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571 afleveringen, van nieuw naar oud
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Quick Win: How to Learn Misty (Jazz Tutorial)
5 augustus 2022 · 16 min
Today, we're talking about the classic ballad, "Misty" by Errol Garner.
We'll take a look at the chords so we can figure out how to most efficiently learn it and find out what harmonic secrets we can discover in the process. Lees meerIn this episode:
1. Intro
2. Misty - short demo
3. The best way to learn the melody
4. Identifying the key
5. Relating key centers
6. Relating the melody to the chord changes
7. Identifying backdoor dominants
8. Identifying secondary dominants
9. Understanding the form
10. Learning the B section
11. The hardest part to memorize in Misty
12. The last part of the A sectionImportant Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling bookSee you in the next video!
Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Why You Need to Learn Giant Steps
1 augustus 2022 · 27 min
Giant Steps by John Coltrane is often known as a right of passage for jazz musicians because it is notoriously one of the most difficult jazz standards to learn and improvise over. Truly it is a complicated song. Lees meer
So, in today's episode, I'm actually gonna talk about why actually going into the trouble of working on and practicing and learning Giant Steps is actually gonna help you play all other jazz standards a lot better.
In this episode:
1. Reasons why you need to study Giant Steps
2. Learn the Coltrane changes
3. Understand the underlying modulations within the tune
4. How to navigate V-I chord progressions in different keys
5. How to use altered licks for V-I ideas
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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What to Do If You Are No Longer Passionate About Jazz
25 juli 2022 · 28 min
Welcome to episode 369 Lees meer
In this episode:
1. Why my friend is no longer passionate about jazz
2. Why there is nothing for you to do if you are no longer excited about jazz
3. A few caveats to consider
4. How jazz transformed my friend's playing foreverImportant Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS Inner Circle MembershipLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: 5 Pro-Level Jazz Licks You Need to Know
22 juli 2022 · 12 min
I'm gonna show you 5 jazz licks to have you sound like a pro and unveil some of the secrets that jazz musicians are using in their solos. Lees meer
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. Lick #1: What musicians would do over top of V-I chord progressions
3. Lick #2: Over I-IV-iii-vi chord progressions
4. Lick #3: Over a ii-V chord progression
5. Lick #4: Over another ii-V chord progression with a different approach
6. Lick #5: Over I-vi-ii-V chord progressionImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling bookLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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How to Reduce Friction In Your Jazz Improvement
18 juli 2022 · 32 min
Alright, Magalie, can you say hello to the podcast listeners today? Oh, don't grab the microphone, it's expensive. Can you say, "Hi, podcast listeners!"
(Baby mumbled) Yeah, hi! Okay, let's get on to the show now. Lees meerHave you ever heard this saying before that insanity is doing the same thing, over and over and over again and expecting different results, right? You've heard that before.
Well, I have to think about that in terms of friction. Like, what friction are we experiencing in our jazz playing, in our musicianship that we keep leaning into, that we keep just accepting? And instead of reducing that friction, we just keep doing the same thing over and over and over again but yet are expecting our jazz playing and our musicianship to improve.
Well, today, I'm gonna be talking about that. How to avoid friction in your playing, your jazz improvement, and what you can do to start recognizing it.
In this episode:
1. A story about friction for a New York City musician
2. Listen, identify, and be mindful of friction points in your playing
3. Establish a strategy to address the friction instead of allowing it to continueImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: $600 vs. $6,000 Jazz Guitar | Is Cheap or Expensive Better?
15 juli 2022 · 11 min
This is a $600 jazz guitar and this is a $6000 jazz guitar. Lees meer
Today, I'm discussing which one I personally like the most as well as the age-old question, "Does having an expensive instrument help you play music better?". You might be surprised.
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. My $600 jazz guitar - brand and specs
3. My $6000 jazz guitar - brand and specs
4. Sound demo - $600 jazz guitar
5. Sound demo - $6000 jazz guitar
6. Sound comparison - my opinion
7. Which one do I like better? What Georgia has on her mind.
8. Do expensive instruments worth it?
9. Do you need an expensive instrument to become a great jazz musician or to
improve quicker? Pros and Cons
10. Quote by Victor Baker about musicianship and instrumentImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling book
See you in the next video!
Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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This Is What I'd Do If I Started Jazz All Over Again
11 juli 2022 · 32 min
Have you ever looked back on something that you've done and gone, "If I only knew what I know now, I would have done that thing a little bit differently"? Lees meer
Well, I was thinking about that the other day about my jazz playing. If I know what I know now, would I do something completely different or have a different approach to learning jazz than I did when I first started learning it?
Well, in today's episode that's exactly when I'm gonna do. I'm gonna build a time machine. I'm gonna go back, and I'm going to redo the way that I learned jazz and I'm gonna take you along for the ride with me.
In this episode:
1. Learn one jazz standard a month
2. Learn the blues in all 12 keys
3. Practice no more than 2 hours a day, 5 times a week
4. Focus on chord tones and resolve to them
5. Learn one chorus of a solo each month
6. Practice soloing unaccompanied
7. Play live once a weekImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: How to Memorize Chords to Jazz Standards
8 juli 2022 · 20 min
After learning a jazz standard you may find it difficult to recall the chord changes in the long term, especially if you're learning a lot of them. Lees meer
So, I'm gonna share with you how I memorize chords to jazz standards so I don't forget them.
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. #1: Reading A Chord Chart
3. #2: Learning the Chords by Ear
4. Learn this first before learning chord changes
5. The first basic thing I look for
6. The second thing I look for
7. The absolute key to memorizing chords
8. How to relate chords to a tonal center
9. Identifying cadences
10. How to organize the tune
11. The important questions
12. Relating the melody to the different chords
13. Review of the cadences
14. Recap of chord analysis
15. SummaryImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling bookLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Non-Jazz Music I Listen To (And How it Influences My Jazz)
4 juli 2022 · 44 min
Okay, so this is a jazz podcast, so obviously we talk a lot about jazz education: how do you play jazz, how do you get better at jazz, and of course, what jazz should you listen to and really digest in order to become a better jazz musician. Lees meer
However, I do not only listen to jazz music. I actually enjoy listening to an array of different styles of music and in some cases, I choose to listen to other styles of music over jazz. That being said, I often find that these other styles of music influence the way I play jazz as well.
So, today I'm gonna go over some of the non-jazz music that I listen to and how it's influenced me.
Main Points:
1. Music I listened to before jazz
2. Classic Rock and Early 2,000's rock influences
3. Dream Theater and prog rock/metal
4. How the music I was listening to led me to jazz
5. Elliot Smith
5. Singer-songwritersImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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How to Play Jazz Melodies Like a Pro (Thought Experiment)
27 juni 2022 · 31 min
In today's episode, we're gonna do a little thought experiment that will help us get in the mindset that we need to be, to play melodies and solos creatively and at the top of our game, to take a boring expression of a melody and truly turn it into something that is riveting for the audience and riveting for ourselves. Lees meer
Main Points:
1. Playing a melody by the book vs. the way a pro jazz musician would play it
2. Example of a "basic" melody
3. The "Bluenote Thought Experiment"
4. Example of a pro-sounding jazz melodyImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: The Best Jazz Practice Advice
24 juni 2022 · 8 min
If you wanna be a good musician of any kind then you know you need to practice, especially if you want to play jazz. Lees meer
So, I'm gonna give you the very best practice advice I can give you to help you get set up for success.
CHAPTERS:
Intro
Tip #1: Can't find more time to practice? Stop trying.
Tip #2: Practice less
Tip #3: Ditch these if you don't want them
Tip #4: Focus on the things you're not good at
Tip #5: Give it some space
Tip #6: Keep a sense of accomplishment***Important Links and Resources***
Get our FREE "Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way" Guide and MasterclassJoin our powerful jazz learning community
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling book
See you in the next video!
Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Why Are We Passionate About Playing Jazz (Story Time)?
20 juni 2022 · 27 min
So today, I'm gonna share with you some important points in my music life, like, the first thing I played with my first guitar when I got it, how that one, 7-note lick that my first pro jazz teacher taught me gave me a "light bulb" moment, and most importantly, the reason behind what is in music that resonates with me so much that keeps me passionate about it Lees meer
Before I'll end this story, I'm gonna leave you with a challenge that would help keep that spark going that lights up your passion for discovering the jazz world.
