Learn Jazz Standards Podcast

Season 2 Finale - 26 Top Tips For Playing Jazz Jun 28, 2024

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.
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Should Non-Bass Players Learn Bass Lines? Jun 27, 2024

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.
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How Do I Perform Solo? Jun 26, 2024

Welcome to another episode where Brent answers your jazz and music questions five days a week. Today, we have an intriguing question from Ken Bryan from York, Pennsylvania, about resources and advice for a jazz guitarist aiming to perform solo at venues like bars, restaurants, and parties. Brent discusses this topic, sharing his personal experience and offering valuable tips for anyone looking to enhance their solo performance skills.
Brent emphasizes the importance of finding a solo guitar style that resonates with you. He recalls his college days and the profound influence of Peter Bernstein’s solo guitar performances at Smalls in New York. He suggests building a repertoire of songs with basic solo arrangements and practicing improvisation, focusing on telling an interesting musical story through single-note lines before integrating chords.
Additionally, Brent encourages solo performers to embrace their unique approach, even if it means using technology like loop pedals to enhance their sound. He also highlights the resources available in the Inner Circle membership, such as the jazz guitar and piano accelerator courses, which offer valuable tools for mastering solo performance. With consistent practice, learning jazz standards, and perhaps booking a performance to set a tangible goal, anyone can improve their solo playing skills.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Know What To Practice? Jun 25, 2024

In this episode, Michael, a piano player, asks how to efficiently allocate practice time to various topics like scales, voicings, improvisation, and more. Brent emphasizes the importance of focusing on the 20% of practice that yields 80% of the results, advising musicians to prioritize practicing what ails them the most or where they have the most potential.
Brent shares practical tips to identify strengths and weaknesses. He also introduces the concept of the three pillars of jazz improvisation. By focusing on these pillars, musicians can streamline their practice routine and ensure they're working on the most impactful areas.
Discover how to create a focused practice plan, avoid the myth of the perfect practice routine, and benefit from feedback loops and coaching. Brent's insights will help you practice smarter and achieve your musical goals faster. Don't miss out on this episode and enhance your jazz practice today!
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How Should Horn Players Play Together In a Jazz Band? Jun 24, 2024

In this episode, Brent responds to a question from Louis Thompson about the lead instrument in a small jazz ensemble with a trumpet, saxophone, trombone, and rhythm section. Brent discusses the dynamics of horn players working together, exploring various approaches for melody and improvisation. He explains how horn players usually play in a jam session.
Brent emphasizes the importance of listening and adapting to each other’s playing to create a cohesive sound. Whether it’s harmonizing, creating counterpoint lines, or trading off the lead, there are numerous ways for horn players to collaborate and make the music shine.
Tune in to discover how multiple horn players can harmonize, create counterpoint lines, and share the spotlight in jazz performances. Brent's insights will help you better understand ensemble playing and enhance your jazz skills. Don't miss this episode and make sure to subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts for more valuable tips and advice.
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The Importance of Your Practice Engine Jun 21, 2024

In this episode, Brent explores a crucial topic: the practice engine. He highlights the importance of mastering the art of practicing, explaining that it's not just about following routines but treating practice as a skill in itself. This approach, he emphasizes, differentiates amateur musicians from advanced players and is essential for significant progress in jazz playing.
Brent illustrates his point by using the analogy of a car. Even with the best resources and tools, without a well-functioning practice engine, progress will stall. He provides insights into how you can optimize your practice routines to ensure effective learning and improvement. He also offers practical tips for developing a strong practice engine.
This episode is packed with valuable advice to help you transform your practice sessions and accelerate your jazz journey. Tune in to discover how to fine-tune your practice engine and make the most of your musical efforts.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Can I Work On Instrument Technique and Songs At The Same Time? Jun 20, 2024

In this episode, Brent answers an insightful question from Robert Banagay about balancing technical proficiency with learning jazz standards. Robert, a musician returning to his instrument after a long hiatus, wonders if he can improve his technique while simultaneously diving into jazz tunes. Brent introduces the concept of the three pillars of jazz improvisation explaining how they interconnect and can be practiced together to enhance one's jazz playing.
Brent emphasizes that working on technique, whether it's instrument-specific or jazz-specific, doesn't have to be done in isolation. He uses the analogy of a pizza to illustrate how repertoire forms the crust, supporting everything else. This integrated approach allows musicians to practice technical skills and jazz language in a musical context, making the learning process more cohesive and effective.
Ultimately, Brent encourages listeners to jump into learning songs while addressing technical gaps as they arise. He shares wisdom from his own experience. This episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to refine their jazz skills and strike a balance between technical exercises and musical application. Tune in to gain valuable insights and take your jazz playing to the next level.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Compose For a Jazz Group Jun 19, 2024

In this episode, Brent tackles a fascinating question from Bruno Morelos about composing for a jazz band. Bruno wonders how professional jazz musicians handle compositions, especially when each band member has a solo. Brent explains that jazz compositions often involve creating a theme with melodies and harmonic foundations, allowing musicians to improvise freely.
Brent discusses how composers can incorporate specific elements while still giving musicians the freedom to add their own improvisational flair. He also highlights the balance between structured composition and the spirit of jazz, which thrives on improvisation and personal expression.
For those interested in jazz composition, this episode offers valuable insights into creating music that allows musicians to explore and inject their personality while maintaining the essence of the composition. Tune in to learn more about the art of jazz composition and get inspired to create your own musical masterpieces.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Not Overthink When I Solo? Jun 18, 2024

In this episode, Brent tackles a listener's question about avoiding overthinking during solos. Anton Visser, a long-time listener, asks how to play more intuitively without feeling compelled to fill every bar with notes. Brent advises that while it's important to practice and understand the theory, the key to natural-sounding solos is to let intuition and emotional connection to the music guide you. He compares this to the ease of tying your shoes, which becomes second nature through repetition and familiarity.
Brent also emphasizes the importance of practicing leaving space in solos and suggests exercises to help with this, like alternating between playing and resting bars. He encourages listeners to practice improvising freely, without backing tracks or strict adherence to chord changes, to build confidence in their musical instincts.
This episode is packed with practical tips and insights to help jazz musicians play more naturally and confidently. Don't miss out on this valuable advice—subscribe to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast today and take your jazz journey to the next level.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Long Should My Jazz Solos Be? Jun 17, 2024

In this episode, Brent addresses a great question from listener Mani Murray about the appropriate length of a solo in different musical settings. Brent emphasizes that a solo should last as long as it remains interesting and musically compelling. He discusses how to gauge when to end a solo, focusing on maintaining the quality of the music and avoiding the tendency to overplay.
Brent also shares practical tips for different scenarios, such as jam sessions and gigs, highlighting the importance of considering the context and etiquette when deciding the length of your solo. He explains that understanding when to end a solo, whether in a jam session with multiple players or during a dinner gig, is crucial for enhancing the overall musical experience.
By following these guidelines, musicians can ensure their solos contribute positively to the performance and respect the dynamics of the group. Tune in to the full episode for valuable insights on soloing and practical advice to enhance your jazz journey.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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The Worst Mistakes to Make At a Jazz Gig Jun 14, 2024

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.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Learn Jazz Solos by Ear? Jun 13, 2024

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.
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Is It Important to Notate Solos I Learn? Jun 12, 2024

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.
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How Do I Foster Creativity Before a Jazz Gig? Jun 11, 2024

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.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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The Characteristics of a Great Jazz Band Jun 10, 2024

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.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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The Frame-Of-Mind Required for Jazz Improv Jun 07, 2024

In this engaging Fast Track Friday episode, Brent discusses the crucial mindset required for jazz improvisation. He emphasizes the importance of focus, open-mindedness, and a willingness to make mistakes to excel in jazz improvisation. Brent stresses the significance of being open-minded to learning various approaches and techniques, even if they may seem challenging or unfamiliar.
Finally, Brent underscores the necessity of embracing mistakes and taking risks in improvisation. He encourages listeners to adopt a mindset that welcomes mistakes as opportunities for growth and exploration.
With practical advice and insights, this episode offers valuable guidance for aspiring jazz improvisers looking to enhance their skills and musicality.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Use Jazz In Other Styles of Music? Jun 06, 2024

In this episode, Brent tackles a compelling question from listener Sebastian Watson about integrating jazz harmony and improvisation into other musical genres. Brent explores how studying jazz can deepen your musical knowledge and enhance your versatility, whether you're composing or improvising in different styles. By drawing from his own experiences and examples from other musicians, Brent illustrates how mastering jazz concepts can unlock new possibilities and transform your approach to music.
Brent also shares a personal anecdote about a guitarist who expanded his creative horizons. He highlights how jazz theory and ear training can bolster your skills and provide more freedom in your musical endeavors.
Tune in to discover how jazz can be a powerful tool in your musical toolkit, offering insights and techniques that transcend genres. Don't miss this episode for practical advice and inspiration on incorporating jazz elements into your musical journey.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Improvise Over Dominant 7th Chords Jun 05, 2024

In this episode, Brent talks about the nuances of soloing over dominant chords in jazz, responding to a question from Alan Clayton, an Inner Circle member from Melbourne, Australia. Brent emphasizes the importance of understanding the context of dominant chords within a progression, highlighting that knowing the chords before and after is crucial for effective improvisation.
He explains how focusing on chord tones and considering the overall function of the dominant chord can guide your note choices, making your solos more melodic and cohesive.
Brent also shares practical tips and illustrates these concepts with examples. By the end of the episode, you'll have a deeper understanding of how to navigate dominant chords and enhance your improvisation skills. Tune in to gain valuable insights and take your jazz playing to the next level.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Chord Tone Exercises to Practice Jun 04, 2024

In this episode, Brent tackles an intriguing question from Thomas in Holland about mastering jazz intervals and chord tones. Brent breaks down essential exercises for playing chord tones, from basic 1-3-5-7 patterns to more advanced voice-leading techniques. He emphasizes the importance of chord tone mapping and how understanding and practicing these fundamentals can significantly improve your ability to play "in the changes," just like the pros.
Discover Brent's step-by-step methods for enhancing your jazz improvisation skills. You'll learn practical tips for incorporating extensions and how to use scales and patterns to elevate your musicality.
This episode is packed with actionable advice to help you navigate complex chord progressions and create beautiful melodies. Don't miss out on this valuable episode—subscribe now and take your jazz playing to the next level!
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Remember Chords to Jazz Standards Jun 03, 2024

In this episode, Brent talks about a listener's question regarding mastering the chord changes to "The Girl from Ipanema." He explores two essential methods for learning jazz chords and offers practical advice on chord recognition, pattern identification, and the importance of understanding theory. These are all aimed at helping you effortlessly memorize and navigate complex jazz standards.
Brent addresses common challenges musicians face when transitioning from chord melodies to understanding full chord progressions, offering step-by-step guidance and real-world examples. His practical advice and supportive teaching style will inspire you to tackle even the most complex jazz tunes with confidence.
Whether you're struggling with a specific tune or looking to deepen your overall jazz knowledge, this episode is packed with tips to enhance your learning process. Join the journey and discover how to simplify and categorize chords, making your jazz practice more enjoyable and productive. Don't miss out on this engaging discussion—subscribe now and elevate your jazz skills with every episode!
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How 2 Chords Fooled a Pro Jazz Musician May 31, 2024

In this Fast Track Friday episode, Brent shares an amusing and insightful story about how two simple chords fooled him, a professional jazz musician. Tasked with playing an easy song for his sister's wedding, Brent initially dismissed the simplicity of the piece. However, as the event approached, he realized he had not internalized the music properly.
This humbling experience underscored the importance of deeply listening to and familiarizing oneself with a piece of music, no matter how straightforward it may seem.
He highlights that technical simplicity doesn't equate to ease of execution and that every piece of music requires careful attention and practice.
This episode is packed with practical tips and personal anecdotes that offer valuable lessons for both novice and experienced musicians, making it a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their musical skills and understanding.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Can I Play Chord Extensions Even If My Bandmates Are Not? May 30, 2024

In this episode, Brent discusses an insightful question from listener John Gao about the use of chord extensions in jazz improvisation and band settings. He explores the intricacies of incorporating exotic chords like 11ths and 13ths, and how these can be seamlessly integrated into solos and ensemble playing without clashing.
Brent also emphasizes the role of accompanists and advises on how to avoid muddying the sound when multiple instruments are comping simultaneously. By focusing on listening and reacting to fellow musicians, players can enhance their overall performance.
Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of jazz improvisation and to learn practical strategies for enhancing your jazz practice and performance.
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How Do I Improvise While Sight Reading? May 29, 2024

In this engaging episode of the Learn Jazz Standards podcast, Brent tackles a question from Neil, a tenor saxophonist from the UK, who wants to master sight reading jazz standards and improvising melodic solos on the fly. Brent breaks down the essentials for achieving this goal, emphasizing the importance of solid jazz improvisation skills and a thorough understanding of jazz language.
Brent also highlights the value of learning numerous jazz standards to build familiarity with these harmonic structures. He shares practical advice on improving sight reading by regularly practicing with new sheet music, making mistakes, and learning from them. He underscores the necessity of a dual approach: enhancing both sight reading and improvisation skills simultaneously.
This episode is packed with actionable tips and insights, making it an invaluable listen for anyone looking to elevate their jazz-playing and sight-reading capabilities. Don't miss Brent's expert guidance to fast-track your journey in jazz improvisation!
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Learn Chords By Ear? May 28, 2024

In this engaging episode, Brent tackles an intriguing question from listener Xing Shen about how to determine chords from sheet music without chord symbols. Brent explores practical strategies for learning chords by ear, emphasizing the importance of basic chord recognition and ear training fundamentals. He highlights the five primary chord qualities in jazz and offers tips on developing the ability to identify these chords, both in isolation and within progressions.
Brent's insights are especially useful for those new to learning jazz by ear, providing actionable advice to simplify the process and build a strong musical foundation.
Moreover, he underscores the value of learning multiple jazz standards to recognize recurring chord progressions and patterns. Using "Autumn Leaves" as an example, he explains how repeated exposure to common progressions like the 2-5-1 in various keys can significantly enhance a musician's ability to learn chords by ear. Brent also shares his personal experiences and tips for starting with simpler tasks before tackling more complex progressions.
This episode is packed with practical advice and encouragement, making it a must-listen for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of jazz harmony and improve their ear training skills. Don't miss out on Brent's expert guidance to elevate your jazz-playing journey!
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Should I Imitate a Musician That Doesn't Play My Instrument? May 27, 2024

In this episode, Brent discusses about a question from listener Michael George, a clarinet player facing challenges with jazz standards often perceived as more suited to tenor saxophone. Michael seeks advice on emulating the styles of Paul Desmond and Stan Getz to improve his clarinet performance.
Brent addresses this by debunking the notion that jazz standards are tailored to specific instruments, emphasizing that any jazz standard can be adapted and played on any instrument. He encourages musicians to explore solos and melodies across different instruments, as this approach broadens their understanding of jazz language and enhances their overall musicianship.
He elaborates on the benefits of learning solos from instruments different from one's own, sharing his personal experience as a guitarist who often transcribed solos from piano, saxophone, and trumpet players. Tune in to gain valuable insights on maximizing your practice and expanding your jazz repertoire, regardless of your instrument.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Measure If You Are Improving Or Not May 24, 2024

Join Brent in this insightful Fast Track Friday episode, where he delves into the crucial topic of measuring your musical progress. He addresses a common concern among musicians: the feeling of not improving fast enough, or at all. He shares his empathy for this struggle and offers practical strategies to help you see your progress more clearly. He highlights how being too close to your own playing can make it difficult to notice improvements.
Brent explains that measuring your progress is not only about boosting your confidence but also about making informed decisions on what to practice next. He shares insights from his inner circle members, who use weekly audit recordings and compare their current abilities with their past selves to track their progress.
This episode is packed with valuable tips and encourages you to adopt a structured approach to measuring your musical improvement, ensuring that you stay motivated and on the right path in your jazz journey. Don't miss out on these essential strategies—tune in to gain a fresh perspective on your musical growth!
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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What Is The Difference Between Jazz and Classical Harmony? May 23, 2024

In this engaging episode, Brent explores into the intriguing differences between classical and jazz harmony. He begins by acknowledging that while he's an expert in jazz harmony, his knowledge of classical harmony is more limited. He explains that classical harmony varies across different eras and styles, making it difficult to pinpoint exact differences. However, he highlights that classical music often relies on composed chords that are melodically driven and precisely notated, whereas jazz typically features chord symbols that allow for improvisation and interpretation.
Brent emphasizes the freedom and flexibility inherent in jazz harmony, contrasting it with the more structured approach found in classical music. He discusses how jazz musicians have the creative liberty to explore various chord voicings and extensions, fostering a spirit of improvisation and individual expression.
Through insightful examples and comparisons, Brent provides listeners with a deeper understanding of the unique characteristics of jazz harmony and its contrast with classical conventions. Whether you're a jazz enthusiast or a curious newcomer, this episode offers valuable insights into the rich and diverse world of musical harmony.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Practice Enclosures? May 22, 2024

Join Brent as he explores the art of jazz improvisation. In this episode, Brent answers a listener's question about incorporating enclosures into chord tone maps, offering valuable insights into bebop language and improvisational techniques. Through clear explanations and practical examples, he guides listeners on a journey to enhance their improvisational skills and deepen their understanding of jazz harmony.
Discover actionable strategies for targeting chord tones and practicing enclosures, unlocking new possibilities for musical expression. Brent's passion for jazz education shines through as he shares practical exercises and encourages listeners to take action on their musical journey.
Tune in to the Learn Jazz Standards podcast for expert advice, engaging discussions, and actionable tips to help you reach your full potential as a jazz musician.
Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Should I Transcribe Myself? May 21, 2024

In this episode, Brent discusses a listener question from Michael George about transferring solo ideas from the mind to the instrument. Brent addresses the disconnect between musical ideas in one's head and their execution on an instrument, highlighting the common challenge of bridging the gap between ear and instrument. He suggests a valuable method for internalizing musical concepts using the L.I.S.T. approach.
In addition to offering practical strategies for musical development, Brent's engaging and conversational style makes this episode an enjoyable listen for jazz enthusiasts of all levels. His passion for helping musicians navigate their jazz journey shines through as he shares personal anecdotes and words of encouragement.
Whether you're a seasoned player looking to refine your improvisational skills or a beginner seeking guidance on where to start, this episode provides valuable insights and inspiration to fuel your musical growth.
Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS Inner Circle Membership
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Should I Learn Piano to Help With Jazz Improv? May 20, 2024

In this episode, Brent tackles a compelling question from Robert about the necessity of learning piano for musicians aiming to master improvisation. Drawing from his own experience as a guitarist navigating the intricacies of harmony, Brent explores the unique advantages that the piano offers in understanding music theory and chordal structures.
Through practical insights and expert advice, Brent offers listeners a roadmap for incorporating basic piano skills into their musical toolkit, highlighting the benefits of exploring shell voicings, scales, and chord progressions to deepen their understanding of harmony and enhance their improvisational prowess.
This episode serves as a testament to the transformative power of community engagement and collaborative learning in fueling musical progress and personal development. Tune in to gain valuable insights into the role of the piano in jazz improvisation, and discover practical strategies for integrating piano skills into your musical journey.
Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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The Secret to Long-Term Musical Progress May 17, 2024

In this Fast Track Friday episode, Brent reveals the power of community in fostering long-term musical success. Drawing from his own unexpected journey as a newfound New York Rangers fan, he uncovers the transformative impact of shared interests and camaraderie in fueling passion and motivation.
Brent illuminates the profound connection between community engagement and musical growth, highlighting the importance of finding support, inspiration, and belonging within a like-minded group of individuals. He challenges listeners to embrace the enriching experience of communal learning and collaboration as a catalyst for jazz mastery and fulfillment.
He offers a compelling blueprint for cultivating a supportive network that not only accelerates musical progress but also enriches the journey of jazz exploration with shared passion, camaraderie, and inspiration. Tune in to this enlightening episode to discover the secret to unlocking your full musical potential through the power of community.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Use Music Theory to Improvise? May 16, 2024

In this episode, Brent responds to a thought-provoking question from Peter Hakenan, a classically trained trumpet player seeking guidance on bridging music theory with improvisational prowess. Brent unravels the complexities of jazz improvisation, emphasizing the transformation of theoretical knowledge into musical expression.
Through engaging examples and step-by-step guidance, Brent empowers aspiring improvisers to transcend scale-based thinking and embrace the creative freedom of musical expression, fostering a deeper connection with the art of jazz improvisation.
By cultivating a diverse repertoire of jazz language and developing the ability to manipulate musical ideas, aspiring jazz musicians can unlock new avenues of artistic expression and enhance their improvisational fluency.
Join Brent for an enlightening exploration of the intersection between music theory and improvisation, where theory meets practice, and creativity flourishes in the realm of jazz.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Get Great At Jazz Phrasing? May 15, 2024

In this episode, Brent explores the intricate art of jazz phrasing, responding to a query from Suze, an Inner Circle member seeking guidance on refining her improvisational skills. Brent elucidates the essence of jazz phrasing, emphasizing its rhythmic nuances and expressive elements that transcend mere note choices.
By dissecting the rhythmic patterns and melodic contours of jazz standards, Brent empowers aspiring jazz musicians to internalize the language of jazz and develop their unique improvisational voice, fostering a deeper connection with the music and enhancing their artistic expression.
Furthermore, he underscores the importance of diversity in learning sources, urging listeners to explore a wide range of jazz musicians across different instruments to glean insights into varied phrasing approaches. Join Brent for a transformative journey into the heart of jazz phrasing, where knowledge meets action, and practice yields profound musical growth.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Create Space In My Solos? May 14, 2024

In this episode, Brent addresses an essential aspect of jazz improvisation raised by listener Keith Cramlinger: creating space in solos for a more melodic and musical expression. He shares practical insights and strategies to overcome common challenges faced by jazz players, whether it's developing longer musical phrases or avoiding overwhelming density in improvisations.
Brent highlights the importance of mindfulness, imitation, and rhythmic variation in crafting engaging and dynamic solos. By incorporating some techniques, he empowers listeners to cultivate a sense of spaciousness in their playing, fostering a deeper connection with the music and enhancing their improvisational prowess.
This episode offers valuable guidance and actionable strategies to elevate your improvisational artistry. Tune in to the Learn Jazz Standards podcast and embark on a transformative journey toward creating more expressive, melodic, and compelling jazz solos.
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How Do I Use the Lydian Scale? May 13, 2024

In this captivating episode, Brent explores the practical applications of Lydian and Lydian dominant scales in jazz improvisation, addressing a listener's query about using these scales effectively in soloing. Brent's clear explanations and musical examples demystify the Lydian scale's composition and its relationship to the major scale, making complex musical concepts accessible to listeners of all levels.
Brent's emphasis on experimentation and creativity underscores the essence of jazz music. By sharing practical tips and actionable insights, he emphasizes integrating the Lydian scale into the improvisational practice, fostering a deeper understanding of modal harmony and enhancing musical expression.
This episode offers valuable guidance and inspiration to elevate your playing and enrich your jazz journey. Tune in to the Learn Jazz Standards podcast and embark on a musical adventure filled with discovery, creativity, and endless possibilities.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Finding and Using Your Tune of Greatness May 10, 2024

In this Fast Track Friday episode, Brent introduces the concept of the "tune of greatness," a powerful strategy for mastering jazz tunes while deepening musical understanding. Drawing from the teachings of jazz mentor Justin Nielsen, Brent elucidates how practitioners can select a tune they love and use it as a canvas for musical exploration and growth.
Brent offers practical advice for identifying an ideal "tune of greatness," emphasizing the importance of selecting a song that resonates deeply and shares harmonic commonalities with other jazz standards.
Through insightful examples and criteria, he empowers listeners to embark on a journey of musical discovery, leveraging their chosen tune as a vehicle for continuous improvement and creative expression.
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How Do I Make the Pentatonic Scales Jazzier? May 09, 2024

Join Brent today as he tackles a common query from Craig about infusing pentatonic and blues scales with a jazzy flair. He begins by dissecting the essence of jazziness, exploring techniques to elevate these foundational scales into sophisticated improvisational tools.
Brent's insightful approach transcends mere scale manipulation, exploring the realm of musicality and language development within jazz improvisation. He encourages moving beyond rote scale patterns to embrace musical lines and licks that embody the jazz tradition authentically.
Through practical demonstrations and theoretical insights, Brent provides a roadmap for aspiring jazz musicians to cultivate a nuanced understanding of improvisational language. Brent's podcast offers invaluable guidance to elevate your jazz playing to the next level. Tune in to embark on a transformative journey of musical discovery and mastery.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Balance Imitating and Innovating for Jazz? May 08, 2024

