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Click HERE to read testimonials from some
of my students.
FEATURED ARTICLES
Notes of Departure ...and Arrival
The Desired Dissonance of the Diminished Chord, Part I
The Desired Dissonance of the Diminished Chord, Part II
A Bridge To Be Crossed
(an in-depth look at the bridge of Cherokee)
Click here for Recommended Jazz and Transcription Books.
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Practice Tips:
• Have a practice agenda. Before you play one note, you should decide what you’re going to accomplish in each practice session. Some sessions might be focused on just one item, such as tone or technique. Other practice sessions may consist of 10 – 15 minutes on a variety of items such as: chords, scales, ear training, transcription, licks/patterns, etc. Put these items on a list and check them off as you complete them.
Click HERE to download a practice planner! This planner is designed to help you organize your jazz improv practice time.
• Practice at a variety of tempos. Don’t just play slow, medium or fast, but work on those “in the cracks” tempos. Be able to play from quarter note = 40 all the way up to 360 and you’re ready for just about anything!
• Be creative when using the metronome. Let the metronome click on the upbeats instead of downbeats, or beats two and four in addition to beats one and three.
• Be aware of the harmonic context of whatever you’re playing. For example, if you’re practicing a lick, be sure that you can identify the chord progression that corresponds to the lick or idea. Sometimes the lick can fit in a variety of harmonic contexts.
• Always apply the “Five Time” rule. Play the scale, chord, lick, pattern, phrase or song five times in a row with no errors. If you make any error before you’ve reached the fifth consecutive time playing the phrase, no matter how small the error, you’re back to a count of “zero.” This method of practicing will improve your concentration and give your playing great consistency.
• Start your lick or phrase at any of eight starting points–– the downbeats of 1,2,3 and 4 or the upbeats of 1,2,3 and 4
New Product:
Transcription Paper.
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| Finally, the perfect paper for your transcription projects, with only 8 staves per page, and lots of room for ledger lines and chord symbols. Printed on high quality 70# paper stock which was run on an old-fashioned printing press, so you can erase and the staff lines will still be there!
Sold in pads of 50 pages with cardboard backing, glued at the top only, so it's easy to tear off one sheet at a time. (Staff is only on one side of paper).
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Only $6.95.
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