In this episode, Brent shares (as he jams and plays during story time):
1. what he used to play before jazz
2. how he came to love jazz
3. who his first pro jazz teacher was
4. what keeps him passionate about playing jazz
5. his advice on how to continue your passion for playing jazz
***Important links***
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: The Best Ear Training For Jazz
18 juni 2022 · 13 min
You've probably been told that playing jazz requires great ears. Well, how do you actually train your ears for jazz improvisation? I'm gonna give you 10 things you can do! Lees meer
CHAPTERS:
1. Intro
2. What are the Ear Training Fundamentals?
3. The Best way for becoming a Jazz Improviser
4. What is Applied Ear Training?
5. The 10 Different Ideas For Applied Ear Training
6. #1: Learn the Melodies of Jazz Standards by Ear
7. #2: Learning A Solo Lick or Etude by Ear
8. #3: Take A Lick Into Different Keys
9. #4: Play A Piece of Music or a Lick in a Different Position
10. #5: Singing and then Playing
11 #6: Composing Your Own Solos
12. #7: Memorizing Music
13. #8: Learn Jazz Standards and Understand the Chord Progressions
14. #9: Play Along with Jazz Records
15. #10 Improvise "free"Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle MembershipFree Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling book
See you in the next video!
Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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From the Vault: How to Beat the Brain Game for Musical Freedom (feat. Matt Vaartstra)
13 juni 2022 · 48 min
We're doing a from-the-vault episode today. We're going back in time where I had my very own brother on the show to talk about performance and how to beat the brain game that goes on when we're playing music and trying to get better. Lees meer
Looking forward to bringing this one back and bringing it back to life.
In this episode:
1. The power of mindset over musical performance.
2. How to train a positive mindset with a Self-Talk Script.
3. Using the “Three D’s” to cut off your negative thoughts.
-Detect
-Disrupt
-Dispute
4. Honing in on musical personal records vs. competition.
5. Fixed vs. Growth Mindsets.
6. How to measure your personal progress.***Important Links***
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: How to Play Changes In Your Jazz Solos
10 juni 2022 · 9 min
The best jazz musicians in the world can play a solo, unaccompanied and you know exactly the tune they were playing. Lees meer
You can do that, too.
CHAPTERS:
1. Intro
2. The secret to playing chord changes
3. A great jazz-blues solo
4. Targeting Chord tones
5. What are guide tones in a chord?
6. What is motivic development?
7. Tension and ResolutionImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling book
Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Frameworks for Ingraining Jazz Recordings
6 juni 2022 · 26 min
Listening to jazz is one of the best ways that you can improve your jazz playing without even touching your instrument and actually retain material so that it becomes exponentially easier to play when you actually do pick up your instrument. Lees meer
So I wanna talk about some plans for listening to jazz if your intention is to retain and ingrain musical information.
In this episode:
1. Why listening can be a game-changer for your jazz playing
2. Framework for internalizing a jazz album
3. Frameworks for internalizing a jazz standard***Important Links***
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: How To Play Chord Melody On A Jazz Standard
3 juni 2022 · 15 min
If you're a guitar or a piano player, one important thing that you'd be able to do is chord melody - playing the chords and the melody of a jazz standard at the same time. Lees meer
But this presents a particular challenge, especially for jazz guitar players. So what are the basics of chord melody and how do you do it?
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. Creating chord melody - Polka Dots and Moonbeams
3. The basics of creating chord melody:
4. How to find the chords under the melody notes - Section A
5. How to emphasize the melody notes
6. Try adding some ornaments
7. How to find the chords under the melody notes - Section B
8. My own rendition of Polka Dots and MoonbeamsImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling book
Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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How Long Will It Take to Play Great Jazz Solos?