In the latest episode, Brent addresses a pivotal query posed by Kevin Mummy: how to strike a balance between imitation and innovation in jazz practice. Brent underscores the importance of emulating jazz luminaries as a means of mastering the musical vernacular, advocating for techniques like solo transcription to absorb the language's nuances fully.
By exploring improvisation and composition, he contends that practitioners can unlock avenues for personal expression, paving the way for originality within the tradition. Brent provides a roadmap for aspiring jazz musicians to cultivate their unique identity while honoring the rich heritage of the genre.
With engaging anecdotes and actionable tips, his discussion resonates with jazz enthusiasts at all skill levels, from beginners seeking to build a solid foundation to seasoned players aiming to refine their artistic identity.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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The Top 25 Jazz Standards You Need to Know May 07, 2024

In this episode, Brent offers a comprehensive guide to essential jazz standards, answering a listener's question about the top 25 tunes every musician should know. With his extensive knowledge and infectious passion for jazz, Brent curates a diverse list that spans various styles and forms, from classic swing tunes to modal compositions and bossa nova classics.
By breaking down each selection and highlighting its unique characteristics, Brent provides invaluable insights for aspiring jazz musicians, offering a roadmap for building a strong repertoire and thriving in jam-session scenarios.
From iconic melodies like "Autumn Leaves" and "Take the A -Train" to lesser-known gems such as "Alone Together" and "St. Thomas," this episode serves as a treasure trove of musical inspiration and guidance. Brent's expert recommendations provide a solid foundation for embarking on a rewarding musical journey.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Use the Phrygian Mode? May 06, 2024

In this episode, Brent discusses the intricate world of jazz theory, tackling listener questions and demystifying the elusive Phrygian mode. With his signature enthusiasm and clarity, he guides listeners through the nuances of scale theory, shedding light on the practical applications of Phrygian in jazz improvisation.
Brent's insightful explanations provide invaluable insights for jazz musicians at all levels, offering a roadmap for navigating complex harmonic landscapes with confidence and creativity. He makes abstract concepts accessible, empowering listeners to deepen their understanding of jazz theory and expand their improvisational toolkit.
This episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration to fuel your musical journey. Tune in to discover the transformative power of Phrygian and embark on a thrilling exploration of jazz theory with Brent as your guide.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How I've Reached Musical Flow State May 03, 2024

Join Brent on Fast Track Friday as he reflects on the week's themes and offers strategic advice for cultivating a mindset conducive to musical flow. In this enlightening episode, Brent explores the intricacies of achieving a state of effortless improvisation, drawing parallels between musical performance and everyday experiences.
Through insightful anecdotes and practical tips, Brent explores the importance of relinquishing ego and embracing vulnerability to unlock the full potential of musical expression. This episode offers valuable insights into transcending self-doubt and tapping into the limitless creativity of the human mind.
From letting go of the fear of failure to embracing the spontaneity of improvisation, Brent shares actionable strategies for fostering a deeper connection with music. Don't miss out on the opportunity to enhance your musical journey and discover the transformative power of the flow state.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Swing My Walking Bass Lines? May 02, 2024

Addressing a query from Patrick LeBlanc, this episode offers insightful tips from Brent on infusing quarter-note-based basslines with the infectious groove of swing. From emphasizing subdivisions to tastefully incorporating triplets, Brent provides practical strategies for enhancing the rhythmic vitality of basslines, catering to musicians of all levels seeking to elevate their jazz improvisation skills.
Through engaging anecdotes and expert analysis, this episode illuminates the art of jazz bass playing, offering a blend of technical expertise and artistic sensibility. Whether you're a seasoned bassist or an aspiring jazz musician, Brent's guidance on achieving rhythmic fluidity and musical maturity promises to enrich your understanding of jazz improvisation.
Subscribe now to the Learn Jazz Standards podcast and embark on a journey of musical discovery, where every episode offers valuable insights and inspiration for mastering the language of jazz.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Not Think When I Improvise? May 01, 2024

In this episode, Brent addresses Joss Martin's question about the balance between improvising and thinking about chord progressions during a solo. He highlights the importance of preparation in achieving the ability to improvise without conscious thought, emphasizing the role of practice, learning standards, and analyzing chord progressions.
Through practical examples and personal anecdotes, Brent explores the journey toward improvisational freedom, offering valuable strategies for developing a natural and intuitive approach to soloing.
Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion that will help you navigate the complexities of jazz improvisation and enhance your musicality. Subscribe now for more insightful episodes and expert advice on your favorite podcast platform.
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How to Comp Melodically Apr 30, 2024

In this episode, Kevin raises a query about comping on the piano, seeking clarification on placing the melody note within voicings. Brent breaks down the distinction between chord melody and melodic comping, emphasizing the importance of creating movement and melodies within accompaniment.
Through practical examples and clear explanations, Brent gives guidance in enhancing comping skills, offering valuable insights for pianists, guitarists, and other comping instruments.
Don't miss out on Brent's expertise as he explores the nuances of melodic comping and shares strategies for elevating your musical accompaniment. Subscribe now for more enriching discussions and jazz wisdom on your favorite podcast platform.
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Should I Play Other Styles of Music? (Non-Jazz) Apr 29, 2024

In this episode, Brent discusses the question of whether musicians should explore styles beyond jazz, particularly jamming with those who play country or rock. He emphasizes the immense value in venturing into diverse musical realms, citing the enrichment it brings to one's understanding of music as a whole.
Brent encourages embracing musical exploration while recognizing the balance between mastering jazz and delving into other genres. He acknowledges the trade-offs involved, acknowledging that dividing time between different styles may slow progress in any one area but emphasizing the holistic growth it facilitates.
He concludes with a reminder of the importance of actionable knowledge and focused practice, inviting listeners to subscribe for more insights and discussions on navigating the multifaceted world of music.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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What's the Purpose of Learning Jazz Solos by Ear? Apr 26, 2024

In this Fast Track Friday episode, Brent dives into the crucial topic of learning jazz solos by ear. Building upon previous discussions about jazz education and practice strategies, he explores the multifaceted benefits of mastering jazz language through ear training. He explains the purpose behind this practice, highlighting how it strengthens ear-to-instrument connection, enhances rhythm and time feel, and fosters a deep understanding of the language of jazz.
Through engaging anecdotes and practical advice, Brent emphasizes the transformative power of ear training in jazz education. He addresses common challenges faced by learners and encourages those navigating the sometimes tedious journey of learning by ear.
Whether you're a seasoned musician or just starting your jazz journey, this episode offers invaluable guidance for honing your skills and mastering the language of jazz.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Should I Learn a Jazz Solo at Original Tempo? Apr 25, 2024

In this episode, Brent tackles a thought-provoking question from Kevin Pritchett about the balance between learning at different speeds and knowing when to move on. Through insightful commentary and practical advice, Brent navigates the complexities of musical learning, offering strategies for maximizing practice time and achieving musical goals effectively.
Drawing on his experience as an educator and musician, Brent emphasizes the importance of understanding personal objectives and tailoring practice sessions to address specific needs, whether it's mastering technical execution or absorbing jazz language.
Whether you're grappling with tempo challenges or seeking guidance on optimizing practice routines, this episode provides invaluable insights to elevate your musical growth and enhance your jazz playing.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Play a Jazz Blues? Apr 24, 2024

In this episode, Brent talks about the nuances of jazz blues, responding to a listener's query about the differences between traditional 12-bar blues and its jazz counterpart. With clear explanations and musical demonstrations, he breaks down the chord progressions and structural variations characteristic of jazz blues, offering valuable insights for jazz musicians of all levels.
From the basic 12-bar format to more complex evolutions like the bird blues, Brent provides a comprehensive overview of jazz blues forms, emphasizing the importance of learning various jazz blues heads to enhance improvisational skills and repertoire.
Through practical examples and thoughtful analysis, Brent empowers aspiring jazz musicians to deepen their understanding of blues harmony and develop their improvisational prowess. With engaging anecdotes and helpful tips for effective practice, this episode promises to inspire listeners as they embark on their jazz journey.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Solo Over Modal Jazz Songs Apr 23, 2024

In this episode, Brent addresses a listener's question about soloing over modal tunes like "So What" or "Maiden Voyage." He breaks down the concept of modal jazz and offers practical advice for creating engaging improvisations over limited chord changes.
By explaining the modal scales associated with each chord and emphasizing the importance of melody creation, he provides valuable insights for jazz musicians at all skill levels.
Throughout the episode, Brent delves into the art of improvisation, offering a crash course in modal harmony, and exploring triad patterns and chromatic notes while prioritizing creativity and expression. Through practical tips and musical demonstrations, he encourages elevating improvisational skills and embracing the rich possibilities of modal jazz.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Classical Musicians Can Learn Jazz Apr 22, 2024

In this episode, Brent introduces a listener's question about classical violinists transitioning into jazz music. He highlights the challenges classical musicians face, particularly with improvisation, compared to their familiarity with sheet music interpretation. Brent breaks down the process of learning jazz for classical musicians by providing practical steps and insights.
Throughout the episode, Brent emphasizes the importance of active engagement and experimentation in learning jazz. He encourages classical musicians, and musicians of all backgrounds, to embrace the process of improvisation and explore new musical territory with patience and an open mind.
By demystifying the transition from classical to jazz music, Brent empowers listeners to embark on a journey of musical discovery and self-expression, reminding them that progress comes from consistent practice, experimentation, and a willingness to step outside of their comfort zones.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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What Makes You Happy As a Musician? Apr 19, 2024

In this Fast Track Friday episode of the Learn Jazz Standards podcast, Brent discusses the critical importance of finding joy and happiness as a musician. Drawing on personal experiences and insights, he explores the detrimental effects of self-doubt and dissatisfaction on musical growth and fulfillment.
Through thought-provoking questions and practical suggestions, Brent invites listeners to explore the sources of happiness in their musical pursuits, whether through enjoyable practice routines, fulfilling challenges, supportive musical environments, or the right equipment.
Brent offers a refreshing perspective on overcoming obstacles and cultivating a positive mindset in the pursuit of musical excellence. Tune in to this episode for invaluable insights and inspiration to infuse your musical journey with joy, fulfillment, and lasting satisfaction.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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What's the Difference Between a Scale Tone and a Chord Extension? Apr 18, 2024

In this podcast episode, Brent discusses a fundamental music theory concept brought up by listener Andy Berry regarding the distinctions between scale tones and chord extensions. Brent equips listeners with a deeper understanding of how the elements of different chord extensions shape harmonic structures and contribute to the rich tapestry of jazz music.
With his expert guidance, he shares insights on how to navigate the nuances between scale tones and chord extensions. Through engaging explanations and insightful analogies, Brent empowers musicians to enhance their improvisational skills and expand their harmonic vocabulary.
Whether you're a seasoned jazz enthusiast or a budding musician eager to deepen your understanding of music theory, this episode offers valuable insights to enrich your musical journey.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Gain Confidence to Play With Other Musicians Apr 17, 2024

In this episode, Brent addresses a common concern voiced by Cherie Vodica from Raleigh, North Carolina, about regaining confidence in playing with other musicians after spending a significant amount of time practicing alone, particularly due to the isolation brought on by the pandemic. Through insightful advice and practical strategies, Brent offers valuable guidance on overcoming self-doubt and preparing oneself for collaborative musical endeavors.
With a blend of empathy and actionable advice, Brent encourages taking proactive steps toward reconnecting with the joy of playing music with others. He advocates for a holistic approach that combines exposure therapy with deliberate practice.
By reframing challenges as opportunities for growth and embracing a mindset of curiosity and resilience, musicians can navigate the transition from solitary practice to collaborative performance with confidence and enthusiasm.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How A Minor 2-5-1 Chord Progression Works Apr 16, 2024

In this episode, Brent tackles an essential aspect of jazz theory: the minor 2-5-1 chord progression. Responding to a listener's inquiry, Brent provides a comprehensive breakdown of this foundational progression, elucidating its significance and outlining the various chord qualities and extensions commonly employed.
By going into the mechanics of the minor 2-5-1 progression, Brent shares practical knowledge and actionable insights to enhance one's understanding of jazz theory and improvisation. With a focus on demystifying complex concepts and offering tangible examples, he empowers musicians of all levels to navigate the intricacies of chord progressions with confidence and creativity.
Whether you're a seasoned jazz enthusiast or a novice looking to expand your musical repertoire, this episode promises to enrich your understanding of jazz harmony and inspire new avenues for exploration in your musical journey.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Overcome Self Doubt As A Musician? Apr 15, 2024

In this week's episode, Brent discusses a common struggle many musicians face: self-doubt. Through a poignant listener question, he addresses the pervasive nature of self-doubt and shares personal anecdotes, making it evident that even world-class musicians experience this phenomenon.
Throughout the episode, Brent offers actionable insights and practical strategies for overcoming self-doubt. By reframing self-doubt as a natural part of the creative process, musicians can cultivate resilience and confidence in their abilities.
With Brent's guidance, listeners are empowered to navigate their musical journey with courage, curiosity, and a renewed sense of purpose. Don't miss out on this insightful episode that will inspire you to approach music with acceptance and joy.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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The Big Myth About Playing What You Hear Apr 12, 2024

In this Fast Track Friday episode, Brent revisits the week's episodes and delves deeper into the theme of playing what you hear. He reflects on a recent question posed during one of the Inner Circle's live Q&A sessions, where a member sought advice on the best approach to improvisation. Drawing from personal experiences and expert insights, he navigates the complexities of auditory perception and instrumental fluency, offering listeners invaluable guidance on cultivating a holistic approach to musical development.
Through a candid exploration of improvisational techniques and the nuances of musical expression, Brent empowers listeners to embrace trial and error as essential components of the learning process. He shares practical strategies for deepening the connection between auditory imagination and instrumental execution, fostering a nuanced understanding of jazz improvisation.
With engaging anecdotes and expert commentary, Brent embarks on a journey of musical discovery, giving encouragement to explore new horizons and embrace the joy of creative expression. Don't miss out on this enriching discussion that promises to revolutionize your approach to playing jazz.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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The Importance of Muscle Memory and Jazz Improv Apr 11, 2024

In this episode, Brent discusses an intriguing question posed by listener Alan Kahn regarding the challenge of transitioning to a wind synthesizer from the trumpet and recapturing the ability to play by ear. Alan shares his previous experiences playing trumpet in various musical settings without extensive music theory knowledge, relying solely on his intuitive ability to improvise and captivate audiences. However, upon switching to the wind synthesizer and adapting to saxophone fingering, Alan finds himself grappling with the need to redevelop his capacity to play by ear. Brent expertly dissects Alan's dilemma, shedding light on the fundamental relationship between auditory perception and instrumental proficiency in jazz improvisation.
Brent emphasizes the critical role of muscle memory in bridging the gap between mental musical concepts and their execution on the instrument. Drawing parallels between conscious pattern recognition and subconscious improvisational fluency, He underscores the necessity of developing a profound understanding of one's instrument to unlock improvisational prowess.
Through practical examples and insightful commentary, Brent elucidates the intricate interplay between auditory acuity and technical mastery, empowering listeners to cultivate a holistic approach to musical development. With engaging anecdotes and expert guidance, he encourages musicians to embrace the journey of musical exploration and discovery, reminding them that true knowledge is manifested through action and deliberate, quality practice.
Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Play What I'm Hearing In My Head? Apr 10, 2024

In this episode, Brent addresses a crucial question posed by listener Troy West about bridging the gap between auditory imagination and instrumental execution in jazz improvisation. He offers invaluable insights and practical exercises to enhance the connection between what musicians hear in their minds and what they play on their instruments. He begins by discussing the fundamentals of ear training, emphasizing the importance of interval and chord recognition as essential skills for strengthening one's ear.
Brent highlights the inner circle's dedicated ear training course, "How to Play What You Hear," as a valuable resource for aspiring jazz musicians seeking to refine their auditory perception and improvisational abilities.
Continuing the discussion, Brent introduces two pivotal exercises: melodic dictation and learning melodies and solos by ear. Through melodic dictation, musicians develop the skill to swiftly translate musical ideas heard in their minds onto their instruments. Brent underscores the significance of this exercise in cultivating spontaneous creativity and strengthening the connection between auditory perception and instrumental execution.
Tune in to embark on a transformative journey of musical growth and mastery.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Should I Plan Out My Jazz Solos? Apr 09, 2024

In this episode, Brent answers a thought-provoking question from listener Winfried Wilms about achieving a final version of improvisation. Through a captivating exploration, Brent unpacks the complexities of planning versus improvising in jazz solos. Drawing upon his extensive experience as a jazz musician and educator, he navigates the nuances of preparing for performances while maintaining the essence of improvisation.
He emphasizes the importance of balancing structured practice with spontaneity, highlighting how composition exercises can enhance improvisational skills without sacrificing creativity. Through insightful analogies to sports and music, Brent demonstrates the dynamic interplay between preparation, muscle memory, and improvisational fluency, offering valuable insights for musicians at any level.
Brent brings on a journey of musical discovery and growth, exploring the intersection of practice, performance, and creativity in jazz improvisation. With engaging anecdotes and practical advice, he empowers aspiring jazz musicians to embrace the joy of spontaneous expression while honing their craft through deliberate practice.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Why The Blues Is Important For Jazz? Apr 08, 2024

In this week's episode, Brent delves into an intriguing question from listener Cliff Bryant: Which came first, the blues or jazz? Through a captivating exploration, Brent unravels the historical and musical connections between these two iconic genres. From the roots of the blues in African American culture to its profound influence on the birth of jazz in early 20th-century New Orleans, Brent paints a vivid picture of the interconnectedness between these musical traditions.
Drawing upon his wealth of knowledge and engaging storytelling, Brent demonstrates why understanding the blues is essential for any jazz musician and why it continues to resonate deeply in modern jazz and beyond.
Throughout the episode, he emphasizes the timeless significance of the blues and its enduring impact on diverse musical styles, from rock and R&B to hip-hop and pop. He highlights how the essence of the blues permeates modern jazz, even in avant-garde expressions, and underscores the importance of studying this foundational genre for jazz improvisation and musical understanding.
So tune in, subscribe, and join Brent on this fascinating exploration of the blues and its profound influence on jazz and beyond.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Steal My Jazz Gig Setlist! Apr 05, 2024

In this Fast Track Friday episode, Brent dives into the intricacies of crafting an effective set list for jazz gigs. With a keen focus on maintaining energy levels and providing variety, he will walk you through an eight-song set list example, offering valuable insights into song selection and sequencing.
From upbeat tunes like "My Shining Hour" to soulful ballads like "Misty," each song choice is carefully explained in terms of its impact on the overall vibe and flow of the performance. Brent's practical tips and strategic approach to constructing setlists provide aspiring jazz musicians with a blueprint for curating engaging and memorable live performances.
He demonstrates how thoughtful planning can enhance the audience's experience and keep them engaged throughout the gig. Whether you're a seasoned performer looking to refine your set list or a budding musician seeking guidance on structuring your repertoire, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable strategies to elevate your live performances.
Tune in now to discover how to create compelling setlists that captivate audiences and leave a lasting impression.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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What Are Jazz Contrafacts and How Are They Useful? Apr 04, 2024

In this engaging episode, Brent tackles a fascinating question posed by Tiago Leyte about contrafacts and their role in jazz improvisation. Explaining the concept of contrafacts as new melodies crafted over existing chord progressions, Brent shares the benefits of exploring and composing these musical variations. Drawing on examples like rhythm changes and the classic contrafact "Oleo" by Sonny Rollins, he demonstrates how creating original counter-effects can enhance improvisational skills by focusing on crafting expressive melodies rather than relying solely on scales and patterns.
He discusses invaluable insights into the process of composing counter-effects, emphasizing the importance of simplicity, singability, and thematic repetition. Through practical advice and demonstration, he encourages musicians to experiment with composing their own melodies over familiar chord changes, fostering a deeper understanding of melody and musical expression in jazz improvisation.
Don't miss this opportunity to unlock new creative avenues in your jazz journey by exploring the world of contrafacts. Tune in now for a dose of inspiration and practical tips to elevate your improvisational skills.
Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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What's the Difference Between a Beginner and Pro Jazz Solo? Apr 03, 2024

In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards podcast, Brent addresses a fundamental question posed by Philip Sorge: What distinguishes a beginner jazz soloist from a master jazz soloist?
Exploring the differences in mindset and approach, Brent touches on how beginners often rely on scales and patterns, while seasoned improvisers prioritize spontaneity and a deep connection between ear and instrument.
Highlighting the journey from mechanical execution to expressive improvisation, he offers insights into how active listening and learning by ear can help aspiring jazz musicians develop their own unique voices on their instruments.
Through insightful analysis and practical advice, Brent encourages jazz musicians to embrace a holistic approach to jazz improvisation, rooted in creativity, spontaneity, and a deep connection between musical intuition and instrumental proficiency. Tune in to discover the secrets behind crafting melodies that resonate with the soul of jazz.
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How to Create a Setlist for a Jazz Gig Apr 02, 2024

In this insightful episode, Brent offers valuable insights on crafting the perfect setlist for jazz gigs, drawing from his extensive experience as a seasoned musician. Beginning with the importance of understanding one's role in performance, he discusses tailoring the setlist to suit different venues and atmospheres, whether it be background music for an upscale restaurant or energizing tunes for a lively bar setting.
He shares a structured approach and practical advice that contributes to a cohesive and engaging musical experience for both the audience and the performers.
From starting with high-energy crowd-pleasers to concluding on a memorable note, Brent's thoughtful recommendations provide practical guidance for musicians seeking to curate engaging and cohesive performances.
Don't miss out on Brent's upcoming Fast Track Friday episode, where he'll demonstrate how to apply these concepts with a sample setlist. Subscribe now to the podcast and elevate your jazz gig game to new heights!
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Improve Rhythm and Syncopation Apr 01, 2024

In this captivating episode, Brent explores the intricacies of rhythm and syncopation, offering invaluable insights and practical exercises to enhance your musical prowess.
Through a listener's inquiry about improving left-hand steadiness while navigating syncopated rhythms in the right hand, Brent expertly breaks down fundamental rhythmic concepts, guiding through various subdivisions and metronome exercises to strengthen their rhythmic foundation. With clear explanations and relatable examples, he demonstrates how to develop dexterity and independence between hands, providing valuable tips applicable to pianists and comping instrumentalists alike.
Brent's engaging discourse on rhythm and syncopation is sure to inspire and empower you in your quest for jazz excellence. Tune in to this enlightening episode and take the first step towards unlocking your rhythmic potential!
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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My Most Embarrassing Moment Playing Jazz Mar 29, 2024

In this Fast Track Friday episode, Brent shares a candid and humorous account of his most embarrassing moment playing jazz, offering valuable insights and lessons learned from the experience. Through this relatable anecdote, he underscores the importance of rhythm and time feel in jazz improvisation, emphasizing that impeccable note choices and musical knowledge can be overshadowed by deficiencies in rhythmic proficiency.
Drawing from his own journey of improvement, Brent provides practical tips and exercises for enhancing one's sense of rhythm and inner subdivision. He also highlights resources available to Inner Circle members for further development in this crucial aspect of jazz musicianship.
With humor and humility, Brent encourages one to embrace their weaknesses and work diligently to strengthen their rhythmic foundation, ultimately fostering growth and confidence in their jazz improvisation endeavors. Tune in to this insightful episode for a dose of inspiration and practical guidance on the road to becoming a better jazz musician!
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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The 3 Steps for Jazz Improvisation Mar 28, 2024

In this episode, Brent explores the foundational elements of jazz improvisation, answering a compelling question posed by Martin Kendall: Can we establish globally applicable first three steps to jazz improvisation basics? With his trademark enthusiasm and expertise, Brent introduces the concept of the "three pillars of jazz improvisation," offering a comprehensive roadmap to enhance improvisational skills, regardless of whatever instrument one plays.
Through engaging examples and insightful commentary, he underscores the significance of jazz repertoire, jazz language, and technique as essential components for aspiring jazz musicians.
Beginning with the importance of learning jazz standards as the cornerstone of jazz improvisation, Brent navigates through the realms of jazz language acquisition, emphasizing the value of listening to jazz masters and internalizing their musical vocabulary. He then transitions seamlessly into the realm of technique, both instrument-specific and jazz-specific, highlighting the critical role they play in honing one's improvisational prowess.
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How Do I Not Forget Jazz Licks I've Learned? Mar 27, 2024

