couple of weeks ago. I asked Kris if he minded me revising this composition on the show, and he obliged. We are only changing some minor things here, but I do believe that the new version is a bit more coherent and contains better voice leading (a subject we … [Read more...]

So excited to have Gary Alesbrook join us this week on the show to answer a few questions. In case you missed it, we featured Gary on episode 158 of the podcast. He was nice enough to take the time out to answer some burning questions I had for him this week and I think you're going to get a ton out of this show. Please enjoy and support Gary by visiting the following links! Visit Gary's Website! Follow Gary on Instagram! Would you like to support the creators of this podcast? If so, … [Read more...]

This month we take a look at the great jazz standard, Solar. We are trying something different this time. We are placing a pretty serious restriction on ourselves over this tune, playing in only one octave! This may be one of the most frustrating things you have ever done but it really makes you think about the material you are playing at all times. It's so easy to fall back on what we know, and that's exactly what we confront in this episode. When confining yourself to a single octave you … [Read more...]

Let's try to build a bridge between the practice room and the bandstand.... Would you like to support the creators of this podcast? If so, please head over to our Patreon page and show your love by donating $3 or more each month. You get incredible benefits and this keeps the podcast coming at you regularly. Thanks so much! … [Read more...]

Melissa Aldana is a game changing saxophonist. Her ability to have complete freedom on the horn is inspiring. This week, we bring you one chorus of the blues from Melissa that defies logic and common sense. The thing about this transcription, though, is that it might be the hippest thing I have heard in a long time. Melissa's use of intervals and rhythm is going to make you rethink the way you approach improvisation and inspire you to take the next step. Enjoy the episode and make sure you get … [Read more...]