30 mei 2022 · 40 min
Today on the podcast, I'm answering the question, "How long does it take to become a great jazz improviser?", from day 1 until that day when you're really playing solos that you're enjoying, hearing back, and feeling happy about. Lees meer
In This Episode:
1. Variable that will influence how long
2. Defining what a "great jazz solo" is
3. Conditions of practicing during timeframes of practice
4. General time frames starting from a beginner level
5. The secret to staying consistent
***Important Links***
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: Using Pentatonics for AMAZING Jazz Solos
27 mei 2022 · 8 min
If you know the pentatonic or the blues scale you can actually play really amazing jazz solos using just those notes. Lees meer
In this episode:
Intro
Demo: SOUL STIR BLUES - A jazz blues solo
Kinds of Pentatonic Scales used in Soul Stir Blues
How I put the solo together
Applying rhythmic concepts
Summary
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling book
See you in the next video!
Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Is Learning Jazz Solos Worth It (And How to Get Results from Them)
23 mei 2022 · 35 min
If you've been studying jazz for a little while, you've probably heard from somebody, whether it would be me or somebody else, that it's a good idea to learn jazz solos or jazz etudes. Lees meer
And you may or may not fully understand why it's a good idea to do, and if you don't understand that, it could be not very motivating to go through the process of doing something tedious like this.
So in today's episode, I'm gonna explain why this is a great practice and some insights that I think you'll find very valuable around these practices.
In This Episode:
1. Is learning jazz solos worth it?
2. The best way to internalize a jazz solo
3. Great improvisation comes when hearing ideas and muscle memory meet
4. Learning solos helps make you aware of vocabulary you can use
***Important Links***
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: How to PRACTICE Improvising Over a Jazz Standard
20 mei 2022 · 10 min
So, if you're practicing over jazz standards but you continually feel like you're not improving, not getting any better, it could be that you're just practicing them wrong in the very first place. Lees meer
So, I'm gonna show you strategies for practicing over jazz standards and actually improvising over them.
In this episode:
Intro
Demonstration
First strategy: Study the chord changes of a jazz standard
Isolate just one chord and practice improvising over it
Demonstration: How to improvise over one chord
2nd strategy: Practice improvising over common progressions
Demonstration: Improvising over one chord
Demonstration: Improvising over two chords
3rd Strategy: Practice the transitions
Demonstration: Practice transitioning 3-chord progressions
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling bookLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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21 Things For You to Practice
16 mei 2022 · 45 min
Welcome to episode 350 where today I discuss 21 different options for jazz practice. So if you are wondering what you should practice today, this week, or this month, this episode should give you a handful of good ideas to work with. Lees meer
Hey listen, so if you're sittin' there this week going, "I actually don't know what to practice to improve my jazz playing this week". Well, this episode is gonna leave you with zero excuses 'cause I'm gonna go over 21 different ideas for you to practice today. And at the end of the episode, I'll also give the ones that I personally focus on.
In this episode:
1. Scales
2. Arpeggios
3. Enclosure
4. Minor Pentatonics
5. Intervals
6. Learning a lick by ear
7. Take a lick into all 12 keys
8. Learn a jazz solo by ear
9. Learn a jazz standard
10. Learn a standard in a different key
11. Learn a jazz blues head
12. Learn a rhythm changes head
13. Practice a jazz etude
14. Compose your own jazz solo
15. Practice specific chord progressions
16. Practice improvising over one chord
17. Compose your own jazz lick
18. Compose a contrafact
19. Practice guide tones
20. Practice playing with a metronome
21. Listen to jazzImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: The Most IMPORTANT Music Theory for Jazz Standards
13 mei 2022 · 17 min
What are the most important music theory concepts that you need to know to make learning and improvising over jazz standards much easier? Lees meer
In this episode:
Intro Concept
#1: Secondary Dominants Concept
#2: The Backdoor Dominant Concept
#3: Relative Keys Concept
#4: Parallel Keys Concept
#5: Sidestep 2-5 Concept
#6: Hybrid 2-5 Concept
#7: Deceptive CadencesConcept
#8: Passing Diminished ChordsImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear. Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling book
See you in the next video!Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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The Last Time I Will Play My Guitar
9 mei 2022 · 34 min
Welcome to episode 348 where I play a jazz ballad solo guitar set to commemorate the last time I play my guitar. I play through my 6 favorite jazz ballads and briefly discuss what makes them great jazz standards and a few harmonic and melodic lessons from each. Lees meer
So, I've got a shocking announcement: On this episode today, this is going to be the last time that I play my guitar, the very last time. Okay, okay, okay, maybe not the very last time.