In this episode, Brent addresses a common concern among jazz musicians: how to effectively internalize and recall jazz licks and patterns for improvisation. Through engaging dialogue and insightful guidance, Brent unveils a transformative approach to learning and incorporating musical vocabulary into one's playing.
Drawing from his own experiences and the questions posed by Alain Londes, Brent challenges conventional wisdom, emphasizing that the goal isn't simply to memorize endless licks but rather to assimilate them into one's musical language authentically.
With a step-by-step breakdown, Brent outlines a dynamic process for integrating learned licks into improvisational freedom. From learning by ear and practicing in all 12 keys to re-composing and ultimately improvising, he empowers listeners to cultivate a personal musical voice rooted in genuine expression.
Whether you're a seasoned jazz practitioner or a budding enthusiast, this episode offers invaluable insights to elevate your improvisational skills and unlock the true essence of jazz.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Improvise Over Giant Steps? Mar 26, 2024

In this episode, Brent discusses about the challenging realm of improvisation over John Coltrane's "Giant Steps." With a captivating blend of humor and expertise, he tackles Jeremy's question head-on, exploring strategies to navigate the complexities of this legendary jazz standard.
From unraveling the intricate chord progressions to dissecting Coltrane's improvisational techniques, Brent offers invaluable insights aimed at demystifying the daunting task of soloing over "Giant Steps."
Brent emphasizes the importance of understanding harmony, slowing down the tempo, and implementing melodic patterns. Drawing from his own experiences and the wisdom of jazz luminaries like Peter Bernstein, Brent equips aspiring jazz musicians with the tools and confidence to tackle this formidable composition.
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What Are Quartal Voicings and How Do You Use Them? Mar 25, 2024

In this episode, Brent addresses a question from an Inner Circle member about quartal voicings and their application in chord progressions. Brent breaks down the concept, explaining how they differ from traditional chord voicings by being stacked in fourths rather than thirds.
He explores their versatility, emphasizing their common use in modal playing and how they can enhance chord progressions, even in traditional diatonic harmony settings like two-five-one progressions.
Throughout the episode, Brent offers practical insights and examples, demonstrating how quartal voicings can add depth and texture to playing while also acknowledging their inherent ambiguity. Drawing on examples from jazz legends like McCoy Tyner, he encourages experimenting with quartal voicings in various musical contexts, adding that understanding the sound we aim to produce is key to using quartal voicings effectively.
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10 Jazz Solos You Should Learn Mar 22, 2024

Join Brent on another exciting episode for a deep dive into jazz solos worth learning. In this special Fast Track Friday edition, he reflects on the week's episodes and shares invaluable insights into the art of storytelling through jazz improvisation. From Miles Davis's iconic solo on "So What" to Chet Baker's emotive vocal solo on "It Could Happen To You," Brent highlights 10 captivating solos that offer valuable lessons in jazz language and storytelling.
Discover the melodic richness of Miles Davis's solos on "Freddie Freeloader" and "So What," perfect for beginners looking to delve into jazz improvisation. Explore the bebop brilliance of Charlie Parker's "Now Is The Time" and the thematic approach of Hank Mobley's "Someday My Prince Will Come" solo.
From the rhythmic mastery of Wynton Kelly's "Freddie Freeloader" to the raw emotion of Chet Baker's vocal improvisation, these solos offer a diverse range of styles and techniques for musicians of all levels.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to expand your jazz vocabulary and enhance your improvisational skills!
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How Do I Tell A Story With My Solo (Not Just Licks)? Mar 21, 2024

Don't miss today's podcast where Brent answers a question by Anthony, a seasoned music educator who poses a thought-provoking question about developing the ability to create narrative-driven solos rather than relying on pre-learned licks.
Brent dives deep into this topic, offering actionable strategies to help musicians of all levels infuse their improvisations with compelling storytelling. From composing your own solos to playing free and practicing motivic development, he provides invaluable insights to help you break free from the constraints of lick playing and elevate your improvisational skills to new heights.
Join Brent as he shares not only practical techniques but also classic jazz solos that exemplify great storytelling. Tomorrow's Fast Track Friday episode promises to be an enriching exploration of jazz legends who masterfully weave narratives into their improvisations. Don't miss out on this opportunity to enhance your musical journey!
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What Software Is Good For Learning Jazz? Mar 20, 2024

Get ready to unlock the secrets of jazz learning tools and software with Brent on the latest episode of the Learn Jazz Standards podcast. Caitlin, an Inner Circle member, poses a question that resonates with all jazz enthusiasts: What software and tools are helpful for learning and practicing jazz?
Brent dives deep into this topic, providing valuable insights and recommendations for musicians of all levels. He emphasizes the importance of leveraging technology to enhance your learning experience, whether you're transcribing melodies, practicing with backing tracks, or organizing your practice sessions. His thorough exploration covers essential tools like slow downers, backing track software, practice organizers like Audacity, recording apps, and music notation software, offering practical advice to help you level up your jazz skills.
Don't miss out on this enlightening episode packed with actionable tips and recommendations to supercharge your jazz learning journey!
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What Are Drop 2 Voicings and How Are They Useful? Mar 19, 2024

In this episode, Brent explores the world of jazz voicings. Phil, an Inner Circle member, poses a thought-provoking question about drop two voicings and their relevance across different instruments, sparking an insightful discussion.
Brent breaks down the concept of drop two voicings and their practical applications, not only for guitarists but also for horn and piano players. Through clear explanations and musical demonstrations, he reveals how drop two voicings can enhance harmony, create melodic possibilities, and add depth to improvisation.
Whether you're a seasoned musician or just starting your jazz journey, this episode offers valuable insights into the versatility of drop two voicings and their role in jazz music. Tune in, subscribe, and share the podcast to explore new horizons in jazz playing!
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Resolve Your Jazz Lines Effectively? Mar 18, 2024

In this episode, Brent explores the intricacies of resolving licks and lines on chord tones, shedding light on why certain resolutions are more effective than others. Drawing from a listener's question about chord resolutions, he breaks down the importance of targeting specific chord tones like the third and fifth, rather than solely relying on the root note.
Through insightful explanations and musical demonstrations, Brent gives guides on how to incorporate these techniques into actual playing, offering practical exercises and jazz language insights. Tune in to enhance your improvisational skills and take your jazz playing to the next level.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to transform your practice sessions with focused, effective techniques!
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Stay Motivated to Practice Mar 15, 2024

In this episode, Brent reflects on the theme of motivation in practicing, an aspect crucial for sustained improvement and progress in jazz and music. With insightful commentary drawn from the experiences of Inner Circle members, he explores the various strategies to stay motivated and inspired on the musical journey. From cultivating a supportive community to setting performance goals and embracing quality education resources, Brent offers a holistic approach to keeping the fire alive in your practice routine.
Listen as you are treated to a wealth of practical advice and motivational insights, ranging from the importance of remembering one's "why" to the transformative power of engaging with great music. Whether you're seeking to reignite your passion for music or looking for actionable strategies to enhance your practice routine, this episode provides invaluable guidance to help you stay motivated and focused on your musical goals.
Tune in now to discover how to cultivate a mindset of sustained motivation and unlock your full potential as a musician.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Can Other Instruments Play Pianistically? Mar 14, 2024

In this episode, Brent answers an intriguing question posed by Ben Collis about playing pianistically, a topic relevant to musicians of all instruments, not just pianists. Brent unravels the concept of playing pianistically, focusing on chord voicings and voice-leading techniques that can enhance musicianship across the board.
With insightful commentary and practical examples, he breaks down the essence of pianistic playing, offering valuable insights into chord voicings, voice leading, and the nuances of musical expression.
Dive into the comprehensive exploration of pianistic techniques applicable to various instruments, including guitar, saxophone, and trumpet. Whether you're a seasoned musician or a budding enthusiast, this episode provides actionable advice and fresh perspectives to elevate your musical prowess.
Tune in now to discover how to infuse your playing with pianistic flair and unlock new dimensions of musical expression.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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When Do You Know a Song Well Enough to Perform It? Mar 13, 2024

In this episode, Brent tackles a common query from Inner Circle member James Abrams: How do you know when you've truly mastered a jazz tune and it's performance-ready? Through insightful commentary and personal anecdotes, Brent dives deep into the nuanced psychology of performance readiness, offering a wealth of practical advice for aspiring jazz musicians. He challenges the notion of ever feeling fully prepared for performance while providing a roadmap for achieving a level of readiness that instills confidence and competence.
Listen as Brent explores the perpetual pursuit of musical excellence, as he unpacks the essential components of performance readiness. With a refreshing blend of realism and encouragement, he empowers musicians to embrace the inherent uncertainty of performance while equipping them with the tools to navigate challenges with confidence.
Tune in to this episode for actionable insights, invaluable tips, and a newfound perspective on the journey to musical mastery.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Should I Learn a Second Instrument? (Pros and Cons) Mar 12, 2024

In this episode, Brent answers a thought-provoking question posed by an Inner Circle member, Aaron Albrecht: Should musicians consider learning a second instrument to enhance their jazz playing? Brent navigates the complexities of this inquiry by exploring the pros and cons, offering invaluable insights to listeners grappling with similar decisions. Through personal anecdotes and practical analysis, Brent illuminates the potential benefits of diversifying one's musical skill set while also acknowledging the inherent challenges and trade-offs involved.
Listen to Brent's journey of self-discovery and musical exploration as he unpacks the multifaceted implications of pursuing proficiency on a second instrument. From unlocking new perspectives and synergies to confronting the inevitable time constraints and sacrifices, Brent provides a nuanced framework for weighing the decision's merits.
With his signature blend of enthusiasm and expertise, he empowers aspiring jazz musicians to make informed choices that align with their goals and aspirations. Tune in to this enlightening episode for actionable advice, compelling anecdotes, and a fresh perspective on the age-old question of whether to embrace a second instrument in the pursuit of musical excellence.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Avoid Getting Lost In The Form? Mar 11, 2024

In this week's episode, Brent addresses one of the most common challenges faced by jazz musicians: staying within the form while improvising. Through an insightful listener question, Brent explores practical strategies to overcome this hurdle, emphasizing the importance of preparation and developing a strong sense of rhythm and time.
Valuable insights and actionable advice are discussed, as Brent points out the significance of thorough song preparation. He also shares effective practice techniques to enhance internal timekeeping skills.
By breaking down complex improvisation challenges into manageable exercises and emphasizing the iterative nature of practice, Brent empowers musicians of all levels to navigate jazz standards with confidence and proficiency and unlock the secrets to mastering improvisation while staying firmly rooted within the song form.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Prepare For a Jazz Performance Mar 08, 2024

In this insightful Fast Track Friday episode, Brent discusses the critical topic of preparing for jazz performances, whether it's a gig, a jam session, or any other musical engagement. Reflecting on the themes covered throughout the week, Brent emphasizes the importance of preparation in reducing stage fright, allowing licks to flow organically in solos and mastering jazz jam session etiquette. With a focus on practical strategies, Brent offers a roadmap to navigate the complexities of musical preparation with confidence and clarity.
Drawing from his own experiences as a musician and educator, Brent shares valuable insights and highlights the significance of understanding the musical context of a performance and tailoring one's preparation accordingly.
Through actionable advice and encouraging words, Brent inspires musicians to embrace the journey of preparation, reminding them that progress often begins with stepping outside one's comfort zone and taking action.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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What Is Good Jazz Jam Session Etiquette? Mar 07, 2024

In this episode, Brent tackles a common concern for jazz musicians: jam session etiquette. Delving into a question from Monnie Murray about the appropriate duration of solos in a jam session, Brent offers insightful advice for navigating these musical gatherings with confidence and respect. He emphasizes the importance of preparation, to familiarize oneself with the repertoire of jazz standards likely to be played at the session.
Drawing from his own experiences and observations, he provides a comprehensive guide to jam session etiquette, addressing issues such as volume control, instrumental balance, and the art of ending a solo gracefully. He advocates for a mindset of musical generosity, encouraging musicians to prioritize the collective experience over individual prowess.
Whether you're a seasoned player or a newcomer to the jazz scene, this episode offers invaluable insights to enhance your jam session experience and foster meaningful musical connections.
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How Do I Deal With Stage Fright? Mar 06, 2024

In this episode, Brent explores a topic that resonates with every musician: stage fright. With a blend of personal anecdotes and professional advice, Brent navigates the multifaceted nature of performance anxiety, addressing both the fear of playing in front of audiences and the anxiety of performing in front of fellow musicians. Drawing from his own experiences and insights from mental health professionals, he offers practical strategies for managing stage fright, from deep breathing exercises to the cultivation of a growth mindset.
Whether you're a seasoned performer or a beginner grappling with performance anxiety, this episode offers a wealth of wisdom to help you navigate the challenges of live performance and unlock your full potential as a musician.
Tune in and embark on a transformative journey toward confidence, creativity, and musical fulfillment.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Get Licks To Come Out In My Solos? Mar 05, 2024

In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards podcast, Brent tackles a common question: How can jazz musicians seamlessly integrate learned licks into their solos? He breaks down the purpose of learning licks as a means of understanding the jazz language and offers practical strategies for internalizing them effectively. Through insightful analogies and step-by-step guidance, Brent emphasizes the importance of ear training and repetition in mastering jazz vocabulary.
By exploring variations and crafting unique phrases, musicians can develop a deeper understanding of melodic construction and enhance their improvisational repertoire. Brent's approach emphasizes the importance of creativity and experimentation to evolve beyond imitation and cultivate one's own artistic identity.
Whether you're honing your skills in the practice room or jamming with fellow musicians, this episode offers invaluable guidance for unlocking your improvisational potential and elevating your jazz playing to new heights. Don't miss out on this insightful discussion packed with practical tips and inspiring insights.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Important Is Reading Music Notation for Jazz? Mar 04, 2024

In this episode, Brent dives into a thought-provoking question: Is it necessary to read sheet music to learn jazz? Through insightful anecdotes and practical advice, Brent explores the role of sheet music in jazz education and highlights the importance of ear training in mastering the genre.
He navigates the nuances of learning music by ear versus reading notation, offering valuable insights for aspiring jazz musicians. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting your jazz journey, this episode provides a comprehensive discussion on effective learning strategies and the significance of balancing traditional methods with innovative approaches.
Tune in for inspiring perspectives and practical tips that could transform your jazz playing.
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Using Composition to Improvise Great Jazz Solos Mar 01, 2024

In this Fast Track Friday episode of the Learn Jazz Standards podcast, Brent reflects on the week's discussions, focusing on the theme of turning theory into practical musical expression through improvisation.
He introduces composition as a powerful tool for jazz musicians to internalize musical language and develop their improvisational skills. By likening composition to slowed-down improvisation, Brent underscores its role in facilitating the creative process and fostering musical growth.
He encourages doing compositional exercises to explore musical ideas, apply theoretical knowledge, and track progress over time. Through composition, musicians can not only shape their improvisational vocabulary but also embark on a transformative musical journey, embracing the joy of creative expression and musical discovery.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Are Pro Jazz Musicians Actually Improvising? Feb 29, 2024

In this episode, Brent addresses a question from Jeff, a tenor saxophonist seeking advice on improvisation. Jeff describes himself as a "grinder" who takes time to develop musical ideas for jazz standards, often playing them similarly each time.
Brent explains how improvisation is similar to a natural conversation, where familiar phrases and expressions are woven into spontaneous dialogue. He emphasizes the importance of preparation in becoming a proficient improviser, highlighting techniques, internalizing musical vocabulary, and honing technical skills.
By understanding the dynamic interplay between rehearsed ideas and spontaneous creativity, musicians can embrace their unique journey of mastering the language of jazz.
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How Do I Know the Real Melody to a Jazz Standard? Feb 28, 2024

In this episode, Brent tackles a question from an inner circle member named Paul about determining the correct melody when faced with various interpretations of jazz standards. He emphasizes the importance of learning melodies by ear rather than solely relying on sheet music, as it enhances ear training and allows for a deeper understanding of musical expression.
He provides valuable insights into identifying the true melody of a jazz standard, suggesting that for Great American Songbook tunes, singers like Frank Sinatra serve as reliable sources for straight renditions of melodies.
Additionally, Brent advises turning to original recordings by jazz legends for jazz originals, highlighting the authenticity and intended interpretations found in these recordings. By prioritizing ear-based learning and seeking guidance from iconic recordings, musicians can develop a deeper connection to jazz standards and hone their improvisational skills.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Use Triad Pairs? Feb 27, 2024

In this episode, Brent addresses a question from Chris Hercules about improvising with triads. He begins by explaining the concept of harmonizing triads within a diatonic context.
Brent breaks down how different triads can be derived from the scale, providing insights into understanding and utilizing triads effectively. He then introduces the concept of triad pairs, which involves using two triads generated from a diatonic scale to improvise.
He demonstrates how triad pairs can be applied in improvisation to create engaging and melodic lines. Brent emphasizes experimentation and practical application while offering valuable tips for incorporating triads into jazz improvisation.
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Why Diminished Arpeggios Sound Awesome Over Dominant 7ths? Feb 26, 2024

In this week's episode, Brent answers an intriguing question posed by a podcast listener about using diminished arpeggios over dominant seventh chords.
He breaks down the theory behind this concept, explaining how diminished arpeggios can enhance improvisation and add tension and resolution to playing. He demonstrates how to apply this knowledge practically to create exciting new sounds.
By exploring the relationship between diminished arpeggios and dominant seventh chords, Brent provides valuable insights into jazz theory while emphasizing the importance of practical application in musical learning.
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The B.A.D Jazz Solo Strategy Feb 23, 2024

In today's Fast Track Friday episode, Brent unveils the Bad Jazz Solo method, an innovative approach designed to revolutionize your practice routine.
The Bad Jazz Solo, represented by the acronym B-A-D, is a strategic tool for self-improvement. Brent walks you through the process, emphasizing the importance of bravery in leaving your ego at the door, taking risks, and embracing mistakes as opportunities for growth.
By going into the process, you'll gain invaluable insights into your playing, discover your strengths and weaknesses, and then develop actionable strategies to address areas needing improvement. With Brent's guidance, you'll learn how to become your own jazz coach, unlocking new levels of self-awareness and musical proficiency.
Don't settle for mediocrity in your jazz playing. Tune in now to learn how the B.A.D Jazz Solo strategy can elevate your musical journey to a new level.
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What's the Best Way to Learn How to Improvise? Feb 22, 2024

In this episode, Brent celebrates his birthday by making a simple request. A question from Rob about how to learn improvisation without extensive music theory knowledge is discussed.
Brent offers a comprehensive approach to improvisation, beginning with a simple yet effective tool. He underscores the importance of experimentation and gradual improvement, encouraging embracing the process of improvisation. Moreover, he introduces the concept of learning jazz language by dissecting small licks and ideas, illustrating how to apply and personalize them in improvisation.
Additionally, he suggests understanding chord tones and expanding repertoire as crucial steps toward advanced improvisation skills. With over 400 episodes dedicated to jazz improvisation, Brent emphasizes the significance of actionable practice and continuous learning.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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What to Do If Your Playing Is Not Improving Feb 21, 2024

This podcast episode discusses about the common struggle of feeling stuck in your musical journey and offers actionable advice to reignite your progress.

Join Brent as he addresses a question from Inner Circle member Eric about overcoming the feeling of stagnation in your jazz playing. You'll gain valuable insights about recognizing and overcoming obstacles that may be hindering your improvement.

Discover the importance of taking breaks, analyzing your practice routine, and identifying areas for growth to maximize your practice time effectively. Brent's practical strategies and relatable anecdotes will inspire you to approach your musical journey with renewed enthusiasm and purpose.

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How to Play At Faster Speeds Feb 20, 2024

Dive into the rhythm and speed of jazz with Brent on this latest podcast! In this episode, Brent tackles a question from Peter Bowen about developing an impeccable time feel and playing faster without losing your groove. With Brent's expert guidance, you'll uncover the secrets to mastering both the technical and rhythmic aspects of playing at lightning speeds.
Discover how to cultivate a solid time feel by practicing with subdivisions and varying tempos, and learn practical exercises to elevate your jazz piano skills and improvisational language. Brent's actionable tips and insights will empower you to take your jazz playing to new heights.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to fine-tune your musical abilities and unleash your full potential.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Can I Play Bebop Solos Without Learning Scales? Feb 19, 2024

In this podcast episode, Brent is back to tackle another round of jazz music questions. Bernard from Germany asks a crucial question: how can he make his solos sound more like bebop without diving deep into learning all the different bebop scales?
Brent dives into the essence of bebop, highlighting its significance as the foundational dialect of jazz. While acknowledging the relevance of bebop scales, he suggests alternative approaches to infusing bebop style into your solos, emphasizing the importance of understanding chromatic passing notes.
Tune in to discover Brent's two key strategies for achieving that authentic bebop sound, promising to make your jazz journey less daunting and a lot more fun. Whether you're a seasoned musician or just starting, this episode offers invaluable insights to elevate your jazz improvisation skills.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Improve Just By Listening to Jazz Feb 16, 2024

Throughout the week, Brent has been uncovering the secrets of a game-changing concept: mastering jazz without touching your instrument. And now, on this Fast Track Friday episode, he's ready to share his ultimate strategy!
Get ready for a sonic adventure as Brent reveals how to dissect jazz recordings like a seasoned pro. Discover the hidden intricacies of your favorite jazz standards by marking their forms and uncovering the rhythmic and harmonic tapestry that lies within.
But that's just the beginning. he takes it a step further, showing you how to zoom in on individual instruments, from Miles Davis' evocative trumpet to Wynton Kelly's mesmerizing piano, unlocking a world of musical nuances you never knew existed.
So, if you're ready to take your jazz journey to the next level, don't miss out on this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast!
Important Links:
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The Best Jazz Guitar Albums Ever Feb 15, 2024

In this podcast episode, Brent dives into the realm of jazz guitar albums, offering listeners a curated selection of classics and modern masterpieces. From the pioneering work of Django Reinhardt to the innovative compositions of Kurt Rosenwinkel.
Brent provides a diverse range of albums that capture the essence of jazz guitar. He also explores the unique collaboration between Sonny Rollins and guitarist Jim Hall, highlighting its significance in showcasing the guitar's comping capabilities.
This episode offers a captivating journey through the evolution of jazz guitar and the timeless albums that define its legacy.
Tune in to discover the sounds that have shaped jazz guitar and inspired generations of musicians.
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How to Practice Without Your Instrument Feb 14, 2024

In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards podcast, Brent tackles a common concern voiced by inner circle member Keith about preparing for gigs or recording sessions when away from one's instrument. Offering practical advice and insights, he discusses the importance of staying connected with music even when not physically practicing.
Brent emphasizes the importance of staying connected with music through active listening as a form of practice, offering practical tips to internalize melodies, bass lines, and solos away from the instrument.
Don't miss out on this insightful episode filled with actionable tips to level up your musical skills!
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How to Use an Altered Dominant Chord Feb 13, 2024

In this episode of the podcast, Brent delves into the intriguing world of altered dominant seventh chords. From understanding their basic structure to exploring their role in jazz harmony and improvisation, he provides invaluable insights and practical tips to help master this essential aspect of jazz music.
This episode promises to demystify altered dominant seventh chords and elevate your understanding of jazz theory and improvisation.
In addition to unraveling the mysteries of altered dominant seventh chords, Brent emphasizes the importance of persistence and continuous learning in the journey of musical growth.
Tune in now and discover how to add depth and complexity to your playing with altered dominant seventh chords!

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How to Reharmonize Jazz Standards Feb 12, 2024

Join Brent on another engaging episode of the podcast, where he dives into the captivating world of reharmonization. From basic concepts like tritone substitution to more advanced techniques like re-composition, Brent provides a crash course in reharmonization strategies that will take your jazz playing to the next level.
Whether you're a seasoned musician or just starting out, this episode promises valuable insights and practical tips to help you feel more confident improvising and have more fun than ever playing your instrument.
Tune in now and unlock the secrets of reharmonization!
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Best Exercise for Becoming a More Melodic Player Feb 09, 2024

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.
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Did the Jazz Greats Use Music Theory? Feb 08, 2024

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.
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How Much Do I Need to Practice to Get Great At Jazz? Feb 07, 2024

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.
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How Do I Analyze Chord Changes And Construct Solos? Feb 06, 2024

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.
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How to Use the Bebop Scales In Jazz Feb 05, 2024

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.
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How to Develop Your Own Sound Feb 02, 2024

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.
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How Do I Play More Creative Ideas in My Solos? Feb 01, 2024

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.
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How Jazz Pianists and Guitarists Should Play Together Jan 31, 2024

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.
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How to Get Better At Swing Feel and Jazz Phrasing Jan 30, 2024

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.
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What's the Best Way to Play Chromatic Jazz Lines? Jan 29, 2024

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.
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3 Mindset Shifts to Improve At Jazz Faster Jan 26, 2024

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.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How Do I Recognize Secondary Dominants In Jazz? Jan 25, 2024

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.
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How Do I Improvise Over Unrelated Chords? Jan 24, 2024

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.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Can Non-Jazz Instruments Play Jazz? Jan 23, 2024

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.
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The Biggest Challenge In Jazz I've Ever Faced Jan 22, 2024

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.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Create Less Choppy Solos Jan 19, 2024

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.
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How Do I Turn Scales and Arpeggios Into Solos? Jan 18, 2024

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.
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What Are Ghost Notes in Jazz? Jan 17, 2024

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.
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Who Is The Greatest Jazz Guitarist of All Time? Jan 16, 2024

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.
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Is Good Instrument Technique Important for Jazz? Jan 15, 2024

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.
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The One Jazz Standard Strategy for Jazz Jan 12, 2024

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.
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How Do I Retain the Songs I've Learned? Jan 11, 2024

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.
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Which Metronomes Are Good For Jazz? Jan 10, 2024

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.
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Should I Be Counting When I Solo? Jan 09, 2024

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.
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What Size of Jazz Band is Best? Jan 08, 2024

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.
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The Batch Practice Method for Jazz Jan 05, 2024

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.
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Should I Think When I Improvise? Jan 04, 2024

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.
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Use the Melodic Minor In Jazz Jan 03, 2024

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.
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Who's the First Ever Jazz Musician? Jan 02, 2024

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.
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The Best Songs for Jazz Beginners Jan 01, 2024

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.
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Introducing Season 2 of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast Jan 01, 2024

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
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Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Why I'm taking a break from the podcast... Oct 09, 2023

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.
In this episode:
Why this isn't a goodbye...
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How a Hobbyist Musician Created a Pro Jazz Album (feat. Christian Schrader) Oct 02, 2023

"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
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5 Ways to Make Practice Not Boring Sep 25, 2023

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.
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Revisiting the Fundamentals of Learning Jazz Sep 18, 2023

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
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

10 Tips for Learning Music By Ear Sep 11, 2023

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
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

9 Jazz Chord Progressions You Need to Know Sep 04, 2023

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
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Free Masterclass: Jazz Standards Mastery Formula Aug 28, 2023

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.
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Free Masterclass: Orchestrating Your Musical Breakthrough Aug 21, 2023

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.

Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Free Masterclass: Your Best Jazz Playing Ever Aug 14, 2023

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
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Free Masterclass: How to Effortlessly Improvise Amazing Jazz Solos Aug 07, 2023

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.
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Learn Lots of Jazz Songs Quickly Jul 31, 2023

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.
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The Best Way to Learn a Jazz Song Jul 24, 2023

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.
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Become A Jazz Master Jul 17, 2023

So, what does it take to become a jazz master? I'm talking about someone who plays jazz at the highest possible level, feels comfortable playing in any situation, and always plays amazing music that wows other people.
I'm going to talk today about what I see as the formula for becoming a jazz master, everything that you need to essentially become really good at to get to that level.
In this episode:
- A jazz master is someone who is proficient at playing jazz and their instrument, whether famous or not.
- Mastery doesn't mean reaching the highest level of expertise, as there's always room for growth and innovation.
- What it takes to become a jazz master:
#1. Instrument proficiency
#2. Ear-training
#3. Music theory knowledge
#4. Mastery of rhythm and time feel
#5. Having an extensive repertoire
#6. Great reading skills
#7. Ability to play well with other people
#8. Possesses a high level of confidence
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The Pros and Cons of Practicing In All 12 Keys Jul 10, 2023

So you've probably heard the advice before that learning material in All 12 Keys is a great idea, whether it be for the sake of playing jazz or any other style of music.
You've probably heard this conventional wisdom before and wondered to yourself is it really worth my practice time to learn things in All 12 Keys, or is it really just this frustrating process that doesn't really have a lot of net benefit?
Well, in today's podcast episode, we're going to talk all about playing in All 12 Keys, the pros and the cons, as well as some tips for going about learning material in All 12 Keys.
In this episode:
1. Pros of practicing in all 12 keys include developing instrument mastery and a fuller understanding of improvisation.
2. Practicing in all 12 keys expands options and allows playing in different keys.
3. It enhances musical versatility and adaptability.
4. Transposing music into different keys improves ear training and tonal recognition.
5. It aids in understanding music theory and chord-scale relationships.
6. Practicing in all 12 keys improves overall technical proficiency.
7. It stimulates creativity and fosters new musical ideas in each key.
8. Practicing in all 12 keys builds confidence for diverse musical situations.
9. It inspires and opens up new musical possibilities.
10. It deepens musical fluency and facilitates effective communication with other musicians.
11. Transposing music into different keys promotes a deeper understanding of harmony.
12. It cultivates a connection and appreciation for various musical genres and styles.
13. Cons may involve the amount of work and transposing required, but the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

25 Jazz Albums Every Jazz Musician Needs to Know Jul 03, 2023

One of the most important things that you can do is listen to jazz music, and that seems so simple, but literally you are practicing when you listen to jazz music.
You will become a better jazz musician, simply by putting on your headphones or putting them on the speakers and just listening to how this music actually sounds.
So today I'm gonna talk about 25 jazz albums that every jazz musician absolutely needs to know, absolutely needs to listen to.
In this episode:
1. Listening to jazz is essential for becoming a great jazz musician.
2. Being aware of different styles and artists in jazz is important for personal growth and inspiration.
3. Jazz albums can have a transformative effect on a musician's playing.
#1: Louis Armstrong's "Complete Hot Five and Hot Seven Sessions"
#2: Duke Ellington's "Live at Newport"
#3: Count Basie's "The Complete Deca Recordings"
#4: Benny Goodman's "The Famous 1938 Carnegie Hall Jazz Concert"
#5: Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie's "Quintet Jazz at Massey Hall"
#6: "Charlie Parker with Strings" - Charlie Parker
#7: Sonny Rollins' "Saxophone Colossus"
#8: John Coltrane's "Blue Train"
#9: Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers' "Moanin'"
#10: "Sonny Side Up" by Dizzy Gillespie
#11: "Boss Tenors" by Gene Ammons and Sonny Stitt
#12: "Soul Station" by Hank Mobley
#13: Wes Montgomery's "Boss Guitar"
#14. "Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis
#15: "Time Out" by Dave Brubeck
#16: "Mingus Ah Um" by Charles Mingus
#17: "The Shape of Jazz to Come" by Ornette Coleman
#18: "Giant Steps" by John Coltrane
#19: "A Love Supreme" by John Coltrane
#20: "The Blues in the Abstract Truth" by Oliver Nelson
#21: "Bitches Brew" by Miles Davis
#22: "Head Hunters" by Herbie Hancock
#23: "Heavy Weather" by Weather Report
#24: "Bright Size Life" by Pat Metheny
#25: "Deep Song" by Kurt Rosenwinkel
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The Dark Side of Jazz Musician Culture Jun 26, 2023

The movie Whiplash came out in 2014 and it's about this young jazz drummer named Andrew Nyman, who is determined to succeed as a jazz musician, and he's driven by his demanding music teacher, Terrence Fletcher, who can be best described as a harsh, ruthless yet highly respected instructor who really has abusive teaching methods.
And Andrew the drummer, a student at college, can best be described as an overly ambitious young musician who is completely obsessed with improving and, of course, fulfilling his desire to be a great musician.
And when this movie first came out and I watched it I absolutely hated it. I hated it because to me it seemed like this completely wrong view of what it's like to be an aspiring musician or what it's like to be instructed by great jazz musicians.
Is it really this abusive, horrifying, stressful, deprecating experience? And for me, I just absolutely hated the notion that this could possibly be true. Or let's go to another movie that depicts jazz, La La Land, where Ryan Gosling plays a character, where he's this musician trying to make it, a jazz musician trying to make it in Los Angeles, and his personality type is that of a very narrow, single-minded, focused, overly obsessed musician who has to "sell out" by starting to play in a jazz fusion band in order to prove to his girlfriend that he actually can make a living in the music.
So really, even though I actually liked some of the depictions of jazz within this movie and what it's like to be a musician, I still hated the fact that it seems like the characters are just absolutely swarmed in this dark cloud that is raining on them with self-loathing, with obsession, with all of this negativity. And then I realized why I hate it so much. And it's not because, unfortunately, that it's entirely untrue, as I originally had felt when I first washed Whiplash. Sure, absolutely very exaggerated examples of a problem that can exist.
But nevertheless, there's always a little bit of truth in things that you find so repulsive. There's always something in there that's actually correct. So in today's episode, I want to talk about the dark side of jazz musician culture and what can be done about it and how you should be thinking about improving as a musician, and the way that you want to enjoy playing this music.
In this episode:
1. Questioning the kind of jazz community one wants to be part of and the relationship with music.
2. Exploring the dark side of jazz musician culture, starting with the perception of superiority.
3. The negative effects of perceiving jazz as superior to other music styles.
4. The unhealthy mindset of considering oneself a superior musician.
5. The importance of avoiding the perception of superiority and embracing a more inclusive view of music.
6. The dark side of the "practice until your fingers bleed" mentality and its negative impact.
7. Advocating for practicing smarter, not harder, and surrounding oneself with musicians who share this mindset.
8. The detrimental "school of hard knocks" mentality and abusive teaching styles in jazz education.
9. Encouraging a more supportive and nurturing approach to teaching and collaboration in the jazz community.
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Jazz Teacher vs. Jazz Coach - Which One Do You Need? Jun 19, 2023

Have you ever played sports on a team before? Perhaps while you were growing up, and if you've ever done that before, you probably had a coach.
Now, I know for a fact that you have gone to school before, at least to some degree elementary school, high school, perhaps even college and while you were in school, you had what's called a teacher, and the difference between a coach and a teacher is actually quite interesting, and that's really what we're going to talk about today.
When it comes to your jazz playing and improving as a jazz musician, which one do you need, a jazz coach or a jazz teacher? And depending on where you're at and what you need to accomplish at this given moment in your musicianship, one may be better than the other for you.
In this episode:
1. The difference between jazz coaches and jazz teachers.
2. The importance of having both teachers to improve as a jazz musician.
3. While free resources like podcasts and YouTube are helpful, investing in music education is crucial for growth.
4. A jazz teacher imparts new information and skills, such as scales, music theory, and specific techniques.
5. A jazz coach refines and improves knowledge and abilities, provides direction, and helps players progress.
6. Jazz coaches are valuable for those with a basic understanding of their instrument, who need guidance and a pathway to improve faster.
7. Teachers and coaches can overlap in their roles, and individuals may require both at different stages of their musical journey.
8. Using the "B.A.D." framework used by jazz coaches to help students analyze their solos and improve strategically.
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

3 Melodic Minor Scale Jazz Improv Hacks Jun 12, 2023

The melodic minor scale is one of those scales that can be used to explain what we call "chord scale theory" in jazz improvisation. It's essentially like the mixture of a minor scale and a major scale, having the major third included in it, and you can do all sorts of different cool things, playing the melodic minor scale in different sorts of ways over top of different kinds of chords.
Well, in today's episode, I want to simplify all of that. Forget about all of the possibilities that you could use the melodic minor scale and jazz improvisation and narrow it down to three. That, I think, will be really helpful for you for using the melodic minor scale.
In this episode:
The melodic minor scale is a versatile scale in jazz improvisation.

Simplify the approach by focusing on three specific applications of the melodic minor scale.
Scales are tools for conceptualizing note choices, not the primary resource for improvisation.
The first application is using the melodic minor scale a minor third up from a half-diminished chord.
The second application is using the melodic minor scale a half step up from a dominant seventh chord, creating an altered sound.
The third application is using the melodic minor scale of the minor chord itself.
The melodic minor scale can provide altered sounds and substitutions for minor chords.
Understanding the melodic minor scale and its applications help develop patterns and muscle memory for improvisation.
Jazz musicians focus on hearing the scale's sound rather than analyzing each note.
The melodic minor scale provides pitch collections that sound good over specific chords in jazz standards.

Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

About My Bad Relationship With Music... Jun 05, 2023

Hey, I've got a question for you. What's your relationship with music like? Is it good? Is it bad? Is it perhaps a little bit of both?
Well, on today's episode, I'm gonna get a little bit vulnerable with you, share a little bit my personal life experience with music, my journey with music, and how oftentimes in this journey of playing music and exploring it and getting better, it was quite an abusive and unhealthy relationship.
And this past of mine with a bad relationship with music has greatly informed how I approach teaching jazz and the way I help my inner circle members and beyond so that they don't have the same relationship with music for themselves.
In this episode:
1. My personal experience with music and how it has shaped his approach to teaching jazz.
2. Developing a strong attachment to your identity as a musician and the self-worth tied to your musical abilities.
3. The comparison game and the constant feeling of dissatisfaction with your own playing.
4. The extreme practicing and the focus on becoming the best musician, leads to a skewed mindset.
5. The importance of dissatisfaction as a driving force for improvement that emphasizes the negative consequences of constantly feeling unsatisfied.
6. The impact of stress and anxiety on playing, particularly when comparing yourself to others.
7. Avoiding the same mindset and mistakes others made by promoting a healthier and more enjoyable approach to playing music.

Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Taking Musical Shots to Increase Your Success Rate May 29, 2023

"You miss 100% of the shots that you don't take".
Have you ever heard that old Wayne Gretzky quote? That's the greatest hockey player that ever lived. Or was it Michael Scott from The Office? I get that one a little bit confused sometimes. Anyways, we're gonna talk about that quote, "You miss 100% of the shots that you don't take".
In today's episode, we're going to be talking about some musical mindset and how we can propel our music and our jazz playing forward.
In this episode:
1. The quote "You miss 100% of the shots that you don't take" is attributed to Wayne Gretzky, the famous hockey player.
2. The importance of taking action and not being afraid to try new things.
3. The analogy between hockey and music, emphasizing the need to take musical "shots" or try new ideas.
4. The significance of persistence and continuous practice in improving musical skills.
5. The idea of experimenting with different strategies and approaches to music to find what works best.
6. The concept of learning from mistakes and using trial and error to enhance musical abilities.
7. The role of improvisation in jazz music and the importance of taking risks and reaching for new ideas.
8. The connection between exploration and creativity in music.
9. The impact of AHA moments and how they can lead to breakthroughs in musical expression.
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The 1% Mindset For High Achieving Musicians May 22, 2023

Hey. Do you ever feel frustrated by your musical progress because you don't feel like you're improving quickly enough? Or do you feel overwhelmed because there are a lot of different things when it comes to playing jazz that you have to practice and learn?
Sometimes it feels like you're doing all this stuff in the practice room, but it just seems like a mess in your head and like you aren't really improving the way you want to. Perhaps a feeling of disorganization in the way that you're trying to improve as a musician.
Well, in today's episode, I want to talk to you about something that's going to be really encouraging and also really helpful, and that's the 1% mindset for high-achieving musicians. This mindset could be a huge game changer for you, and I want you to pay attention really closely.
In this episode:
1. What is the 1% mindset for high-achieving musicians?
2. How to overcome the loss of motivation
3. How mindset can help you focus on the things that gives you sustainable benefits
4. Know the mindset that I want you to start thinking more about and shifting towards
5. Can the 1% mindset be measured?
6. The 2 things that mindset does:
- it propels you towards momentum
- it starts shutting down unrealistic expectations
7. The mindset of compounding musical improvement
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

5 Struggles With Playing Great Jazz Solos May 15, 2023

I recently ran a poll of over 2000 musicians playing all sorts of instruments over on our YouTube channel. And the question was, "What do you find most challenging about jazz improvisation?".
And here were the options that we gave:
a) Creating melodic and cohesive solos
b) Understanding and applying jazz theory during improvisation
c) Developing a strong sense of timing and rhythmic feel
d) Building confidence to take risks and explore new ideas
e)Spontaneously connecting with other players during jazz jams
I'm about to reveal to you the answer and which one of those was the biggest challenge for musicians in this poll, as well as go through each five of these and give you actual strategies to improve on them.
In this episode:
The poll results show that out of 2000 musicians:
1. 51% said creating melodic and cohesive solos is the biggest challenge to jazz
improvisation.
2. 24% said that understanding and applying jazz theory during improvisation
3. 10% said developing a strong sense of timing and rhythmic feel
4. 9% said building confidence to take risks and explore new ideas
5. 7% said spontaneously connecting with other players during jazz jams
6. The most important thing that you can do to create melodic and cohesive jazz solos
7. How to do the melody development exercise
8. Practicing with motivic development helps in creating cohesive jazz solos
9. Learn and internalize jazz language
10. Composing your own solos helps in developing better improvisation
11. Jazz theory isn't thought about during jazz improvisation
12. How to develop a strong sense of timing and rhythmic feel
13. The essence of improvisation
14. Playing with other musicians helps develop spontaneity in connecting with other
players during jazz jams
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

6 Things to Do When On a Musical Plateau May 08, 2023

I'm wondering if you can identify with a personality type that I happen to identify myself with, and that is that of a high achiever. Now a high achiever is someone who just naturally always wants to be progressing, like isn't usually completely satisfied with where they're at in any arena of life and always wants to continue to go forward and get better, which has been a great thing for a lot of aspects of my life and has really helped me out and been a great tool.
On the other side of things, sometimes it's actually been quite the detriment because not feeling satisfied with where you're at continually can be a big problem and you have to learn how to manage that.
Well, musicians and creative types often identify with this kind of personality type. They want to move past musical plateaus and become better musicians continually.
So, in today's episode, I want to talk about six things you can do if you find yourself on a musical plateau and how you can start overcoming that, and also managing the feeling of being on a musical plateau.
In this episode:
1. New podcast music intro
2. The phase of our brand new website
3. 6 things you can do when you find yourself on a musical plateau:
#1. Take a break
#2. Practice something different
#3. Get expert help
#4. Ask a fellow musician how you can improve
#5. Audit your playing
#6. Start a musical project
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The Secret to Jazz Improvisation Revealed May 01, 2023

Back when I was in college, going to music school, there was a running joke between me and my friends where we would, perhaps after practicing or playing a gig, proclaim that we had finally figured out the secret to jazz.
It was a funny statement, I guess you could say. But the reason we would say such a thing is because, you know, at times jazz can be a little bit befuddling, like, confusing and frustrating and feeling like you're stuck.
And how do you improvise better? How do you get to the next level? How do you sound like your favorite jazz musicians? It would be so easy if there is just a secret, right? There must be some kind of secret out there that if you just knew this secret, everything would be easier.
Well, that was a joke back then. But on today's podcast episode, I'm actually taking it a little bit more seriously and sharing with you what I actually do believe today, years later, is the secret to jazz improvisation.
In this episode:
1. The 2 Elements to the secret of jazz improvisations:
Element #1: Being able to hear music in your head.
Element #2: Developing muscle memory
2. Strategies to start developing element #1
3. How listening, composing your own solos, and learning solos by ear helps solidify
what you hear in your head.
4. Practice patterns, scales, and arpeggios to develop or improve muscle memory.
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Think and Improve Your Jazz Playing (8 Ways) Apr 24, 2023

What if you could improve your jazz playing, and just by thinking about it? Sounds a little too good to be true?
Well, in today's episode, I'm going to show you how it is actually completely possible with 8 different strategies for simply thinking in improving your jazz playing.
In this episode:
1. Deep listening
2. Analyze recordings
3. Analyze your own playing
4. Establish jazz goals
5. Develop a practice plan
6. Visualize harmony
7. Practice visualization
8. Mentally reframe negative musical experiences
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

10 Habits of Successful Jazz Musicians Apr 17, 2023

What makes a successful jazz musician?
Today, on the podcast, I'm going to break down 10 habits that I find in successful jazz musicians, all the way from those who are just amateur players who are just trying to have a lot of fun to the best of the best jazz musicians that exist today in the world.
In this episode:
1. Focus on mastering the art of practicing
2. Record themselves
3. Create feedback loops
4. Learn the jazz language consistently
5. Play with other musicians
6. Consistent practicing
7. Perseverance
8. Experimentation
9. Goal setting
10. They seek help
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Jazz Talk With Leander Young from Improv Exchange Apr 10, 2023

I got a special episode on the podcast for you today. On the show is Leander Young from the Improv Exchange, and we had a fun little conversation, actually, after I recorded a podcast for his podcast, and just started talking jazz, started talking about playing music, learning how to play music, great jazz musicians, a whole slew of other things.
I know you're going to have a lot of fun listening to this one and you'll learn some things along the way.
In this episode:
1. How Leander started playing drums
2. Between music and soccer
3. Leander's philosophy that contributed to his improvement
4. Memorable experience
5. How learning other styles of music helps
6. Leander's mentors and favorite musicians
7. About Improv Exchange
Important Links:
Visit Improv Exchange to listen to more of their podcasts
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

What are Ghost Notes in Jazz? Apr 03, 2023

Today, on the podcast, we're going to talk about "ghost notes", how to recognize them when you hear them, how to use them, and of course, what are they in the first place.
In this episode:
1. Definition of a ghost note
2. Sample of ghost notes from Scrapple from the Apple
3. How ghost notes are played on some instruments
4. Spotting ghost notes
5. Some artists who often use ghost notes
6. How adopting ghost notes can benefit your playing
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The 3 Kinds of Jazz Musicians (And the Challenges They Face) Mar 27, 2023

Having observed the playing of thousands of musicians through teaching online with Learn Jazz Standards, I've found that there are, in general, 3 different kinds of jazz musicians and I'm wondering which one of them you are.
So, today, on the podcast, we are going to talk about those 3 different kinds of jazz musicians, and we're going to dive deep into what the individual challenges that you may face as one of these jazz musicians and how to get to the next level at every single step.
In this episode:
1. The problems of jazz beginners and how to solve them
2. Getting off from the plateau of the intermediate phase
3. The continuing journey of the advanced jazz musicians
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

5 Reasons You Shouldn't Transcribe Jazz Solos Mar 20, 2023

Back when I was in college, I studied with a great jazz guitarist in New York City named Steve Cardenas.
Steve is a fantastic jazz musician, tours around the world with lots of different artists, and has recorded albums. In all senses of the word, a very accomplished musician and seasoned jazz player.
In one of our lessons, one time, when I went up to his house in Brooklyn, he told me something that was slightly disturbing, at least to the way I was thinking about learning music and jazz at that time. And that was, he told me that he had never transcribed a jazz solo before.
And this shook me because many of us understand that conventional advice for learning jazz is to learn jazz solos by ear, transcribe jazz solos and he didn't do that, and that kind of threw me in a whirlwind and kind of turned my world around.
So, today, I'm going to talk about 5 reasons why you actually might not want to be transcribing jazz solos to learn how to play jazz and improve your solos.
In this episode:
1. What is transcribing in the jazz context
2. Transcribing solos is time-consuming
3. Transcribing solos is frustrating
4. Transcribing solos doesn't always translate to better solos
5. Transcribing solos won't help you develop your own voice
6. Transcribing solos may not fit your learning style
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Play Jazz By Instrument (Guitar, Piano, Sax, Trumpet, Bass) Mar 13, 2023

If you play guitar, saxophone, trumpet, bass, and piano, this episode is for you.
On this podcast, we talk about jazz improvisation and things that literally all harmonic and melodic instruments need to be doing to improve at playing jazz.
But, inevitably, there are certain technical elements of each one of these instruments that do need to be addressed that will help you actually play jazz better.
So, on today's episode, we're going through each one of these instruments. We're also going to talk about things that all of them need to do, and if you are not one of those instruments, you're going to learn something here today.
In this episode:
What all these instruments need to be doing to improve at jazz:
1. All of these instruments need to be learning jazz standards
2. Working on micro and macro jazz language
3. The technical aspects that each of these instruments need to be working on
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The 7 Categories of Jazz Standards You Need to Learn Mar 06, 2023