Actually, I probably will play it in the future, but I can pretty much guarantee I won't be playing it very often anymore, and I definitely won't be playing it for probably a while. I'll tell you about that in just one second, but obviously, since this is happening, to commemorate the moment on today's episode, I'm gonna play a little solo guitar show for you on this guitar, playing my 6 favorite jazz ballads, all about telling you why they're great ballads to learn and some lessons you can learn from them as well.
In this episode:
1. Why this is the last time I will play my guitar
2. Prelude to a Kiss
3. My Ideal
4. But Beautiful
5. Polka Dots and Moonbeams
6. Peace
7. Darn That DreamImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: Instantly Improve Your Jazz Solos (3 Strategies)
6 mei 2022 · 8 min
If your jazz solos feel like they're missing that secret sauce that pro-level jazz musicians have, then you could be missing out on one of these strategies. Lees meer
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. Example/Demo
3. 1st Strategy
4. 2nd Strategy
5. 3rd Strategy
6. Video recommendationImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear. Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling book
See you in the next video!Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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6 Lessons We’ve Learned from Our Jazz Community (2 Year Anniversary Special)
2 mei 2022 · 33 min
Welcome to episode 346 where, in celebration of the 2-year anniversary of our Inner Circle membership, we're sharing 6 lessons we've learned from our jazz community. Lees meer
Joining us is a member of team LJS, Brett Pontecorvo, and we dive into things most successful members are doing to improve their playing within the community.
Today, we have a special edition of our LJS Podcast because we are celebrating the 2-year anniversary this month of our LJS Inner Circle membership and we're gonna share 6 lessons, 6 important things that we've learned from our jazz community, specifically our most successful members.
So, whether you're a member or a non-member of the Inner Circle, you're gonna learn a lot about how to become a jazz musician, the most effective way through the community in this episode and we have a special guest to join us.
In this episode:
1. Simplicity Scales
2. Sharing Frequently Stimulates Forward Motion
3. Those Who Give Often Receive More
4. A Willingness to “Fail” brings Freedom
5. Celebrating Small Wins Matter
6. Collaboration Creates MotivationImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Finding The ONE Thing That Will Accelerate Your Jazz Skills
25 april 2022 · 38 min
Welcome to episode 345 where today I talk about finding your ONE thing that if you accomplish this, will make playing jazz so much easier, and even make other things you would practice unnecessary. I talk about this concept and then share ONE thing from members of our Inner Circle. Lees meer
My friends, what is the one thing that you can do this month for your jazz playing that if you accomplish this one thing, will make everything else exponentially easier or no longer even necessary? That's what I wanna talk about today. What is that one thing for you that you can do in your jazz playing?
In this episode:
1. The ONE thing concept
2. Why establishing a ONE thing can help you as a musician
3. Examples of our members sharing their ONE thingsImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: The Most Important Scales for Jazz Standards
22 april 2022 · 12 min
So what are the most important scales that will help you improvise over jazz standards? Lees meer
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. The 5 Qualities of 7th Chords Song Sample: Stella By Starlight
3. The Minor 7th (b5) Modes
4. The Dominant 7th Altered Scale Ideas
5. The Minor 7th Mode
6. The Dominant 7th
7. Mixolydian Mode
8. The Other Scale Choices
9. The Fully Diminished 7th Chord in Have You Met Miss JonesImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling book
See you in the next video!Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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7 Lessons I’ve Learned As A Pro Jazz Musician (Music Advice)
18 april 2022 · 37 min
Welcome to episode 343 where today I talk about my experiences as a professional performing jazz musician and the music lessons I've learned. Lees meer
Having dedicated most of my life to playing and teaching music, I've learned a thing or two. This advice is helpful for hobbyist musicians, from the perspective of a pro.
In today's episode, I wanna talk about my experience as a professional jazz musician. Looking back on my career, the lessons that I've learned about playing music, playing jazz with other people, and so on and so forth, and particularly I wanna hone in on some lessons that I've learned that I know are gonna help you as a non-professional hobbyist jazz musician.