Hey, so we know there's a lot of jazz standards out there to learn and sometimes we wonder which ones should we be learning to be able to play with other musicians who play at jam sessions or even play at gigs.
And so, it can really be helpful to understand what the categories are that we need to be focusing on, the subgenres of jazz that will come up time and time again as far as tunes being called in public settings.
So, today on the podcast, we're talking about 7 categories of songs that you need to be learning for jazz.
In this episode:
The 7 Categories of Jazz Standards You Need to Learn
1. Blues
2. Rhythm changes
3. Great American songbook
4. Bebop
5. Modal
6. Bossa nova
7. Ballads
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Using Chord Extensions and Alterations to Spice Up Voicings and Solos Feb 27, 2023

Today, on the podcast, we are talking about chord extensions and alterations, what are they, how can we use them in our comping and how can we even use them in our soloing to spice up our jazz improv and jazz playing.
In this episode:
1. The 5 qualities of 7th Chords that are commonly used in jazz:
a) Major 7th chords
b) Dominant 7th chords
c) Minor 7th chords
d) Half Diminished chords
e) Fully Diminished chords
2. What are Extensions and Alterations
3. Extensions we can add on top of the chords
4. Characteristics of suspended chords
5. Using altered extensions to create tension and resolution
6. The Basic structure of Minor 7th chords and their acceptable extensions and
alterations
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

From The Vault: How to Prepare to Play at Jazz Jam Sessions Feb 20, 2023

I hear from a lot of you that a big goal is to play at a public jazz jam session. But there may be some barriers, either in your mind or your actual playing ability that is stopping you from actually doing that.
So, how do you prepare to play at jazz jam sessions and with other musicians in general?
That's why we're going to go back into the vault of the LJS podcast, pull out an episode where I get two of my good friends and professional jazz musicians, Wallace Stelzer and Diego Baldonado, and we have a discussion where we talk about this subject.
I know you're going to find it incredibly valuable.
In this episode:
1. What are some of the basics you need down to play live?
2. Watching jam sessions and taking notes
3. Using playing with others to practice vs. perform
4. How to know when you are ready to start going to jam sessions
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Big Thinking Will Transform Your Jazz Playing Feb 13, 2023

Today, on the podcast, I want to talk about thinking big. Thinking big in your jazz playing. What I mean by that is aspiring to be something that you probably could never attain.
Perhaps it's playing just as good as Sonny Rollins, perhaps it's playing with your own band at the Village Vanguard. Audacious goals that are really, really difficult to attain, if not, impossible for you to attain.
I want to talk about how this kind of thinking will actually propel you forward in your musical journey and will have a tremendous output for you when you allow yourself to think this way.
In this episode:
1. Thinking big: Why it's actually a good thing.
2. Identifying your most audacious goals.
3. Take your first steps toward the goal.
4. Taking note of the elements of what makes jazz players great.
5. How projects trigger reward responses to create motivation.
6. The dangers of thinking big.
7. Recalibrating your expectations to energize you in the pursuit of progress.
8. What is your audacious goal?
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Fine Tuning Your Jazz Playing with P.B.R. Practice Feb 06, 2023

One of my jazz mentors once said that the secret that pro-level jazz musicians have, some of the best jazz musicians in the world, is they've mastered the art of practicing.
In fact, he went on to say that, pro jazz musicians spend just as much time fine-tuning their actual practice as they do their actual jazz playing.
And so, today, I want to talk about the strategy called P.B.R. practice. Elements of practice sessions that will help set you up for success and jump-start your playing and help it improve a lot faster than it would, otherwise.
In this episode:
1. What is P. B. R. practice
2. The Planned Practice
3. Different options for planning out a practice session
4. The Batched Practice
5. The Regular practice
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

My Story of Overcoming Performance Anxiety Jan 30, 2023

So, tell me if you're going to relate any of this:
You want to go play at a public jam session, but you're kind of just afraid that you're not going to sound good and you're afraid of what the other jazz musicians are going to think of you and your playing.
Or, you go up to perform and all the eyes staring back at you make you tremble, make you clam up, and in general, it's just an incredibly uncomfortable experience that doesn't allow you to actually have fun performing and playing jazz.
Well, in today's episode, I'm going to share with you my personal experience with performance anxiety, whether it be for a crowd of people or in front of your peers, and how I've dealt with it and hopefully, you can learn a little bit from my story as well.
In this episode:
1. Why we need to overcome performance anxiety
2. When I started experiencing performance anxiety
3. How jazz playing intensified my performance anxiety
4. Factors that gradually helped me overcome my performance anxiety
5. The best mindset for improving long-term as a musician
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The 6 Lies of Jazz Success Jan 23, 2023

Today, we're talking about the 6 lies of jazz success. Things that you've probably heard before are good things, but it turns out they actually aren't and could be holding you back from reaching your goals in your jazz playing, and becoming the musician that you want to be.
So, let's get ready to do this. Pay attention and grab your notebook.
In this episode:
The 6 lies about jazz success and the alternative ways to turn it around
Lie #1: Everything you practice matters
Lie #2: Practicing a lot of things gets more results
Lie #3: We must practice the same things
Lie #4: Willpower to practice can be summoned easily
Lie #5: We must have balanced practice sessions
Lie #6: Thinking big is bad
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The Art of Taking B.A.D Jazz Solos Jan 16, 2023

So, we just got our Inner Circle Retreat this last weekend, and my friends, it was an absolutely amazing time. So motivating and so inspiring. A lot of our Inner Circle members came together. We did workshops, we did masterclasses, and we did group breakout sessions. It was an amazing time and we learned a lot together.
I want to share with you one little thing that we did talk about during the retreat 'cause I think it will be helpful for you as well, And that's this concept about playing "B.A.D" jazz solos and how playing "B.A.D" jazz solos all-year long could be the secret to massively and exponentially improving your jazz skills this year.
In this episode:
1. What B.A.D. stands for
2. Characteristics of a Brave solo
3. What is an Audited solo
4. Steps to Audit a solo
5. Listen to my own jazz solo and how I audit it
6. The Directional solo
7. Looking at B.A.D. solos in a different perspective
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Becoming a Jazz Expert With Your Tune of Destiny Jan 09, 2023

Hey, listen, there are a lot of jazz standards out there and it can be pretty overwhelming which ones to learn, how often should you learn a new one?
But if we can take all that pressure away and instead you are only responsible for becoming an expert in just one jazz standard? What would that look like? How would that work and how would that actually help you become a much better jazz player at all the other jazz standards out there as well?
So, I'm going to dive into that today. We're going to be talking about discovering your tune of destiny and how to utilize this strategy.
In this episode:
1. The concept of the "Tune of Destiny" by Justin Nielsen
2. The 3-Track System for Skyrocketing Your Jazz Playing
3. Criteria for picking a song of your destiny
a) one that you really enjoy playing
b) it contains a lot of common chord progressions in most jazz standards
c) level of difficulty
4. How learning your song of destiny contributes to your progress at learning the
other jazz standards and vice-versa.
5. Call to action
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

What I've Learned After 400 Podcast Episodes Jan 02, 2023

400 episodes of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, wow! So, I'm going to talk about this episode today, everything that I've learned over the last 400 episodes of recording and producing the show.
In this episode:
What I've learned over the course of creating 400 podcast episodes:
1. Musically
2. Personally
3. About teaching music
4. About content creation
5. The future of Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How To Exponentially Improve Your Jazz Playing in 2023 Dec 26, 2022

We are 2 days away from the year 2023, and if you're listening to this episode it very well could be the year 2023. And a lot of people like to use the new year as a new beginning, or perhaps, a new chapter.
So, regardless of whether you're into the idea of new year's resolutions or the traditional sense of what that actually means, I do think it's a good idea to create a plan for what you're trying to achieve within the next year.
You listen to this podcast because you want to become a better jazz musician. You're excited about it, you enjoy playing jazz, and you want to sound like the musicians that you look up to and admire.
So, in this episode, we're going to talk about how to become a great jazz musician in the year 2023. I got a lot of important tips for you.
In this episode:
Important tips on how to become a great jazz musician in 2023
1) Make a goal to learn 1 jazz standard per month.
2) Improvise and record a lot
3) Continuously audit your jazz playing
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

I Improvised A Jazz Solo in 6 Different Ways Dec 19, 2022

Today, on the podcast I'm going to be sitting down and improvising a little bit over a jazz standard that I like to play and just giving myself an opportunity to explore some new ideas, to allow myself to get musically creative.
I like you to join me in the process and see what you can discover along the way as well.
In this episode:
How I improvise on East of the Sun in 6 different ways
1. 1st jam session: Improvising freely with no constraints
2. 2nd jam session: Focusing more on improving melodic direction
3. 3rd jam session: Expanding my improv throughout the range of my instrument
4. 4th jam session: Do a solo using more chord voicings
5. 5th jam session: Applying motivic development
6. 6th jam session: Making the lines more bluesy
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

I Redid Episode 1 of the LJS Podcast (4 Habits for Better Practicing) Dec 12, 2022

Alright, my friends, today's episode is going to be a bit cringy for me, but I'm going to do it anyways. We're going to be back to episode 1 of the Learn Jazz Standards podcast and it was called 4 Habits for Better Practicing.
And I'm going to look through those 4 habits, that advice that I gave all the way back in 2016, and show you what's changed and what stayed the same as far as my advice goes with jazz practicing and improvement and all that good stuff.
In this episode:
- What has changed and what I think should stay the same about my advice in 2016 on the following:
1. Practicing Habit #1: Set goals and write them down
2. Practicing Habit #2: Remove distractions
3. Practicing Habit #3: Practice what is ailing you, not what you are already good at
4. Practicing Habit #4: Be consistent
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The Pros and Cons of Binge Practicing Dec 05, 2022

Have you ever heard of "binge practicing" before? So, binge practicing is kind of what it sounds like, it's where you are practicing for large amounts at a time.
And you can also binge practice often, so you are binge practicing frequently. It's kind of like binge-watching Netflix. It's like you watch 5 hours one day and 5 hours the next day, and it keeps on going on like that.
Well, today, I want to talk about the pros of binge practicing and the cons of binge practicing for your jazz playing.
In this episode:
The pros of binge practicing
1. Drastic improvement in technical proficiency
2. Sheer exposure
3. Gain more confidence in playing
The cons of binge practicing
1. Tendency to get burned-out
2. Inability to sustain binge practicing which leads to frustration
3. Inability to notice one's progress
4. Tendency to practice mindlessly
5. Exposure to possible injury
- Recommendation
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

32 Jazz Standards I Had My Students Learn Nov 28, 2022

Today, on the podcast, I'll be talking about 32 jazz standards that I had my students in my Inner Circle membership learn for very specific reasons that I want to share with you.
And I want you to also see, out of these jazz standards, which one do you know and which ones would you be interested in learning so that they can help you improve your jazz playing.
In this episode:
- Short demo and reasons why I chose these jazz standards for my students:
1) On The Sunny Side of the Street
2) Out of Nowhere
3) Recorda Me
4) Song for My Father
5) Misty
6) Doxy
7) Bye, Bye, Blackbird
8) Blues for Alice
9) Wave
10) Beautiful Love
11) In A Mellow Tone
12) Oleo
13) Impressions
14) Georgia On My Mind
15) Four
16) Beatrice
17) Softly, As In The Morning Sunrise
18) There Is No Greater Love
19) Corcovado
20) Yardbird Suite
21) My Shining Hour
22) Up Jumped Spring
23) Yesterdays
24) Darn That Dream
25) St. Thomas
26) But Not For Me
27) Black Orpheus
28) Giant Steps
29) Sandu
30) How High the Moon
31) Blue In Green
32) East of the Sun (West of the Moon)
- Call to Action
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The 4 Elements of Mastering A Jazz Standard Nov 21, 2022

Today's episode is what I would consider to be probably the most valuable episode I've ever come out with. And I hope that it becomes one of the most popular episodes I've ever come up with because I truly believe this is really important information that you need to be paying attention to.
We're gonna be talking about the 4 elements of mastering a jazz standard. Being able to play a jazz standard comfortably, being proficient at it, improvising great solos over it. Exactly what you need to do step-by-step.
In this episode:
1. Element #1: Mastering the melody
2. The L.I.S.T process
3. Element #2: Mastering the chord tones
4. Element #3: Mastering memorization
5. How spaced repetition helps
6. The "secret sauce"
7, Element #4: Mastering improvisation
8. Options for acquiring musical language
9. Practicing improvisation
10. The Bonus Element
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

2 Ways to Improve Your Jazz Solos Today Nov 14, 2022

Today on the podcast, I wanna show you 2 ways you can start improving your jazz improvisation today.
And I wanna share with you a few different people that I know who recently have implemented these things and have made clear progress in their jazz playing.
In this episode:
1. How 2 LJS Inner Circle members applied concepts to improve their jazz improv
2. Isolating a musical concept learned and experimenting with it
3. Addressing roadblocks to desired progress
4. Good tools for looping sections of a backing track
Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast

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Secrets To Becoming A More Creative Jazz Musician Nov 07, 2022

So, what is the secret to playing more creative jazz solos, playing more creative melodies, playing more creative comping, more creative basslines?
You name them. How do we become creative and tap into our inner creativity so it doesn't just sound like we're playing formulated music or regurgitated music, but something that comes from us, sounds original, sounds organic, and exciting?
Well, that's exactly what I'm going to talk about in today's episode.
In this episode:
1. How do we become more creative musically?
2. Secrets to tapping our inner creativity
3, Restrictive practicing
4. Drawing inspiration from things that are musical and non-musical
5. The act of composition
6. Frequency is the key
7. The leap of faith
Important 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

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The Secret to Feeling Calm When You Play Your Instruments Oct 31, 2022

So, it's the year 2009, I'm in college at that time, going to school in Seattle, Washington. And in Seattle, there is a jazz jam session at this bar called the Owl N' Thistle. Cool little dive bar, exactly what you want in a jam session, kinda smells like stale booze, all the good stuff, right?
So, I go for the first time, even the second time, third time, fourth time, fifth time. Honestly, it really doesn't matter at this point in my life. The same feeling inside of my body was always the same, it was just always the same, and that was terrified, tightness, stress, and anxiety before I went up to play. I was scared, I was horrified to play. I had serious problems with performance anxiety.
Now, also at the same time, some of my colleagues within the school, players that were a little bit older than me, a little bit more experienced than me, noticed that I was playing really tensely. They would look at my body when I was playing, when I was jamming with them and they would see that my shoulders would crunch up, that my hands were very tense and rigid.
And they point that out to me and said, "Brent, you know I feel like there's a lot of stress and tension in your body when you're playing, and even though you play a lot of good stuff, it's kinda coming across that way." So, the problem, my friends, is I had not figured out how to play music in a calm state.
So, in today's episode, what I wanna do is I wanna talk about the two sides of things. A- the performance anxiety side, but B - a secret to learning how to play calmly that we all can be working on and has helped me make a lot of improvements in this right now.
In this episode:
1. How do we feel calm when we perform?
2. 5 Tips for overcoming/avoiding performance anxiety
4. Addressing the root cause and finding some tangible results
5. The secret to learning how to play calmly
Important 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

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Why Most People Won't Learn Jazz Oct 24, 2022

I got a question for you: Have you ever felt intimidated to learn jazz, or intimidated to play jazz with others, or perhaps you're someone on the outside looking in and it all looks a little bit overwhelming?
But, perhaps you're someone who is working on jazz right now, you're an avid practicer, but you feel often frustrated.
Well, there's a good chance that some of the reasons you're feeling that way are because of the culture of the jazz scene itself. the culture of the way this music is taught, the culture in which this music is played.
And I wanna talk about those problems today, break them down. But have hope you're one of those people I just described because I'm gonna talk a little bit of mind philosophies and how I believe things should work and just how we can create a more inclusive environment for those who want to learn how to play this music.
In this episode:
1. Jazz doesn't have to be that complicated: Feedback on a YouTube video comment
2. The easy ways to start learning jazz
3. How important is learning music by ear to jazz playing
4. Is there a best way to learn jazz?
5. Breaking down some huge turn-offs in learning jazz
6. Surviving in the intimidating jazz culture
7. How we can help in creating a more inclusive environment for a better jazz culture
Important 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

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The 3 Essential Elements of An Amazing Jazz Solo Oct 17, 2022

Today, on the show, we're talking about 3 elements that make up really, really, really good jazz solos. These are things I'm hearing from the best jazz musicians in the world, things that we wanna start implementing in our own solos.
So, let's talk about those. Grab your favorite drink and snacks.
In this episode:
1. Creating Amazing Melodies
2. Creating Rhythmic Interest
3. How to Play The Changes
Important 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

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3 Questions I Ask My Inner Circle Members That I Want You To Ask Yourself, Too. Oct 10, 2022

Today, on the podcast, I'm talking about 3 questions that I find myself continually asking our Inner Circle members that I want you to start asking yourself as well. And I believe that if you start asking these 3 questions, you're going to start making faster improvements in your jazz playing.
In this episode:
1. Why I'm letting you ask these questions to yourself
2. The difference between coaching and teaching and which role I take
3. The importance of critical thinking in learning music
4. Frustrations that lead to cycles and how to overcome them
5. How self-evaluation leads to better progress
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

What I Think About The Future of Jazz Oct 03, 2022

Today, on the podcast I wanna talk about the future of jazz. We're gonna talk about the future of jazz education, the future of the genre, the style, where it's going.
We're going to, of course, have to deal with the age-old question, "Is jazz dead?". And many of my thoughts about the state of jazz and the enthusiasm for the genre in this episode today.
So, grab your favorite beverage, grab your favorite snacks. Sit back and relax!
In this episode:
1. Is Jazz Dead?
2. Why Jazz Education Is Here to Stay
3. Where the genre of jazz is going musically
4. Why jazz doesn't need to be evangelized
Important 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Quick Win: Turn ANY Song Into JAZZ (Reharmonization 101) Sep 30, 2022

Today, I wanna show you how you take a simple song, like, "You Are My Sunshine", and turn it into jazz. We'll take up 4 levels of reharmonization.
In this episode:
1. The basic chord changes of You Are My Sunshine
2. How I play the tune with the basic chord changes
3. Level #1 - How to turn the tune into jazz
4. Level #2 - Spicing it up a little bit
5. Level #3 - How to get rid of redundancy and add twists
6. Level #4 - Use this specific tactic to add more harmonic movement and color
7. A cool thing you can do for endings
Important Links and Resources:

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!

My Experience Going to Music School (How it Helped and How It Didn't) Sep 26, 2022

So, because I know the audience that generally listens to this podcast, I know that a majority of you, or at least a good percentage of you have never been to a music school before, and so, you may be wondering, what was it that I missed in music school that would help me become a better jazz musician.
So, in today's episode, what I wanna do is just talk about my experience in music school and things that it really helped me with and how I was able to improve. But I also do wanna share some things that did not help me at all,
I wanna let you all on the inside, save you the 4 1/2 years it took me to get my degree, as well as some of the lessons.
In this episode:
1. Being Exposed to Advanced Players
2. Music Theory
3. Repertoire
4. The gaps that music school filled
Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS Inner Circle Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Quick Win: How to Learn Jazz Melodies by Ear Sep 23, 2022

So, what's the best way to learn and memorize the melodies to jazz standards?
Well, today, I'm gonna just walk you through me learning the melody to a jazz standard that I actually don't know and show you my exact process.
In this episode:
1. What I prepare ahead of time
2. This is how I start
3. Why my guitar and the recording are not on the same pitch
4. The pick-up to the next section
5. How chord charts become helpful
6. The pick-up to the 2nd A section
7. The second ending
8. The final result - playing along with the recording
Important Links and Resources:

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

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40 Jazz Standards to Know (Broken Down by Category) Sep 19, 2022

Today, on the podcast, I'm talking about 40 jazz standards that you should know and I'm gonna break them down by categories so that you can see which categories you need to fill in some more jazz standards on.
In this episode:
1. Start-Up Standards
2. Advanced Essentials
3. Ballads
4. Bossa Novas
5. Bebop
6. Blues
7. Brent's top 6
Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS Inner Circle Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Quick Win: 10 Biggest Lies About Playing Jazz Sep 16, 2022

Have you been told any of these 10 mistruths about jazz? If so, you may have started believing things that are ultimately not helping you improve as a jazz player.
In this episode:
1. Mistruth #1: If you can hear it, then you can play it.
2. Mistruth #2: You don't need to know theory in order to play jazz.
3. Mistruth #3: You need to know a lot of music theory in order to play jazz.
4. Mistruth #4: You need to have amazing techniques in order to play jazz.
5. Mistruth #5: Learn jazz solos and you'll improvise better.
6. Mistruth #6: Great musicians don't plan out their solos.
7. Mistruth #7: In order to get good at playing jazz, you need to practice a lot.
8. Mistruth #8: You should never learn jazz from sheet music.
9. Mistruth #9: Master something that you're practicing before moving on to the next thing.
10. Mistruth #10: You need to know a lot of jazz standards in order to play with other
musicians.
Important Links and Resources:

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!

The Practicing Snowball for Multiplying Your Musical Results Sep 12, 2022

Today, on the podcast, I"m gonna be talking about an important concept that I call, "The Practicing Snowball".
"The Practicing Snowball" is something that's going to leave you feeling super encouraged, I believe, by the end of this episode. And it's going to show you how the compounding effects of your practice really come into play from looking at this from a variety of different angles.
In this episode:
1. The Practicing Snowball and what it is
2. The many different skills you didn't know you were practicing
3. How the Practicing Snowball mindset shift will motivate you
Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS Inner Circle Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Quick Win: Jazz Improvisation For Beginners (How to Get Started) Sep 09, 2022

If you've ever felt overwhelmed at jazz improvisation and unsure of where to get started, today I'm going to show you exactly how it works, make it simple so you get headed in the right direction.
In this episode:
1. How to start improvising over 2-5-1
2. The most basic notes you can play
3. The modes of each chord
4. The most important notes
5. The actual scale used by jazz musicians
6. How jazz musicians actually play the chromatic and major scale
7. How a jazz musician might resolve to a chord tone
8. How jazz musicians approach chord tones to create melodies
Important Links and Resources:

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!

Using "Restrictive Practicing" to Improve Your Jazz Solos Sep 05, 2022

One thing that attracts musicians to jazz is the fact that the possibilities are endless. When it comes to improvisation, really, there are so many different avenues to explore, so many different things you can play and after listening to some of the greatest jazz musicians in the world, you realize there's a massive amount of vocabulary out there that you can express.
The rules are there but, really, the rules are meant to be broken. The problem with jazz, though, is that there are too many possibilities and therefore it can be difficult for you to figure out what to actually play, or how to actually improve.
So, today on the podcast, I'm gonna be talking about something called "Restrictive Practicing" and how this can actually help you improve faster and create more meaningful melodic solos.
In this episode:
1. Restrictive practicing and what it is
2. Restricting note choices
3. Restricting rhythmic choices
4. Restricting melodic choices
Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS Inner Circle Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Where Should You Learn Jazz (Books, YouTube, Courses, Memberships, Lessons)? Aug 29, 2022

In today's episode, we're gonna talk about where is the best place for you to learn jazz: Is it music books? Is it YouTube videos and podcast episodes like this? Is it courses? Is it memberships, or is it private lessons?
We're gonna go through them and talk about the pros and cons of each one.
In this episode:
1. The Pros and Cons of Music Books
2. The Pros and Cons of Online Content
3. The Pros and Cons of Courses
4. The Pros and Cons of Memberships
5. The Pros and Cons of Private Lessons
Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS Inner Circle Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Quick Win: Pro Jazz Musician Reacts to His Playing From 10 Years Ago Aug 26, 2022

What's up, guys? It's Brent here. So I was just surfing the Internet and I found a video of me playing a gig from 10 years ago.
Today, I'm gonna watch that video, give you my reaction to it, and let's see how messy it gets.
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. The melody
3. Pro Tip
4. The organ solo (by Camden Hughes) - my impression
5. My impression of my comping
6. Pro Tip
7. When I hit it pretty good
8. How I rate my solo
9. How I failed on trading 4s
10. How I rate my trading 4s
11. Evaluation
Important 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 book

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Get Back "Into Shape" After a Break In Playing Jazz Aug 22, 2022

Are you trying to get back "into shape" after being off of playing for a while?
In today's episode, I will be sharing some tips on how to help you get back into the flow and feel that connection with your instrument and your music to prepare you to perform or just get you to play again.
In this episode:
1. Listen to music that is "sticky" for you
2. Start getting reacquainted with your instrument
3. Start practicing common chord progressions
4. Practice a song you are comfortable with
5. Practice a song from a performance you are preparing for
Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS Inner Circle Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Quick Win: How to Learn Giant Steps (Jazz Tutorial) Aug 19, 2022

Giant Steps is notoriously one of the most feared jazz standards for musicians to learn and improvise over, not only because of the complex harmony but also because of the speed.
So today, I'm gonna talk about how we can learn the chords most efficiently so we can improvise over them well and find out the harmonic secrets that Giant Steps has to offer.
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. Preparing to learn the melody - LIST process
3. Analyzing the chords (featuring Brett Pontecorvo)
4. The ii-V-I cadences
5. Moving down by major 3rds
6. The V-I cadences
7. Using the melody to organize key centers
8. Second half of the tune
9. Moving up by major 3rds
10. Recap
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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

What Prevents You From Achieving Your Jazz Goals? Aug 15, 2022

"What prevents you from achieving your jazz goals?". This was a question we recently polled our community over on YouTube about, and we got a lot of really interesting answers and responses to our poll.
So, in today's episode what I wanna do is I wanna go over those results; what people are saying and talk about each result and help you understand how really, they're not actually truly holding you from your jazz goals if you channel them in the different direction.
In this episode:
1. Addressing "No Time To Practice"
2. Addressing "Not Enough Technique"
3. Addressing "Not Understanding Jazz Theory"
4. Addressing "Not Enough Motivation"
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!

Quick Win: How to Learn Softly, As In a Morning Sunrise (Jazz Tutorial) Aug 12, 2022

Today, we're talking about the classic minor jazz standard, "Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise". We'll take a look at the chords to figure out the most efficient way to learn it as well as some harmonic secrets within the tune that will help us improvise over it.
in this episode:
1. Short demo
2. The best way to learn the melody
3. Identifying the key - The first A section
4. Things you can do with a minor ii-V-I progression
5. A tritone substitution
6. Chord substitution options
7. Associating the melody of the song with the chords
8. The second A section
9. The relative major key
10. Diminished substitution
11. Passing diminished chord
12. The best way to improvise on a dim7 chords
13. The bridge
Important 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 book

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The One Musical Skill I Would Master (feat. Brett Pontecorvo) Aug 08, 2022

Today on the podcast I have a member of my team, Brett Pontecorvo, to the show with me to discuss 2 questions.
And those questions are:
- What is one musical skill you are/were lacking that caused you some trouble in your career?
and
- If you could start over, what would be the one musical skill you would master?
A lot of gold within these hills.
In this episode:
1. What is one musical skill you are/were lacking that caused you some trouble in your career?
2. If you could start over, what would be the one musical skill you would master?
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!

Quick Win: How to Learn Misty (Jazz Tutorial) Aug 05, 2022

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.
In 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 section
Important 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 book
See you in the next video!

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Why You Need to Learn Giant Steps Aug 01, 2022

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.
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 Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

What to Do If You Are No Longer Passionate About Jazz Jul 25, 2022

Welcome to episode 369
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 forever
Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS Inner Circle Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Quick Win: 5 Pro-Level Jazz Licks You Need to Know Jul 22, 2022

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.
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 progression
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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Reduce Friction In Your Jazz Improvement Jul 18, 2022

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.
Have 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 continue
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!

Quick Win: $600 vs. $6,000 Jazz Guitar | Is Cheap or Expensive Better? Jul 15, 2022

This is a $600 jazz guitar and this is a $6000 jazz guitar.
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 instrument
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!

This Is What I'd Do If I Started Jazz All Over Again Jul 11, 2022

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"?
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 week
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!

Quick Win: How to Memorize Chords to Jazz Standards Jul 08, 2022

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.
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. 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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Non-Jazz Music I Listen To (And How it Influences My Jazz) Jul 04, 2022

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.
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-songwriters
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!

How to Play Jazz Melodies Like a Pro (Thought Experiment) Jun 27, 2022

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.
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 melody
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!

Quick Win: The Best Jazz Practice Advice Jun 24, 2022

If you wanna be a good musician of any kind then you know you need to practice, especially if you want to play jazz.
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 Masterclass
Join 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!

Why Are We Passionate About Playing Jazz (Story Time)? Jun 20, 2022

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
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 Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Quick Win: The Best Ear Training For Jazz Jun 18, 2022

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!
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 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!

From the Vault: How to Beat the Brain Game for Musical Freedom (feat. Matt Vaartstra) Jun 13, 2022

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.
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 Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Quick Win: How to Play Changes In Your Jazz Solos Jun 10, 2022

The best jazz musicians in the world can play a solo, unaccompanied and you know exactly the tune they were playing.
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 Resolution
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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Frameworks for Ingraining Jazz Recordings Jun 06, 2022

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.
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 Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Quick Win: How To Play Chord Melody On A Jazz Standard Jun 03, 2022

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.
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 Moonbeams
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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How Long Will It Take to Play Great Jazz Solos? May 30, 2022

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.
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!

Quick Win: Using Pentatonics for AMAZING Jazz Solos May 27, 2022

If you know the pentatonic or the blues scale you can actually play really amazing jazz solos using just those notes.
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!

Is Learning Jazz Solos Worth It (And How to Get Results from Them) May 23, 2022

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.
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!

Quick Win: How to PRACTICE Improvising Over a Jazz Standard May 20, 2022

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.

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 book

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

21 Things For You to Practice May 16, 2022

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.
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 jazz
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!

Quick Win: The Most IMPORTANT Music Theory for Jazz Standards May 13, 2022

What are the most important music theory concepts that you need to know to make learning and improvising over jazz standards much easier?
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 Chords
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!

The Last Time I Will Play My Guitar May 09, 2022

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.
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 Dream
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!

Quick Win: Instantly Improve Your Jazz Solos (3 Strategies) May 06, 2022

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.
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. Example/Demo
3. 1st Strategy
4. 2nd Strategy
5. 3rd Strategy
6. Video recommendation
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!

6 Lessons We’ve Learned from Our Jazz Community (2 Year Anniversary Special) May 02, 2022

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.
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 Motivation
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!

Finding The ONE Thing That Will Accelerate Your Jazz Skills Apr 25, 2022

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.
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 things
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!

Quick Win: The Most Important Scales for Jazz Standards Apr 22, 2022

So what are the most important scales that will help you improvise over jazz standards?
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 Jones
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!

7 Lessons I’ve Learned As A Pro Jazz Musician (Music Advice) Apr 18, 2022

Welcome to episode 343 where today I talk about my experiences as a professional performing jazz musician and the music lessons I've learned.
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 matters
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!

Quick Win: 10 Jazz Blues Songs You Need to Know Apr 15, 2022

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.
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 signature
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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Play Wrong Notes and Still Sound Good In Your Solos Apr 11, 2022

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.
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 resolutions
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!

Quick Win: How I Memorized 100 Jazz Standards In One Year Apr 08, 2022

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!
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 playlist
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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Deep Dive Into My Favorite Jazz Ballad Apr 04, 2022

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.
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 movement
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!

Quick Win: How to Master Rhythm Changes Apr 01, 2022

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.
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 book

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Are You Ready to Go to a Jazz Jam Session (Checklist)? Mar 28, 2022

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.
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 Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Quick Win: Why Your Jazz Improv Isn’t Improving… Mar 25, 2022

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.
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 up
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!

How to Get Unstuck From Playing The Same Stuff Over and Over Mar 21, 2022

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.
In this episode:
1. Why do we get stuck playing the same stuff
2. Making conscious decisions when we play
3. Practicing making mistakes
Important Links:
Show Notes
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!

Quick Win: Perfect BEBOP Minor BLUES Solo Mar 18, 2022

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.
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-aways
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!

My Entire Philosophy On Learning and Teaching Jazz Mar 14, 2022

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.
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 practicing
Show Notes
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!

Quick Win: Best Jazz SCALE EXERCISE Ever Mar 11, 2022

These are the best scale exercises you can do if you wanna turn these boring linear patterns into amazing jazz solos.
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 scale
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!

Top Questions About Playing Jazz Answered Mar 07, 2022

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!
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 Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Quick Win: How to Use Jazz Licks In Your Solos (3 Steps) Mar 04, 2022

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.
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 Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

3 Mindset Shifts That Helped Me Enjoy Playing Music More Feb 28, 2022

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.
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 more
Important Links:
Show Notes
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!

How to Effectively Practice Improvising Feb 21, 2022

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.
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 practice
Important Links:
Show Notes
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!

Should I Learn Jazz By Reading Music? Feb 14, 2022

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.
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 jazz
Important Links:
Show Notes
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!

Quick Win: How to Instantly Learn Chord Progressions for Jazz Standards Feb 11, 2022

So how can you play jazz standards at jam sessions and gigs even if you've never heard them before?
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 Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Rhythm Changes Accelerator: A Powerful Course to Help You Master Rhythm Changes Feb 10, 2022

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.
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 Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

What Should I Do If I Don’t Have a Lot of Time to Practice? Feb 07, 2022

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.
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 plan
Important Links:
Show Notes
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!

Quick Win: 8 Must-Know Jazz Standards for Jazz Gigs Feb 04, 2022

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.
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 blues
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Get our Amazon Best Selling book

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

I Compose a Jazz Tune On The Spot (Again) Jan 31, 2022

Welcome to episode 321 where I compose a jazz tune on the podcast.
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 scratch
Important Links:
Show Notes
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!

Quick Win: 5 Jazz Practice Hacks to Improve Faster Jan 28, 2022

So what are some practice hacks that can help you improve exponentially faster and not waste your precious practice time? Well, today I'm gonna share with you 5 you've probably never heard of before.
In this episode:
1. The Pareto Principle
2. The 5 Filters
3. Filter #1- Goal Setting
4. Filter #2 - Know the 3 Pillars of Jazz Improvisation
5. Filter #3 - What Has Pizza Got to Do With This?
6. Filter #4 - The Fun Filter
7. Filter #5 - What is the LRC Practice Strategy Method?
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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Why Is My Jazz Improvisation Not Improving? This Could Be Why… Jan 24, 2022

Show DescriptionWelcome to episode 319 where today I go over a common frustration many have which is feeling like their jazz improvisation is not improving, even if they are doing all of the right things.
I go over some questions to ask yourself as well as some possible solutions to help bridge the gap.
Main Points:
1. The things you should be practicing as a jazz musician
2. Memorizing vs. not memorizing
3. Composing your own solos and lines
4. Managing expectations
5. Why practicing in different keys is important
Important Links:
Show Notes
Get Tickets to Learn Jazz Live 2022 Virtual Summit
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!

Quick Win: Creating AMAZING Jazz Solos Using Jazz Chords (3 Levels) Jan 21, 2022

So how can you start playing amazing jazz solos using jazz chords to your full advantage? Well, today I'm gonna show you 3 levels to do exactly that.
In this episode:
1. Level 1 - Start playing this instead of scales.
2. Level 2 - How to creatively resolve these tones in your lines.
3. Level 3 - Combining Level 1 and 2 and figuring out different ways that you can resolve to them.
Important Links:
Show Notes
Get Tickets to Learn Jazz Live 2022 Virtual Summit
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!

Quick Win: 4 Must-Know BLUESY Jazz Standards Jan 14, 2022

So what jazz standards can you get super bluesy in your jazz solos? Well, today I'm gonna teach you 4 of those tunes that you need to know.
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. Jazz Standard #1
3. Jazz Standard #2
4. Jazz Standard #3
5. Jazz Standard #4
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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Revealing Harmonic Secrets of a Bebop Jazz Standard Jan 11, 2022

Welcome to episode 315 where today I walk us through a harmonic analysis of a bebop jazz standard.
Analyzing the function of harmony within jazz standards is a great practice that can help you understand them better. You'll learn some amazing lessons from this jazz standard.
Main Points:
1. Benefits of analyzing jazz standards
2. Analyzing Yardbird Suite
3. Backdoor dominants
4. Secondary dominants
5. Deceptive cadences
Important Links:
Show Notes
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!

Quick Win: How to Learn a Jazz Solo by Ear (Step-by-Step) Jan 10, 2022

So how do you learn jazz solos by ear without sheet music so you can start improving your jazz improv exponentially? Well, today I'm sharing with you my full-step process for doing exactly that.
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. Two Things You Need To Become A Better Jazz Improviser
3. The L.I.S.T. Process for Learning Jazz Solos by Ear
4. Step #1: The L
5. Step #2: The I
6. Step #3: The S
7. Step #4: The T
8. What Is "Batching"? (Highly recommended)
9. The Bonus Step
Important Links:
1. Subscribe to the Podcast:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
2. Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. LJS Inner Circle Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The State of Learn Jazz Standards Address 2022 Jan 03, 2022

Welcome to episode 313 where today I talk about the state of Learn Jazz Standards, where things stand today, and what we are doing in 2022.
This is a fun, different kind of episode to kick off the year to help fill you in on all of the exciting things to come.
Main Points:
1. The future of the podcast
2. The future of the blog/website
3. The future of the YouTube channel
4. The future of the LJS Inner Circle membership
***Important Links***
Show Notes
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Get Tickets to Learn Jazz Live 2022 Virtual Summit

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Do a Self Jazz Audit to Speed Up Your Improvement Dec 28, 2021

Welcome to episode 312 where today I talk about how to do a self-audit of your jazz playing. Auditing your playing can be really valuable for honing in on the things you are good at and bad at so you can make action plans to hone in on them. I do a jazz audit on myself and walk you through my process.
The New Year is around the corner, and what I want you to realize is that the things that got you to where you are now in your jazz playing are not necessarily the things that will get you to where you need to go next.
What we want to be able to do is to be able to give ourselves a true evaluation of where we are in our jazz playing today, so we can make a plan going forward that doesn't waste our time on things that don't matter.
So in today's episode, I'm going over how to give yourself a self jazz audit. I'll be conducting one on myself, and then I'll walk you through how to do it.
In this episode:
1. The two important questions to ask during your audit
2. Deciding a realistic amount of practice time
3. Using your questions to create action items
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!

Quick Win: Using Rhythm for AMAZING Jazz Solos Dec 23, 2021

A huge mistake that many jazz players are making is not utilizing rhythm. So today I'm going to show you 3 common jazz rhythms and how to use them in your solos.
In this episode:
1. Jazz Rhythm #1
2. Jazz Rhythm #2
3. Jazz Rhythm #3
4. Rhythmic Motif Exercise
5. Adding Pitches to Exercise
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

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Gear I Use to Play, Teach, and Practice Jazz Dec 20, 2021

Welcome to episode 310 where today I talk about all of the gear I use to play, teach and practice jazz. I go over everything from microphones, amps, guitars, cameras, audio interfaces, and software. I talk about what they are, how I use them, and what I would recommend for you.
Today on the podcast we are talking about gear - the gear I use for playing jazz, teaching jazz, and practicing jazz.I'll be covering the cameras I use, the microphones I use, the guitar and amplifiers I use, and a host of other things.
Gear is certainly not everything, but good gear can come in handy and make your jazz playing journey easier and more fun.
In this episode:
1. My Live Gig Setup
2. My Recording Setup
3. Software I Use for Practicing
Important Links: (Note: Some of these are affiliate links and at no extra cost to you we get a small kickback when you purchase through these links. )
Live Gig Setup:
Ibanez Artcore AF95
Mono Case
MXR Carbon Copy
Ibanez Tube Screamer Mini
AER Compact 60
D’Addario Nickel Wound Jazz Medium Guage
Dava Jazz Grips
Recording Setup:
Heil PR-40
Sennheiser MKE 600
Behringer U-Phoria UMC404HD
Hindenburg Journalist
Kanto YU2
Logitech C920 HD Pro Webcam
Canon EOS Rebel T7
Practicing and Music Software:
Band in a Box
Finale
Other Resources:
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!

Quick Win: 3 Jazz Mistakes Beginners Make (Avoid These) Dec 17, 2021

Are you making any of these three critical mistakes when learning jazz? Well, today I'm gonna show you exactly what they are, how to avoid them, and what to do instead.
In this episode:
1. Mistake #1
2. Master This For Better Improvisation Skills
3. Mistake #2
4. How To Be More Creative With Your Own Licks
5. Mistake #3
6. How To Gain Freedom From Music Scores
7. The Best Way To Learn Jazz Standards
Important Links:
1. Subscribe to the Podcast
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
2. LJS Inner Circle Membership
3. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Why Practicing LESS Is Better Than Practicing More Dec 13, 2021

Welcome to episode 308 where today I talk about why the mindset of needing to practice a lot to improve as a jazz musician is potentially a toxic mindset. I go through 3 reasons why practicing less can actually have a much higher impact on your jazz playing.
There have been a lot of regrets that I've had during my journey to becoming a better jazz musician. There are a lot of moments I look back at where I see I caused myself lots of unnecessary pain and suffering. When I think of one of the more prominent ones, it was the belief I had that I had to practice a lot in order to make meaningful progress in my jazz playing.
So in today's episode, I'm going to dive deeper into the reason why practicing more is not the answer, and what we can do to solve that mindset.
In this episode:
1. Understanding the Impact on Sustainability
2. Understanding the Impact on Efficiency
3. Understanding the Impact on Motivation
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!

Quick Win: How to Comp Like a Jazz Pro Dec 11, 2021

So how do piano and guitar players learn to comp like jazz pros? Today I'm going to show you 3 things you need to be practicing in order to get there.
In this episode:
1. Definition of Comping
2. Comping Tip #1
3. What are Inversions?
4. Comping Tip #2
5. Ascending Off Beat Exercise
6. Comping Tip #3
7. My #1 Tip for Improving Comping
Important Links:
1. Subscribe to the Podcast
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
2. LJS Inner Circle Membership
3. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Get Un-Stuck In Your Jazz Playing (5 Steps) Dec 06, 2021

Welcome to episode 306 where today I talk about a 5-step process to help you get "un-stuck" in your jazz playing.
Most of us completely resonate with the experience of being stuck on a musical plateau. It can be frustrating and feel like there's not a way out. But in this episode, you'll get a sure-fire process for moving forward.
I find that a lot of musicians that come to me for help are feeling stuck in their jazz playing. They are on the dreaded musical plateau, in the desert, and they can't seem to find a way out. This can be a very frustrating experience - feeling like your solos aren't up to snuff, your comping, your bass lines. Feel like you are still falling back into old habits that are holding you back.
In today's episode, I'm going to help you break through and get unstuck in your jazz playing. I'm going to give you a 5-step process that pretty much guarantees you'll break through to the other side.
In this episode:
1. Doing a Jazz Playing Audit
2. Doing a Jazz Practicing Audit
3. Defining Project Goals
4. Defining a Practice Strategy
5. Rinse and Repeat
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!

Quick Win: How to Go From Jazz Beginner to Intermediate, to Advanced Dec 03, 2021

So how do we go from beginner jazz player, to intermediate, and even advanced? Well, today I'm going to show you exactly how to level up your jazz playing.
In this episode:
1. Level #1 Complete Jazz Beginner
2. Level #2 Jazz Beginner
3. Level #3 Jazz Intermediate
4. Level #4 Jazz Advanced
5. #1 Tip for Leveling Up Your Jazz Playing
Important Links:
1. Subscribe to the Podcast
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
2. LJS Inner Circle Membership
3. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

5 Personality Traits of My Most Successful Jazz Students Nov 26, 2021

Welcome to episode 304 where today I talk about 5 personality traits that some of my most successful students possess. There are certain members of my Inner Circle community and course students that I see improve faster than everyone else.
When I take a deeper look, these general traits they have tend to give them the upper hand. Learn what they are and how you can embrace them.
Main Points:
1. Resilience to Failure
2. Willing to Change (coachable)
3. Longterm Mindsets
4. Focused5. Transparent with Their Progress (vulnerable)
Important Links:
Show Notes
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!

Quick Win: How to Overcome Jazz Performance Anxiety Nov 26, 2021

So you get up to play a song at the jam session and you're terrified, sweaty, and nervous. You just don't feel good. You're afraid you're gonna mess up, screw up, and embarrass yourself. In this video, we will talk about how to get over performance anxiety so we feel confident and fearless.
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. Overcoming Jazz Performance Anxiety Tip #1
3. Overcoming Jazz Performance Anxiety Tip #2
4. Overcoming Jazz Performance Anxiety Tip #3
5. Overcoming Jazz Performance Anxiety Tip #4
6. Overcoming Jazz Performance Anxiety Tip #5
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!

Beginner’s Guide to Learning Chord Progressions By Ear Nov 22, 2021

Welcome to episode 302 where today I walk you through an in-depth process for how to learn chord progressions by ear. For some learning any music by ear is difficult, but when it comes to hearing chords and chord progressions, it can be even more challenging. You'll learn some tips to make it easier and a step-by-step process for how to get started.
Main Points:
1. Using backing tracks instead of recordings
2. Using a slow-downer to make things easier
3. Step 1: The Bass Notes
4. Step 2: The Chord Qualities
Important Links
Show Notes
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!

Quick Win: 10 Must-Know Jazz Standards for Jam Sessions Nov 19, 2021

There are some jazz standards that are so commonly called the jam sessions that you cannot get away with not knowing them.
So, today I'm going to go over ten jazz standards from beginner to advanced.
In this episode:
1. Jazz Standard # 1
2. Jazz Standard # 2
3. Jazz Standard # 3
4. Jazz Standard # 4
5. Jazz Standard # 5
6. Jazz Standard #6
7. Jazz Standard # 7
8. Jazz Standard # 8
9. Jazz Standard # 9
10. Jazz Standard #10
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!

Behind the Scenes of Learn Jazz Standards (feat. Brett Pontecorvo and Justin Kellerer) Nov 15, 2021

Welcome to episode 300 where today we're celebrating this huge milestone of the podcast with two very special guests, both members of team LJS - Brett Pontecorvo and Justin Kellerer.
We recorded this episode live for our Inner Circle members and go behind the scenes and reveal the history of LJS and how it works.Listen to episode 300Learn Jazz Standards started back in 2010 as a simple blog.
Today it's something much bigger and different, and it's been quite a ride. Looking back over the years it's incredible to see how the Learn Jazz Standards community has changed and grown into something far more amazing than we could ever have imagined.
We recorded this episode live to celebrate the 300th episode milestone with two core members of team LJS to dive into the history and the inner workings of Learn Jazz Standards.
In this episode:
1. The History of Learn Jazz Standards
2. How we built Learn Jazz Standards
3. Some of our biggest failures and biggest wins
4. How we've refined our production and processes over the years
5. The future of Learn Jazz Standards
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!

Quick Win: How to Play Scales Over Jazz Chords (Without Sounding Like Scales) Nov 12, 2021

How do you play scales over jazz chords so that you are playing the right notes but not making it sound like you are just playing scales?
Well, today I'm going to show you a melodic approach to making scales musical.
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. The Big Problem with Scales
3. Taking Scales into Context
4. The Right Way to Think About Scales in Jazz
5. First Step to Making Scales Musical
6. Using Scales to "Fill In The Gaps"
7. The Locrian #2 Lick
8. Identifying Chord Tones in the Lick
9. Filling in the Gaps With Scales in the Lick
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!

From the Vault: My Interview With The Great Peter Bernstein Nov 08, 2021

Welcome to episode 298 where we go back in the vault to 2016 with an interview by the renowned jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein.
This was one of the first shows of the LJS Podcast, and a tremendously amazing opportunity to sit down with one of the jazz guitar greats. Peter shares his musical knowledge and insights about being a jazz musician.
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!