In this episode:
1. Best solos come when you don't care
2. You're never going to be satisfied with your playing
3. The best people to play with are...
4. Equipment does matter
5. Practicing a lot helps, but...
6. Hardest gigs for me are...
7. Professionalism mattersImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: 10 Jazz Blues Songs You Need to Know
15 april 2022 · 28 min
So what are some jazz blues heads that you absolutely need to know for jazz jam sessions and gigs? Well, today I'm gonna share with you 10 that you absolutely should know. Lees meer
In this episode:
1. Simple melody with some kind of cool bebop-y elements in it.
2. Super easy blues head that uses only 5 notes!
3. A very common jam session jazz-blues
4. A minor blues head
5. A unique concert Eb blues
6. An entry-level bebop head
7. A great up-tempo minor blues
8. This one's super easy to learn as long as you know the Bb pentatonic scale
9. A great bebop bird blues to play
10. This blues is uniquely in 3/4 time signatureImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling bookLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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How to Play Wrong Notes and Still Sound Good In Your Solos
11 april 2022 · 27 min
Welcome to episode 341 where today I talk about one of the most important skills you should focus on when it comes to jazz improvisation. If you master this, you could literally play any note (in the key or out) and make it sound great. Learn what it is and how you can start mastering this skill. Lees meer
So I was at the Village Vanguard the other day, here in New York City. It's perhaps the most famous jazz club in the entire world, and I was watching a band play and something that stood out to me was that, no matter what note the musicians were playing, it could be that most-far-out-away-from-the-key-center-as-possible note, they always made it sound super, super good.
So, I wanna share with you the lessons that we can learn from this, and probably that number one thing, or at least in that top 10 things you should be really working on to sound amazing in your jazz improv.
In this episode:
1. What I learned at the Village Vanguard
2. Examples of playing wrong notes and making them sound right
3. The power of resolutionsImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: How I Memorized 100 Jazz Standards In One Year
8 april 2022 · 11 min
So how did I learn 100 new Jazz Standards in one year? Well, I'm gonna show you the exact strategies that I use so that you can use them, too! Lees meer
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. Strategy #1 The circle of10?
3. Strategy #2 The key to learning these standards
4. Strategy #3 Learn this first instead of the chord changes
5. Strategy #4 Do what the Romans did
6. Strategy #5 Ears first before the eyes
7. Strategy #6 Repetition is the key
8. Strategy #7 Start from #1 with a different playlistImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling bookLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Deep Dive Into My Favorite Jazz Ballad
4 april 2022 · 29 min
Welcome to episode 339 where today I walk you through one of my favorite jazz ballads. Ballads are important to know, and this particular one has a lot to teach us about jazz harmony and how to create an amazing melody. I play the ballad and then deep dive into the harmonic analysis. Lees meer
In today's episode, I'm gonna be going over one of my favorite jazz ballads of all time, do a little deep-dive into the harmony, and hopefully, you're gonna come away with some amazing lessons that you can learn about jazz and other jazz standards, and it's gonna be a lot of fun!
So grab your favorite beverage, grab some popcorn, or whatever you like to eat meals in the podcast.
In this episode:
1. Why this jazz ballad is so great
2. Side steps 2-5's and what they are
3. Secondary dominants
4. Motivic melodic movementImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: How to Master Rhythm Changes
1 april 2022 · 17 min
So how do you master the seemingly difficult but important jazz song form rhythm changes? Well, today I'm gonna show you 8 simple steps to do exactly that. Lees meer
In this episode:
1. Step #1: The obvious first step 2. Step
#2: Get "a-head" of the game!
3. Step #3: The first place I really start with improvising
4. Step #4: This makes the chord changes pop!
5. Step #5: Get really good at this instead of scales
6. Step #6: Exposure to these will generate ideas for your solos
7. Step #7: Time to get those tunes out of your head
8. Step #8: This still makes playing perfect!Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Get our Amazon Best Selling bookLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Are You Ready to Go to a Jazz Jam Session (Checklist)?