Quick Win: How to Play Instant Bebop (On Any Instrument) Nov 05, 2021

So how do you play killer bebop solos like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie?
Well, today I'm going to show you a simple bebop hack that will help you start playing amazing bebop solos instantly.
In this episode:
1. Intro
2. Target Notes and Approach Notes
3. 2 Different Kinds of Approach Tones
4. Using Enclosure
5. Chromatic Approach Tone Exercise
6. Analyzing the Approach Tone Exercise
7. #1 Tip for Improvising Bebop Solos
Important Links1. Subscribe to the Podcast- Apple Podcasts - Spotify 2. Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way 3. LJS Inner Circle Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

5 Filters for How to Know What You Should Practice Nov 01, 2021

Welcome to episode 295 where today I discuss 5 "filters" for knowing what you should practice.
There are so many things out there to practice, and sometimes when told what to practice it can seem generic and not catered specifically to you.
So in this episode, you'll learn 5 filters to help you assess what to practice to shorten your jazz learning curve.
In this episode:
1. Your Master Goal Filter
2. Your Technique Filter
3. The 3 Pillars Filter
4. Jazz Standards Filter
5. Fun Filter
6. Your Practice Strategy Filter
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Show Notes

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Quick Win: 30 Minute Jazz Standard Practice Routine Oct 29, 2021

If you're like most people who are strapped for time to practice, then you may wonder, how do I improve my jazz skills while practicing less?
Well, today I'm going to show you a practice routine that packs a huge punch in only 30 minutes.
In this episode:
1. What is the Inner Circle Power Plan
2. Practice session #1
3. Jazz practice mindset 1
4. Practice session #2
5. Practice session #3
6. Jazz practice mindset 2
7. Inner Circle Power Plan - Week 1
8. Inner Circle Power Plan - Week 2
9. Inner Circle Power Plan - Week 3
10. Inner Circle Power Plan - Week 4
Important Links:
1. Subscribe to the Podcast:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
2. Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. LJS Inner Circle Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Is Your Jazz Playing Healthy (3 Core Factors)? Oct 25, 2021

Welcome to episode 294 where today I discuss 3 core factors I look into when assessing the health of my student's jazz playing.
I find that there are 3 main areas of strength and weakness in a musician that can make or break their jazz solos, comping, or bass lines. If we are able to identify where we fall short within these 3 areas, we can start softening the edges and improving exponentially.
As a jazz coach and a mentor, there are 3 core areas that I assess to determine the health of one of my students' playing. And I look into these 3 core areas because I want to make sure that not only are we really getting to the bottom of the issues that are within your playing but also to make sure that we're on the trajectory towards growth. Because oftentimes I find that if we are missing out on one of these core areas, even if we have the other two together, it can completely handicap our playing and stunt our growth as musicians, and of course, as jazz players.
So in today's episode, I'm going to go over those 3 core areas to assess the health of your jazz playing and what we can do with each one, and ways we can think about this to really progress further.
In this episode:
1. Assessing your Technical proficiency
2. Assessing your Harmonic competency
3. Assessing your Rhythmic competency
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!

Quick Win: Easy Jazz Standard to Improve Fast Oct 22, 2021

What are jazz standards that can help you improve quickly but not leave your brain hurting?
Well, today I'm going to show you an easy jazz standard that does exactly that.
In this episode:
1. Why is this tune easy
2. 3 reasons why this is a powerful tune to learn
3. Reason number 1
4. Reason number 2
5. Major diatonic series of 7th chords
6. Why studying this tune is important
7. Reason number 3
8. What are secondary dominants
Important Links:
1. Subscribe to the Podcast:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
2. Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. LJS Inner Circle Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

What I’m Thinking About When I Improvise Oct 18, 2021

Welcome to episode 292 where today we listen to a recording of me improvising over a popular jazz standard and try to understand what I'm thinking as I improvise.
Improvisation can be a mysterious thing, and it can feel difficult to connect the dots between the scales, licks, and patterns you are practicing to actually improvising great solos. This episode will give some insight into how pro and advanced jazz musicians think.
Now the art of improvising and playing great jazz solos tends to be a mysterious thing for those on the outside looking in. Like what are the advanced and pro-level jazz musicians thinking about when they improvise? How are they able to spontaneously create things? Are they thinking about scales? Are they thinking about chord tones? Are they thinking about licks that they've learned? Are they thinking about a particular emotion when they are playing? What is creating this ability to create spontaneously and great improvisations?
Well, in today's episode, I'm going to actually uncover that in myself to see if we can get inside of what I'm actually thinking when I'm improvising so that hopefully, you can take that information and that knowledge and apply it to your solos so that you do create great improvisations.
In this episode:
1. Improvisation is connecting the subconscious to the conscious
2. Great improvisers have often played what they are improvising before
3. It's important to practice things we want to play so that we develop our own "isms" that feel natural to us
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!

Quick Win: Tasty Minor Bebop Altered Lick Oct 15, 2021

Today I'm going to show you a tasty jazz lick that's going to make you sound like a bebop pro over minor 2-5-1 chord progressions.
In this episode:
1. What's a minor 2-5-1
2. How to get that bebop sound
3. What a Minor Bebop Altered Lick sounds like
4. What makes this lick so great
5. What are target notes
6. Importance of 3rds
7. Importance of 7ths
8. The altered notes
9. Tips for learning the altered lick
Important Links:
1. Subscribe to the Podcast:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
2. Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. LJS Inner Circle Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

6 Powerful Reasons to Record Your Jazz Playing Oct 11, 2021

Welcome to episode 290 where today I talk about 6 powerful reasons why you should record your jazz playing.
You may have heard people suggest recording yourself, but have you ever fully understood why it can be helpful? In this episode, I go over in detail how this simple regular practice could reap great rewards in your jazz playing.
If you've been listening to this podcast for a while, you may have heard me say before that recording your jazz playing is a great idea. But I probably haven't really dug deep into why recording your jazz playing can actually have exponential benefits as far as you getting a lot out of your practice sessions and speeding up the progress of your jazz improv, and jazz comping skills in general.
So, in this episode, we are going to dive into that. We're going to go over six reasons why recording yourself is going to be helpful for you in your jazz playing, as well as some tips for recording yourself at the end.
In this episode:
1. Documenting your progress
2. Simulating a performance environment
3. Encourages repetition
4. Identify things you are good at
5. Identify things you need to work on
6. Get community feedback
7. 3 tips for recording yourself
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!

Quick Win: Sick Minor Blues Improv Hack Oct 08, 2021

So how do you play sick bluesy licks over top of minor 2-5-1 chord progressions?
Well, I'm going to show you a very simple tool to make this really easy.
In this episode:
1. What is a minor 2-5-1 chord progression
2. What is tritone substitution
3. How to use tritone substitution
4. Comparing to a Minor Blues Scale
5. The Importance of Chord Tones
6. How to Use Over a Jazz Standard
Important Links:
1. Subscribe to the Podcast:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
2. Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. LJS Inner Circle Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Beginner, to Intermediate, to Advanced Jazz Musician – How to Do It Oct 04, 2021

Welcome to episode 288 where today I talk about how to go from a beginner jazz player to intermediate, and finally to advanced jazz musician.
I teach you exactly what I would do if I was starting all over, and how to speed up the process and cut back on practice time.
How do we go from beginner to intermediate, to advanced jazz player in as little time as possible? Whether you are a beginner and you're just getting started to jazz, or you're somewhere in the middle of the road, how do we get to that next level?
Well, I'm going to go through in this episode exactly what I would do if I was starting from square one. Right from the very beginning, what would I do to most efficiently, most quickly become a better jazz musician? No matter what instrument you play, it really doesn't matter, this could be a huge key for you in your long-term success as a jazz player.
So, let's dive right into this. I would encourage you to get out your notes and to really pay attention to this one because this is going to be absolutely value-packed.
In this episode:
1. Start Listening (and a key tip)
2. Learn basic jazz blues (and 4 crucial steps)
3. Learn 1 jazz standard a month (and 5 crucial steps)
4. Learn 1 jazz standard a month (again)
5. Setting up regular jams/gigs
6. Analyzing problems and attacking them
7. How to speed up progress while practicing less
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!

How to Deal With Musical Failure Sep 27, 2021

Welcome to episode 287 where today I talk about musical "failure" - how to think about it, how to deal with it, and ultimately how to appropriately use it to your advantage.
In this episode, I talk about how there is only really one type of true failure, and how to adopt a mindset that sets you up to win every time.
Inevitably, somewhere along the line in your journey of becoming a better jazz musician, you are going to fail. There's going to be something that goes wrong, maybe even in your mind, very wrong, like you get lost in the middle of the chord changes at a jam session or gig and it's embarrassing, or you completely flob a solo.
It doesn't sound good. It sounds absolutely horrible. You may, even just in the practice room by yourself, disappoint yourself with the progress that you're making. And you'll look at it as a failure.
But how do we deal with that? How do we deal with those failures and how do we come out better on the other side of them? And how do we reframe our thinking about what musical failure actually is and what it means?
Well, that's exactly what I'm going to talk about in today's episode. We're going to dive deep into that topic so that we can start reframing the narrative and improving our jazz skills with the right mindset.
In this episode:
1. The only type of true musical failure
2. How to use "failure" to help you make gains
3. Adopting a mindset that helps you win every time
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!

3 Ways to Spice Up Your Minor 2-5-1 Playing Sep 20, 2021

Welcome to episode 286 where today I talk about 3 different ways to spice up minor 2-5-1 chord progressions.
Minor 2-5-1s can be found everywhere in jazz standards, so how do we make our comping, bass lines, and improv more interesting over them? I give several different ways we can utilize harmonic movement in our favor.
Minor 2-5-1 chord progressions are found all over the place in jazz standards, so you'll be able to navigate them with relative ease. But how can we spice them up? How can we make them sound interesting when we improvise or walk bass lines or comp over top of these chord progressions?
Well, that's exactly what we are going to talk about today in today's episode. We are going to talk about 3 different ways we can spice up minor 2-5-1 chord progressions.
In this episode:
1. 1. i-bI7-tritone sub of ii-i
2. i-IV7-tritone sub of ii-i
3. i-IV7-II7-tritone sub ov V-i
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!

How to Play More Melodic Jazz Solos Sep 13, 2021

Welcome to episode 285 where today I talk about how to play more melodic jazz solos.
What separates the amateurs from the experts is how melodic a jazz solo is. So if you are stuck with boring solos, or solos that sound like scales, this episode will give you actionable steps for transforming your solos into memorable ones.
If you're like 99% of the people that come to me for help with their jazz playing and their improvisation, you are not happy with your jazz solos right now. There's something about them that is missing and you are not quite sure what it is when you compare yourself to other great jazz musicians you know or your favorite ones that you listen to recordings on.
The key is that great jazz musicians are always playing melodically. And they don't sound like they're playing scales. They don't sound like they are playing chord tones. They don't sound like they are playing mechanically at all. They sound like they're playing organic, living, breathing melodies.
So how do you play jazz solos that sing and that are melodic? Well, that's exactly what I'm talking about in today's episode -- how do we improvise melodically. I'm going to give you some practical advice, some steps, and some things that you can practice today.
In this episode:
1. What makes a melody great
2. Strategy for making the chord changes come out in your solos
3. Voice leading as a tool for developing melody
4. Make your solos singable by practicing creating them.
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!

How to Know If You Are Ready to Learn Jazz Sep 06, 2021

Welcome to episode 284 where today I talk about how to know whether you are ready to start learning jazz.
I hear from musicians who wonder if their skills on their instrument are up to par, ears good enough, or in general, have the talent necessary to learn and play jazz. I discuss how to know if you are ready, and several things you can do to set yourself up for success.
Am I ready to start playing jazz? That's the question that someone asked me recently and I've been asked this question many times by different subscribers over the years. And sometimes I am asked in different ways like, am I technically proficient enough in my instrument to be able to play jazz? I'm a classical musician. Am I able to play jazz even though I've never learned anything by ear before and I'm not even an improviser?
So many different iterations of this question, but all kind of come down to the root of is jazz a step above where I am right now and therefore, I have to sort of bridge that gap before we get there before we actually start diving into jazz and enjoying ourselves playing the music.
Well, that's exactly what I'm going to answer today. I'm going to give you the answer to that question directly and then give you some guidelines and some helpful tips so that you can be prepared to play jazz and really start taking off on the right foot.
In this episode:
1. How to know whether you are ready to play jazz or not
2. Tip 1: Know the basics of navigating your instrument
3. Tip 2: Know basic scales and chord tones
4. Tip 3: Be willing to fail
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!

3 Powerful Mindsets for Improving Faster While Practicing Less Aug 30, 2021

Welcome to episode 283 where today I talk about 3 powerful mindsets that you need to adopt to start improving faster while practicing less, and setting yourself up to win every time.
If you can start recognizing the less helpful mindsets that many of us musicians have, and then replacing them with these, it could be huge for you.
Too many times, we musicians set ourselves up to fail. We set ourselves up to fail so that we are not able to improve in our jazz playing, in our skills, in our comping, in our walking baselines, in our single note lines.
Whatever it is that you are working on right now, we set ourselves up to fail because we have the wrong mindset. We have the wrong mindset for how to actually improve and because we've adopted some of these bad mindsets for how we approach actually going about learning this music, we dramatically decrease the way that we improve and how we are able to improve.
So, in today's episode, I'll be going over 3 powerful mindsets that, if you can adopt these mindsets, I can pretty much guarantee that you are going to start making more progress in your jazz playing while practicing even less.
In this episode:
1. Mindset 1: You can make huge progress with only the amount of practice time you have (without giving up anything)
2. Mindset 2: The simple stuff is the BIG stuff - you don't need to practice harder and more things to improve
3. Mindset 3: Perfection is the enemy of progress - when we get stuck on perfecting one thing, we miss out on the other lessons waiting for us
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!

The 3 Pillars of Bebop for Improving Your Bop Solos (feat. Brett Pontecorvo) Aug 23, 2021

Welcome to episode 282 where today I talk with a member of team LJS, Brett Pontecorvo, about the 3 Pillars of Bebop.
Bebop is a style of jazz that has greatly influenced the way jazz improvisers play today. But bebop is no walk in the park. It requires a degree of virtuosity and strong knowledge of navigating chord changes. How do we break it down to make it easier?
Chances are, some of your favorite jazz musicians and the amazing solos that they play, are influenced by the style of jazz that emerged around the 1940s called bebop. Now bebop was pioneered by musicians like Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie and a host of others, of tunes like "Moose the Mooche", "Relaxin' at Camarillo", "Anthropology", "Ornithology" -- the list goes on and on of all these amazing tunes that are just wonderful and just the amazing solos that came out of this period.
But you may have noticed that playing bebop is quite difficult. It's a virtuosic style of music, it's very hard but we need to know how to play bebop lines in order to improvise as a jazz musicians in a way that is typical of the dialect that is played today.
So, in today's episode, I have a very special guest, a member of team LJS, Brett Pontecorvo, on the show, to talk about the 3 pillars of bebop so we can understand it better and you can start soloing over it better as well.
In this episode:
1. Pillar #1: Melodic Chromaticism
2. Pillar #2: Altered Harmony
3. Pillar #3: Syncopated Rhythm
4. The one thing you should do to improve your bebop solos
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!

The 3 Track System for Skyrocketing Your Jazz Playing (feat. Justin Nielsen) Aug 16, 2021

Welcome to episode 281 where today I talk with a musical mentor of mine, Justin Nielsen, all about his 3 track system for accelerating your jazz growth.
Justin has taught hundreds of students, some of which have gone on to be world-class jazz musicians, and his powerful 3 track system will make sure you are practicing the right things and moving the needle.
Today's episode is one of those episodes where I know I'm going to be pointing back to this one all the time because it is absolutely filled with golden advice and golden systems for truly improving your jazz skills much faster than you normally would. In my opinion, it's a great secret sauce formula for truly improving your jazz skills in a way that will yield huge results.
And I'm excited to have on today my jazz mentor, Justin Nielsen, who's going to walk us through his 3-track process that he talks all of his students through, so many of his students have gone on to become world-class musicians, and it's going to blow your mind. I'm really excited to share it with you.
He's going to show you real strategies, and real ways to practice to get amazing results in your jazz playing.
In this episode:
1. Track 1: Apply new concepts to these 7 chord progressions,
take through all 12 or multiple keys
-Maj 2-5-1
-Maj 1-6-2-5
-Blues
-A section to rhythm changes
-Minor 2-5-1
-Minor 1-6-2-5
-Minor blues
2. Track 2: Pick your "Tune of Destiny," commit to it for a year and apply everything you learn to it.
3. Track 3: Choose 10 tunes, including your Tune of Destiny, that you will apply everything you learn to them, and commit to for a year.
Important Links:
1. Justin Nielsen's Divine Colors album
2. LJS Inner Circle Membership
3. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Create Killer Set Lists for Your Jazz Gigs Aug 09, 2021

Welcome to episode 280 where today we talk about jazz gig set lists and how to create ones that keep you and the audience inspired.
A great set list can make a huge difference in both how you and the audience feel about your gig. I talk about 3 guidelines to consider when creating your set lists, and then I walk you through a 7 song set list that I created.
Alright, picture this. You're at your jazz gig, your bandmates are there. Everybody is set up, everybody is ready to play. And right before you are about to start, someone asked, "Well, what tune are we going to play first?"And dead silence comes over all the other bandmates. No one really knows which tune to play.
It takes a while to come up with one. You play the first tune and then... dead silence again. What tune do we play next? Or perhaps you do start coming out with tunes and calling tunes and even though it takes some time to come across them, you notice that everything sounds the same. It gets boring for you. It gets boring for the audience, and in general, it just kind of lowers the quality of the gig and the performance.
Well, my friend, that is exactly why you need a killer set list for your jazz gig that actually has variety, that is actually interesting to the audience and is interesting to you. That's exactly what we are going to talk about in this podcast.
We'll go over some guidelines and give you a 7-song set list to consider.
In this episode:
1. Guideline #1: Add stylistic variety
2. Guideline #2: Add emotional variety
3. Guideline #3: Consider what kind of gig you are playing
4. I walk you through a 7 song set list and why I made each song choice
5. Bonus Guideline: keep variety in your song keys and don't play the same key back to back
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!

6 Reasons Your Jazz Solos May Sound Bad Aug 02, 2021

Welcome to episode 279 where today I share with you 6 reasons your jazz solos may sound bad.
These are things I commonly witness in the playing of beginner and intermediate players, and even with some slight changes and focus on these areas, you can start taking your jazz solos from bad to mediocre, to great.
Alright, I am back after a 2-week break from the podcast, I'm ready to come back and serve you guys, and help you guys become better jazz musicians. And to get right back into the swing of things, I'm going to be talking about six reasons why your jazz solos may not sound so good. And I'm not just going to tell you why they may not sound so good,
I'm also going to give you actual solutions so that you can start fixing them and taking your jazz solos to the next level and iron out those little bits that are just holding you back from sounding like the great jazz musicians that you love and you admire.
In this episode:
1. You're not outlining the chord changes
2. You haven't learned enough jazz vocabulary
3. You are trying to copy and paste licks
4. Your time feel is bad
5. You're not considering the arc of your solo
6. You're only practicing things you already do well
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!

Lessons From Learning 100 Jazz Standards in a Year Jul 12, 2021

Welcome to episode 278 where today I share with you 4 important lessons I learned from learning 100 jazz standards over the course of a year.
Struggle with remembering standards? Maybe you learn them but feel like you don't know them very well? These 4 lessons will help.
There's a year in my life when I had a lot of time on my hands and I actually learned 100 new jazz standards in one year. That's right. I'll say it again. I learned 100 new jazz standards in an entire year. And while I wouldn't necessarily recommend someone to do this, in fact, I wouldn't really ever tell my students to learn 100 jazz standards in one year and I'll explain a little bit about that in this episode, I did actually learn a lot of lessons about jazz and learning music very quickly because I went through that process.
So, in today's episode, I'm going to be sharing with you 4 things that I learned from learning 100 jazz standards in one year so that you can learn from them so that you can avoid doing that yourself and just take the lessons that I got from them.
In this episode:
1. Learn standards that you genuinely enjoy
2. Listen obsessively
3. Recognize common harmonic patterns
4. Play standards with others as often as possible
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!

I’ve got a confession to make…brace yourself Jul 05, 2021

Today's episode may come as a surprise to you. I confess a deep, dark, secret on the show.
As a listener of the podcast, you have a right to know. I'm prepared to accept the necessary punishment for my jazz crimes.
I've got a deep, dark bombshell confession I have to make to you. It's something I've avoided trying to tell you for a very long time but I have to come clean. I know that you may not think of me the same way after hearing this news, but the truth is, you must know, after all, you listen to my podcast to learn jazz from me and if I can't be honest about this thing, then what can I be honest with you about? I just have to tell you the truth... I haven't practiced my guitar.
In this episode:1. I confess my jazz crimes.
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!

3 Week Jazz Tune by Ear Challenge (Week 3) Jun 28, 2021

Welcome to episode 276 where we conclude a series of 3 episodes where we are going through a challenge of learning a jazz tune by ear in 3 weeks.
We've learned the melody, we've learned the chords, and now it's time to learn some jazz language. I compose a 12 bar jazz etude live on the podcast and teach it to you at the same time.
On the podcast today we are concluding our 3-week challenge to learn a jazz tune by ear where I've been walking you through a simple process and holding your hand through it. So that by the end of this 3-week series not only will you have been able to learn the jazz tune by ear, no sheet music included, but also have some tools to solo over this tune. And so far we've learned the melody by ear. We've learned the chords by ear. You should know those if you have been following along with this series.
In today's episode, I'm actually going to help you learn a solo, just a one-course solo over the top of this jazz tune and we are going to kind of compose one on the spot. And then, I'm going to give you the challenge to compose your own once you've seen the process that I go through so hopefully this would be very insightful and enlightening.
In this episode:
1. Using the melody as a reference for your solos
2. Using "motivic development" to create theme and variation
3. Your challenge to compose your own 12 bar etude
Important Links
1. Ready or Not backing track
2. Ready or Not Etude
3. LJS Inner Circle Membership

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

3 Week Jazz Tune by Ear Challenge (Week 2) Jun 21, 2021

Welcome to episode 275 where we continue a series of 3 episodes where we are going through a challenge of learning a jazz tune by ear in 3 weeks. And in addition to learning it, by the end of these 3 weeks, you'll be able to play a solo over it that you have created yourself. In Week 2, we are moving forward from the melody and learning the chord changes.
We're on to week number 2 of our Learning a Jazz Tune By Ear Challenge! Last week, we've learned the melody of a jazz tune that I wrote called "Ready or Not". Now, in this week, week number 2 of the challenge, we are going to learn the chords to this song so that you are able to play them by the end of this episode.
And so by the end of this episode, actually if you have worked on week 1 of our challenge, you should know the entire tune and then the next set of courses to start figuring out how do we actually improvise over it. So, let's dive into this. Learning chords by ear can be difficult but I'm here to help you and walk you through it.
In this episode:
1. A few tips for learning chord changes by ear
2. We work through the Trial and Error method
3. Overview of chord changes and your Call to Action
Important Links:
1. "Ready or Not" mp3
2. LJS Inner Circle Membership
3. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

3 Week Jazz Tune by Ear Challenge (Week 1) Jun 14, 2021

Welcome to episode 274 where we start a series of 3 episodes where we are going through a challenge of learning a jazz tune by ear in 3 weeks. And in addition to learning it, by the end of these 3 weeks, you'll be able to play a solo over it that you have created yourself. In Week 1, we learn the melody of the jazz tune. Are you up for the challenge?
Today's episode marks the first in a 3-part challenge that I'm going to be walking you through. We're going to be learning a jazz tune by ear and also by the end of this 3-week challenge, I want you to be able to improvise a solo or play a solo over the top of this jazz tune. I'm going to hold your hand through the process, make it easy, and show you how to do it.
It's going to be like we are going to be practicing in some of these episodes, we are going to be learning some methodologies in these episodes. But overall, I think at the end of these 3 weeks, you will without a doubt be able to say that you know a new jazz tune that you can improvise over and you will learn tons of lessons along the way.
In this episode:
1. How the challenge works and what you'll learn
2. Introducing the jazz tune you'll be learning, "Ready or Not"
3. An overview of the L.I.S.T Process for learning by ear
4. Brent teaches you the melody note by note
Important Links:
1. "Ready or Not" mp3
2. LJS Inner Circle Membership
3. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Only 3 Things I Would Practice for the Rest of My Life Jun 07, 2021

Welcome to episode 273 where I discuss the only thing I would practice for jazz if I could only pick three.
Most of us don't have a lot of time to practice, but we want to improve our jazz skills quickly. We need to be focusing on the most impactful things and discarding the rest. I share with you mine and encourage you to think about yours.
One massive question that I get all the time from subscribers is what should I practice if I only have a very little bit of time to practice? What's going to get me the biggest bang for my buck? We don't have a lot of time to practice, to work on stuff but we want to improve as musicians. We want to improve our jazz improvisation. What do we do?
There are a billion things you could practice, a billion things you could do. And I'm always trying to answer the question. How do we simplify things? How do we boil things down to the most essential?
And that's what we are going to talk about in today's episode. I'm going to talk about only 3 things. If I were only to pick 3 things to practice for jazz for the rest of my life, what would they be?
In this episode:
1. Using jazz standards as your primary vehicle
2. The 80/20 rule for jazz
3. Chord Tones
4. Learning solos
5. Composing solos
6. Discovering your 20%
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!