28 maart 2022 · 34 min
Welcome to episode 337 where today I talk about jam sessions and how to know if you are ready to attend one. I also share a 6 step checklist for how to prepare for a jam session so that you feel more comfortable, confident, and set up for more success. Lees meer
In this episode:
Step 1: Know 5 Standards
Step 2: Go to the session and evaluate
Step 3: Learn tunes you don't know
Step 4: Record yourself and identify problem areas
Step 5: Go to session and call a song you know well
Step 6: Re-evaluate success and "failures"Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: Why Your Jazz Improv Isn’t Improving…
25 maart 2022 · 11 min
If you're feeling stuck in your jazz playing today, it's likely because of one of the reasons I'm about to share with you. Lees meer
So, I'm gonna be your jazz doctor today, diagnose your issue, and tell you how to fix it.
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. 10 Reasons Why Your Jazz Improv Isn't Improving
3. Reason #1: This results in licks that don't sound organic
4. Reason #2: Learn more of these
5. Reason #3: Learn more of these very well
6. Reason #4: Scales alone doesn't do the trick
7. Reason #5: Get that inspiration from the masters
8. Reason #6: Set this strategy
9. Reason #7: This is what I regularly recommend to my students
10. Reason #9: Make sure to get this right
11. Reason #10: Level this up first before jazzing upImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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How to Get Unstuck From Playing The Same Stuff Over and Over
21 maart 2022 · 22 min
Welcome to episode 335 where today I talk about how to get unstuck from playing the same stuff over and over again in your jazz solos. It's easy to get comfortable playing the same stuff because we know it will sound good every single time. But this also keeps us stuck, unsatisfied, and wishing for more. I go over my simple solution for turning this around. Lees meer
In this episode:
1. Why do we get stuck playing the same stuff
2. Making conscious decisions when we play
3. Practicing making mistakesImportant Links:
Show Notes
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: Perfect BEBOP Minor BLUES Solo
18 maart 2022 · 11 min
How do you craft amazing bebop lines over a minor blues so that you sound like a jazz pro? I'm gonna walk you through the perfect minor blues solo. Lees meer
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. What actually are the chords in the D minor blues?
3. Try to add these to make your solos sound super "Bebop-y"
4. The quintessential bebop rhythm
5. The 3 Take-awaysImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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My Entire Philosophy On Learning and Teaching Jazz
14 maart 2022 · 57 min
Welcome to episode 333 where today I talk about my entire philosophy on learning and teaching jazz. I discuss what I believe about teaching jazz, using music theory, how to learn to improvise, and how to practice to get the most success. Lees meer
This episode consolidates a lot of talking points discussed within many different episodes of this podcast.
In this episode:
1. My 4 Core Philosophies
2. Philosophy for what you should focus on
3. Philosophy around jazz standards
4. Philosophy around jazz theory
5. Philosophy around jazz improv
6. Philosophy around practicingShow Notes
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: Best Jazz SCALE EXERCISE Ever
11 maart 2022 · 11 min
These are the best scale exercises you can do if you wanna turn these boring linear patterns into amazing jazz solos. Lees meer
In this episode:
1, This is the very first place we need to start
2. Add this to automatically make your scales a little bit more musical
3. Small musical ideas repeated
4. This will create different patterns and chord tones
5. Notes beyond the scaleImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Top Questions About Playing Jazz Answered
7 maart 2022 · 51 min
Welcome to episode 331 where today I answer the top questions I get asked about playing jazz. These questions come straight from my Monthly Jazz Mastermind Q&A sessions I have with our Inner Circle members, and are the most common ones that come up time and time again. See if you have any of these questions as well! Lees meer
In this episode:
1. How do you know what the melody is to a jazz standard when the melody is played differently?2. How do you know what the chord changes are to a jazz standard when different versions use different chords?
3. How do I know when to move on to the next thing?
4. Is there a step-by-step process for building a solo?
5. How do I retain the jazz standards I’ve learned so I don’t forget them?
6. How do I retain the solos and licks I learn?
7. Should I write down a solo I’m transcribing?
8. How do I transition from chord tone, guide tone, and approach tone maps to improvising solos?
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: How to Use Jazz Licks In Your Solos (3 Steps)
4 maart 2022 · 10 min
I'm about to show you a powerful 3-step process for how to get jazz licks to come out naturally and effortlessly in your solos. Lees meer
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. Learn this "L" first
3. Do not skip this "C"
4. "I" is for reacting!Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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3 Mindset Shifts That Helped Me Enjoy Playing Music More
28 februari 2022 · 43 min
Welcome to episode 329 where today I talk about 3 mindsets that helped me start enjoying music more. It's a strange thing when something you used to enjoy doing a lot starts to lose its appeal for a variety of different reasons. Lees meer
For me, it always comes down to mindset, and I share a few that have really helped me continue to have fun playing music.
In this episode:
1. How skiing taught me non-judgemental curiosity
2. How installing closet systems taught me patience during a challenge
3. How cooking taught me to appreciate my playing moreImportant Links:
Show Notes
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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How to Effectively Practice Improvising
21 februari 2022 · 28 min
Welcome to episode 327 where today I talk about how to effectively practice improvising. Often on this show we talk about tactics for learning how to play great jazz language, like learning jazz solos. Lees meer
But we also need to actually practice improvising. So how do we do this effectively other than just doing it? That's exactly what you'll learn.
In this episode:
1. Why practicing improvising is different from improvisation tactics
2. Batching your improvising
3. Importance of slow practice
4. The mindset shift behind improv practiceImportant Links:
Show Notes
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Should I Learn Jazz By Reading Music?
14 februari 2022 · 31 min
Welcome to episode 325 where today I dive into the controversial question of whether or not it's a good idea to learn jazz by reading music notation. Lees meer
Many musicians feel comfortable reading music but have heard that jazz is best learned by ear. I dive into my philosophy and why the answer to this question isn't so cut and dry.
Main Points:
1. How my philosophy has changed over the years
2. The benefits of learning by ear
3. The benefits of reading notation to learn jazz
4. My philosophy on learning jazzImportant Links:
Show Notes
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Quick Win: How to Instantly Learn Chord Progressions for Jazz Standards
11 februari 2022 · 13 min
So how can you play jazz standards at jam sessions and gigs even if you've never heard them before? Lees meer
Well, today I'm sharing with you my top tips for recognizing chord progressions.
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. Tip #1 - Start understanding and getting familiar with these.
3. Tip #2 - Learn as many of these as possible!
4. Tip #3 - Not much in the ear realm.
5. Tip #4 - Get into the trenches and do the dirty work.
6. Tip #5 - This could help you if you're really not good at hearing chord qualities.Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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Rhythm Changes Accelerator: A Powerful Course to Help You Master Rhythm Changes
10 februari 2022 · 18 min
Welcome to this special bonus episode where today I talk about our new Rhythm Changes Accelerator course we just released in our Inner Circle membership. Lees meer
Learn why learning rhythm changes is so powerful and how to master this important song form.
Important Links:
Get Access to Rhythm Changes Accelerator with LJS Inner Circle MembershipLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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What Should I Do If I Don’t Have a Lot of Time to Practice?
7 februari 2022 · 22 min
Welcome to episode 323 where today I answer the question of what you should practice if you don't have very much time to practice. Lees meer
It's common for us to be time-poor when it comes to spending time improving our jazz skills. So what are the high-level activities we can work on, and how should we do them? This episode will help.
Main Points:
1. Debunking the false narrative that you need to practice a lot
2. The #1 activity I recommend practicing
3. Examples of how to work backwards from your practicing goal to create a practice planImportant Links:
Show Notes
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
-
Quick Win: 8 Must-Know Jazz Standards for Jazz Gigs
4 februari 2022 · 11 min
So what are some great jazz standards to learn for playing jazz gigs? Well, today I'm gonna go over 8 jazz standards you need to know. Lees meer
In this episode:
1. A tune with a little bit more energy, swinging, and a lot of fun.
2. A more minor and bluesy kind of tune.
3. A little more introspective and a little bit different.
4. An up-tempo tune you should have in every jazz gig.
5. Every single gig should also have a ballad, like this one.
6. A medium-tempo tune
7. A modal tune
8. A high-energy bluesImportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Get our Amazon Best Selling bookLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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I Compose a Jazz Tune On The Spot (Again)
31 januari 2022 · 26 min
Welcome to episode 321 where I compose a jazz tune on the podcast. Lees meer
I put myself on the spot and rely on those creative juices to flow. You'll get a real-time look at how I compose, think about chord progressions, and even hear me improvise over my new tune for the first time.
Main Points:
1. I compose a jazz tune from scratchImportant Links:
Show Notes
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!