Worst, Best, Most Challenging, Most Lucrative Gigs I’ve Played May 31, 2021

Welcome to episode 272 where I discuss an array of different jazz gigs I've played over my career as a performing jazz musician.
I talk about the worst gigs I've played, the best ones, the worst paying, the best paying, the ones where I learned the most, and I share all the lessons I've learned along the way.
You know, over the years, as a professional jazz musician, I played hundreds and hundreds of gigs and I've really experienced the entire spectrum of experiences as a gigging musician. I've experienced some of the worst gigs ever like horrible working conditions, near-disasters, or just difficult people to work with. I've experienced amazing gigs -- incredible musicians, incredible experiences, maybe fancy gigs that I've attended or worked with. I've experienced ones that taught me a lot of lessons. I've experienced others that made me want to go and hang my head in shame when I got home.
I've experienced a lot and I'm excited to do a very special episode where I go through a bunch of different gigs that I have played and show you the good, the bad, and the ugly and the lessons that I have learned from all of them
In this episode:
1. Best long term gig I've played
2. Best overall gig I've played
3. Worst gig experience
4. The fanciest gig I've played
5. Worst paying gig I've played
6. Best paying gig I've played
7. Gigs where I've learned the most
8. Gigs that have had the biggest life impact
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!

How to Know What the CORRECT Changes Are to a Jazz Standard May 24, 2021

Welcome to episode 271 where today we are exploring the question of how to know what the correct chord changes are for a jazz standard.
Because jazz musicians have often manipulated original chord changes, and often take liberties with chordal harmony, it can be difficult to know exactly what the chords are to standards. I give you some practical tips to help guide you through.
One thing that would be very frustrating about learning jazz and playing jazz is that a lot of times jazz musicians will play a song just slightly differently. Maybe it's the way that they phrase the melody. Maybe it's the way they play the chord changes -- adding chord changes, subtracting chord changes, playing an entirely different key. It can get very confusing and you wish you just knew what the exact original changes that everybody's playing at the jam sessions are so that you're not confused by all the options out there.
Well, in today's episode, we're going to be talking about that specifically. How do you know what changes you should be using and learning when you are learning a new jazz standard?
In this episode:
1. Don't use the Real Book or iReal Pro as primary resources
2. Consult the original recording, but realize that Great American Songbook original changes may be different than what jazz musicians play
3. Realize that some tunes have more than one set of "correct" changes
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!

Understanding Gypsy Jazz and Other Musical Truth Nuggets (feat. Dani Rabin and Danny Markovich) May 17, 2021

Welcome to episode 270 where today we have special guests Dani Rabin and Danny Markovich from the band Marbin, on the show to talk about Gypsy jazz.
Our guests talk about the ins and outs of this style of jazz as well as many other musical insights and strategies.
One important style of jazz that came out of Europe is Gypsy jazz. And you're maybe familiar with musicians such as Django Reinhardt, who was the guitarist that really is the centerpiece of Gypsy jazz. But what is Gypsy jazz all about? What makes it unique and how do you go about actually playing it?
Well, on today's show, I have two special guests, Danny Markovich and Dani Rabin from the band Marbin, who just came out with an album on Gypsy jazz. And they are going to talk to us about Gypsy jazz, and how it works, and this is going to be a really fun and enlightening conversation.
In this episode:
1. What makes Gypsy jazz, Gypsy jazz?
2. Gypsy jazz comping technique for guitarists.
3. Stylistic approaches to improvising
4. Other important musical truths
5. Marbin's new Gypsy jazz album
Important Links:
1. Marbin's Gypsy jazz album "Fernweh"
2. LJS Inner Circle Membership
3. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

ONLY Scale and Chords You Need to Know for Jazz May 10, 2021

Welcome to episode 269 where I have the audacity to suggest that you only need to know one scale in order to start improvising over jazz standards. And chords? Only a small handful.
This episode will help beginner and intermediate jazz musicians cut the fat, weed out the excess, and get down to the essentials.
Every month in our LJS Inner Circle membership, we do something called the Monthly Jazz Mastermind. And this is an opportunity for all the members to get on a live Q&A call with me to ask any music or jazz-related questions. It's a lot of fun and we had a great question that came up, and the question was, "as a trumpet player, which scales and chords are considered to be a must-know before going on to others?"And the first way I answer this particular member was that it doesn't matter if you're a trumpet player or a guitar player, a bass player, or a saxophone player. Whatever instrument you play when it comes to jazz, there are really only a few scales and really only a few chords that you need to know before going on and exploring more in-depth things. In fact, I had the audacity to suggest that this particular musician only needs to know one scale.
So, let's dig into that in this episode. Let's discover this. Let's break things down, make things simpler and let's do this thing.
In this episode:
1. Understanding the major scale
2. Understanding how to harmonize a major scale with 7th chords
3. There are only 5 chords you need to know
4. Understanding how to utilize the major scale over all of the 7th chords
Important Links:
1. Podcast Sponsor: Modacity (music practicing app)
2. LJS Inner Circle Membership
3. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Musicians Like YOU Share Their Jazz Breakthroughs (Inner Circle Celebration) May 03, 2021

Welcome to episode 268 where today we have a very special episode in celebration of our 1 year birthday of our LJS Inner Circle membership.
We have a lot of guests on the show, members of our Inner Circle, share their musical breakthroughs to help you get an idea of what's working for them so you can take action for yourself.
Today's episode is a very special episode. It's an episode where we are celebrating the one-year birthday of our LJS Inner Circle membership. And to celebrate that I wanted to have members of our Inner Circle come in on the podcast and share their musical breakthroughs with all of you. Because I believe that when we listen to other musicians who are in the same position as you, you're not professional musicians, not any of those other people, who have actually seen success in their jazz playing.
We want to know what those things actually are. If we can learn from others like us trying to accomplish the same thing, we can fast-track our growth by just keying into these things.
So you are going to learn so much in today's episode from so many different special guests. Get ready for this. This is going to be a fun celebratory episode.
In this episode:
1. Our members share their jazz breakthroughs so you can learn what is working best for musicians just like you
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!

Innovative Practice Strategies for Mind, Body, and Music (feat. Marc Gelfo) Apr 26, 2021

Welcome to episode 267 where today we have a special guest, founder and CEO of Modactiy, Marc Gelfo, on to talk about practice strategy.
In this episode, Marc digs beneath the surface and shares his thoughts on practicing effectively drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and his experience as an extraordinarily accomplished french hornist.
When it comes to practicing, we often talk about what you should be practicing to improve your musicianship or your jazz skills. And often some tactics are prescribed. I know that I often prescribe certain practice regimens, different things that you can do to accelerate your progress. But we often don't talk about the deeper side, the brain side, the psychological side of practicing. How we can speed up our development by the way we think, by the way we feel physically. And all these things that are kind of meta and beneath the surface of what we normally talk about when we talk about practicing.
So, on today's show, I have a very special guest Marc Gelfo, the founder of the practicing app Modacity, to get inside of all this stuff with us, to talk about the mind, the body, and music and how we can apply some real strategies for improving our practicing and improving our progress.
In this episode:
1. Marc's background on how he came to effective practicing
2. Why practicing well matters (and the consequences of not)
3. Marc's emotional, mental, and technical practice hacks
4. The role of recording your practice
5. Modacity and how it can help you practice more effectively
Important Links:
1. Modacity (Marc's Practice App)
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!

Mastering Swing Feel and Finding That Perfect Swing Apr 19, 2021

Welcome to episode 266 where today we talk about swing feel, what it is, how to properly swing, and some common mistakes musicians make.
Swing is the most unique style of jazz, despite there being multiple straight eighth styles associated with jazz. But what exactly makes up a swing feel, and how do we find the balance between "over swinging" and "under swinging." This episode gets you headed in the right direction.
Even though jazz has a lot of different styles and grooves associated with the genre, the most unique style is swing. The idea of swinging your eighth notes, then of course all the other rhythmic associations that come with that. I mean, even a bass player just playing quarter notes can swing really hard and have that feeling underneath it. But I hear a lot of musicians not really quite hitting the mark. Not really getting the swing feel correct.
And so, I want to dive into that in today's episode, to really kind of discover the rhythmic background to the swing feel and then try to figure out what is the sweet spot with swinging and playing eighth-note lines that are straight, what's the beautiful perfect match between the two of those that will really make us groove really hard.
In this episode:
1. Swung eighth notes are based on a triplet pattern
2. How to play straight eighth, triplet eighths, and swung eighths
3. Avoid accenting the "let" of the triplet.
4. Finding the sweet spot between straight and swung eighth notes
5. Copying other jazz musicians' swing feel will help you better understand the feeling of a good swing feel
Important Links:
1. Podcast Sponsor: Modacity (music practicing app)
2. LJS Inner Circle Membership
3. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Overcoming Musical Frustration and Maintaining Motivation (feat. Michael Lake) Apr 13, 2021

Welcome to episode 265 where today I have on special guest musician Michael Lake to talk about overcoming musical frustration.
It's not uncommon for a musician studying jazz to get frustrated with their musical progress, which in unhealthy amounts can sometimes lead to demotivation. Michael lends his thoughts on how to work through this and how to set yourself up for long-term success.
The reality of studying any kind of music is that eventually, you are going to get frustrated with your progress. You are going to be frustrated with the way you sound. You are going to be frustrated with how quickly you are progressing. You are going to get frustrated if there's something difficult in that music that you are having a hard time wrapping your head around.
And this is especially true for jazz being a more complex kind of music, with more complex harmony, and improvisation just in general being a challenging concept. But we don't want to stay in that place of frustration for too long. We want to be enjoying ourselves and progressing.
So, in today's show, I have a special guest Michael Lake to talk about overcoming musical frustration and give you some really practical tips and really powerful things for overcoming those barriers of musical frustration and musical motivation.
In this episode:
1. Defining your goals for what you want to get out of the music
2. Accepting your musical skill level as you grow
3. Overcoming frustration with action
Important Links:
Michael Lake's Music Savvy
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!

Memorizing Jazz Standards 101 (So You Don’t Forget Them) Apr 05, 2021

Welcome to episode 264 where today I go over some tips and strategies for memorizing jazz standards in such a way that you are less likely to forget them and can recall them even if you haven't played them in a while.
I go over a few don'ts of memorizing jazz standards, and some work you can do ahead of time and during the process of learning that will make a difference.
The question I get quite often is how do I memorize jazz standards so I don't forget them, especially because it seems as if it's required of me to know a lot of them? Like 10, 15, 20, 30, 50, maybe even more jazz standards when you go out to a jam session. Maybe you are a musician who is actually starting to gig around a little bit at your local coffee shops and bars, and you need to know a lot of tunes. And it can be really frustrating especially if you have learned the tune only later when it's called on a jam session or a gig to forget it.
So in this episode, I'm going to be digging into some strategies and some tips I can offer to help you memorize jazz standards better and really get the most out of them so that you are not forgetting them that you are able to put them to use on the bandstand.
In this episode:
1. Learn the melody using the LIST Process
2. Understand the major and minor diatonic series
3. Be able to recall in your head and on your instrument common chord progressions in different keys
4. After learning the chords to a jazz standard, categorize each set of changes rather than thinking of chords individually
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!

The L.R.C Practice Strategy for Mastering Musical Material Mar 29, 2021

Welcome to episode 263 where today I go over a simple strategy you can start implementing into your practice. It's called the L.R.C Practice Strategy, and it will help you take your practice to the next level with structured and focused actions that yield better and faster results.
In today's episode, I'm going to be teaching a simple but powerful practice strategy that I first kind of put a name to and revealed in a masterclass that I gave at our recent Learn Jazz Live 2021 Virtual Summit. And this is a practice strategy that I implement in a lot of my courses, of course, in my own playing and any other students that I've taught in the past.
I've used this practice strategy to help accelerate the process of becoming a better jazz improviser and making sure that while practicing, you are utilizing all the elements of the material you are learning to really make quicker progress.
I'm excited about this episode, it's a quick but powerful one.
In this episode:
1. Learn
2. Refine
3. Create
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!

From the Vault: Bossa Nova Basics with Livio Almeida (5 Year Birthday Episode) Mar 22, 2021

Welcome to episode 262 where today we are reaching into the LJS Podcast Vault and going back in time to revisit an episode all about Bossa Nova. Special guest Livio Almeida walks us through the basics, shedding light on important rhythms, composers, and tunes. This is one of those episodes that needs another listen!
Today on the podcast we are going to be traveling back in time. We are going to be reaching into the vault of the LJS podcast to reflect on an episode back in the earlier days of the show that I think is really important and one that I don't really talk about, or at least a subject matter I don't really touch on a lot nowadays because I'm not really an expert in the field.
However, it's really important to jazz, and that is Bossa Nova and understanding the basic rhythms, understanding some ideas about how to play Bossa Nova well because Bossa Novas are a big part of the jazz standard repertoire so we need to know that very well.I had a special guest, Livio Almeida, onboard this episode that we are going to revisit today and he is an expert at all the stuff and an incredible jazz musician as well.
In this episode:
1. Learn about the origins of Bossa Nova
2. Learn basic rhythmic structures of Bossa Nova
3. Learn important composers to be aware of
4. Learn important tunes you need to learn
5. Learn about "Choro" music (Brazilian bebop)
6. Brent recaps his biggest episode takeaways
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!

4 Levels of Jazz Chords to Spice Up Your Comping and Improv Mar 15, 2021

Welcome to episode 261 where today I'm covering 4 levels of jazz chords so that you can start implementing these concepts into your comping and jazz solos.
In this episode, I start with the simplest of chords, triads, and build up in complexity. You'll learn how jazz musicians take basic chords and transform them into colorful harmonic tools.
In your jazz studies, you probably noticed that jazz standards have a wealth of harmonic information in them. And jazz musicians don't even always stick to that harmonic information in the jazz standard. Sometimes they take a chord and they change it. They make it even more colorful. Sometimes they remove a chord. Sometimes they'll add in different chords altogether.
So how do we go from just very basic chords? Like just regular triads that you've heard of, you know, rock and pop and all that stuff, and slowly turn them into "jazzy chords"?Well, that's what we are going to talk about in today's episode. Four different levels of jazz chords starting from incredibly basic to a lot more complex and more colorful, the kind of stuff that jazz musicians like to play in their harmony, their comping, and in their solos.
In this episode:
1. Triads
2. 7th Chords
3. Extensions and Alterations
4. Chord Substitutions
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!

7 Steps for Improvising Over Jazz Standards from Scratch Mar 08, 2021

Welcome to episode 260 where today I'm covering a 7 step process for improvising over a jazz standard starting from zero. This is the exact process that my Inner Circle members go through to learn and improvise over a new jazz standard every month, and now I'm sharing it with you.
Check it out! I just got done practicing 4 hours to demonstrate the material that I'm about to show you in this episode where I'm going to show you how you can go from essentially not knowing a jazz standard almost at all to improvising over it at a fairly high level. And there are 7 steps I'm going to walk you through that I personally went through today to get myself to this point and certain tools that I use in order to accelerate this process.So I'm really excited about this process.
This is one of those episodes where it's kind of a big, big one and I really want you to pay attention to this one.
In this episode:
1. Learn the melody and the changes
2. Learn and memorize a chord tone map
3. Learn and memorize a guide tone map
4. Learn and memorize a scale map
5. Learn one chorus of an etude or solo
6. Compose your own chorus of a solo
7. Improvise a chorus of a solo
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!

7 Steps for Not Getting Lost During Your Jazz Solos Mar 02, 2021

Welcome to episode 259 where today we're addressing a really common problem improvisers face, which is getting lost in the form while you are soloing.
Getting lost is something that happens to everyone, but the key is reducing this occurrence and being able to get back on quickly.
Here are 7 steps to consider.
So you're in the middle of your solo, and you are playing all the notes. You think you are playing the changes. You're getting swept away. Then all of a sudden you realize, I don't know where I am in the song. This horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach comes up, and you feel embarrassed. You don't even know what you're doing. You just started playing random notes. You're getting disflustered. All these things are coming about, you just don't know where you are in the song anymore. Somehow, you got lost. And so the big question is, how can we avoid this from happening? How can we avoid getting lost when we are playing jazz standards when we are improvising our solos? And how do we set ourselves up for success so that this does not happen to you ever again?
That's exactly what we are going to talk about in today's episode. And we're going to go over 7 questions to ask yourself if you are doing these things or not, to help you avoid this mistake.
In this episode:
1. How are you learning the tune? By ear or by sheet music?
2. Can you recognize the sounds of basic chord progressions?
3. Do you practice singing along with the form?
4. Do you practice with a metronome?
5. Do you have a good concept of playing subdivisions?
6. Do you practice keeping track of the form while listening to recordings?
7. Do you practice improvising off of the melody?
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!

Experimenting with Your Improvisation (Practice Session) Feb 22, 2021

Welcome to episode 258 where today I'm having you sit in on a practice session where I explore a I-VI-ii-V chord progression, experimenting with whatever ideas come up in the moment.
A lot of times we get wrapped up on playing the "right notes" that we forget that we have to experiment creatively to find the music that we really want to play. Developing a mindset of experimentation can help with that.
You know a lot of us can get stuck in our jazz improv when we get over-analytical. We think a lot about exercises. We think a lot about certain concepts we may have learned that we want to apply over a jazz standard or a chord progression, and we forget that we're actually just trying to make music. And for me, and something that I like to instill in all my students, implement into my courses and my programs, is the act of creation, of experimenting, finding the notes you like, finding the notes you don't like, trying different things to see what works and what doesn't work.
So, in today's episode, I'm going to do a little bit of a practice session just for myself over a popular chord progression.I'm just going to try as many things as possible, and just work through the chord progression, try to see what ideas come up spontaneously, see what I like and see what I don't like.And I think this will help you understand how you can structure a practice session around this concept of experimentation and creation.
In this episode:
1. Why experimentation is important for better jazz improv
2. I practice a I-VI-ii-V progression, experimenting as much as possible
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Learn Jazz Live 2021 Virtual Summit

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

10 Life Skills I’ve Learned from Studying Jazz Feb 15, 2021

Welcome to episode 257 where today I discuss 10 life skills I've learned from studying jazz. In the process of studying this music, I've found that a lot of the mindsets and skills I've learned have translated to a multitude of different areas in my life. Knowing this is extremely helpful, and I share some of the insights I've gained that you can share in as well.
This episode is a little bit of a different one from what I normally would talk about on this show, going away from some of the jazz improv tips, tricks, practice strategies, and diving into a little bit more of life lessons that I've learned as a result of studying jazz. I don't know about you, obviously learning music, becoming a great jazz improviser, there's a lot of fulfillment within just that action.
Music is its own reward. However, I like to think that everything I do has benefits that spread across other aspects of my life. And certainly, when I look back on my jazz education and how it has affected me now, I see a ton of benefits that have really made a huge impact and helped me grow in areas of my life I never thought I would develop so quickly or so strongly.
So, in today's episode, I'm going to go over ten life lessons that I've learned from studying jazz, break down what they are, and I'm sure that you'll find some inspiration and help in understanding these as well.
In this episode:
1. Developing long-term thinking
2. Building acceptance of myself
3. Developing a growth mindset
4. Developing perseverance
5. Developing a deeper appreciation for professionalism
6. Learning how to maximize my productivity
7. Developing project managing skills
8. Learning how to "start ugly"
9. Learning how to teach better
10. Developing critical listening skills
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Learn Jazz Live 2021 Virtual Summit

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Develop a Jazz Solo (First Steps) Feb 08, 2021

Welcome to episode 256 where today I walk you through some different steps for beginning to develop a great jazz solo.
A common mistake I hear is beginning a jazz solo with lots of notes and a myriad of ideas, rather than using call and response and a thematic building ideas. I show you actionable steps you can take to start bringing your solos to life.
Okay, what was wrong with that solo? There is something horribly wrong with that solo and what was wrong with it was, right as soon as it was my turn to solo, I came out of the gate just playing as many notes as possible, just trying to fill up as much space as possible. And guess what, it probably sounded boring. It probably didn't spell the chord changes as well as I could have. It just didn't sound that musical. It was just a lot of notes regardless of whether they are the right notes or not.
So, the big question is, how do we develop really awesome jazz solos? Well, that's exactly what we're going to do today. We're not going to do what I just did. We are going to make really awesome jazz solos that sound great.
In this episode:
1. Start with simple rhythms using only one note per chord
2. Slowly add more rhythmic complexity and additional notes to your idea
3. Create rhythmic and melodic phrases and practice "carbon copying" them over different chords as an exercise
4. Use direction of your lines to help manipulate your motific ideas
5. Manipulate your rhythms to create more space
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Learn Jazz Live 2021 Virtual Summit

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Why is Analyzing Jazz Standards Helpful for Improvisation? Feb 01, 2021

Welcome to episode 255 where today I'm sharing a short excerpt from a recent live Q&A call I had with my LJS Inner Circle members that answers the question: why is analyzing jazz standards helpful for improvisation?
I discuss two aspects that make analysis helpful for the learning process and why it's worth spending some time doing.
There are many ways to go about learning jazz standards and memorizing them and also improvising over them. And one way that people like to start learning jazz standards and figuring out improvising over them better is through analysis. Analyzing the chord changes to a jazz standard, putting certain theoretical labels on things such as relative minor, parallel minor. All these things that maybe you've heard in the jazz theory world before. But why would you do it? Why is it important to do? Is it even helpful?
Well, this was a question I was asked in my monthly jazz mastermind, which is a Q&A call that we do in my Inner Circle membership and I thought this was a great question so we are going to answer that in today's episode.
In this episode:
1. Analyzing can help you learn and memorize tunes better
2. Analyzing can help you understand the contexts of chords and chord progressions, which will influence your improv decisions
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Learn Jazz Live 2021 Virtual Summit

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Develop Great Time Feel 101 Jan 25, 2021

Welcome to episode 254 where today we talk about how to develop a good time feel and a basic sense of rhythm. You can play all of the "right" notes, and the hippest licks, but if your time feel is off and your execution poor, you'll end up sounding amateur.
In this episode, you'll learn two exercises that will get you headed in the right direction.
One of the more common issues I hear in the playing of beginner to intermediate jazz improvisers is a poor time feel. Just not really being able to land their phrases in the time, maybe it's rushing, maybe it's dragging, maybe it's just the phrases are sounding a little bit off for lack of sense of rhythm in where the time is. And this is really an important thing to hone in on because we could play all the right notes and have really great lines and licks but if we're not playing them with a good time feel, it can really just sound completely immature.
So, in today's episode, I'm going to go over just the very basics of developing a good time feels, that we could start getting headed on the right track, and start playing better jazz solos in better time.
In this episode:
1. Working on basic subdivisions with a metronome
2. Reducing the clicks while working on subdivisions
3. Practice feeling space with the metronome
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Learn Jazz Live 2021 Virtual Summit

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Know Which Scales to Play Over Jazz Standards Jan 18, 2021

Welcome to episode 253 where today we talk about scales and how to know which ones to play over chords and chord progressions within jazz standards. When it comes to scales, there are so many options to choose from, and it can be a bit overwhelming. Learn how to boil it down to the essentials and choose the most common ones first.
Once you learn the jazz standard, it can be helpful to understand what notes you have available to play to start improvising over that tune. While scales are not the first place I normally go to, scales can be very helpful to start identifying some notes that you can use to start navigating it.
Now, there are so many different scales out there, that it is kind of hard to know what are the right ones to play over chords in chord progressions.
And so in today's episode, I'm going to be cutting the fact, making things very simple and easy for you to understand, and talk about what scales to play over jazz standards in different contexts.
In this episode:
1. Using the modes as your primary context
2. Common scales over dominant 7th chords
3. Which scales to play over Autumn Leaves
4. Examples of more advanced chord/scale application
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Learn Jazz Live 2021 Virtual Summit

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Start Improvising Effortlessly and Unleash Your Inner Musician (feat. Mike Casey) Jan 11, 2021

Welcome to episode 252 where today we have on special guest saxophonist and recording artist Mike Casey to talk about his experience with achieving effortlessness in improvisation. We all have heard our favorite musicians play and wonder how they achieve a level of "effortlessness" in their playing, and Mike helps break down the things that have worked for him.
When I see some of the best jazz musicians in the world play their instruments, it almost seems like it is effortless. Like there's this stream of musical creative ideas flowing out of their consciousness into the world through their horn, through their piano, through their guitar -- whatever instrument they are playing and it's just this magical experience.And I don't know about you but I often find myself wanting more of that. Wanting to feel that freedom, that effortless that seems to be transpiring in front of me.
So on today's show, I have a very special guest, Mike Casey, who is a professional saxophonist and recording artist. And when I asked him the question, how do you play what seems to be so effortlessly, I was surprised that he actually had a series of answers for me.
In this episode:
1. How playing by ear was the cornerstone of Mike's jazz education
2. How life education translates to jazz education
3. Becoming comfortable with your playing so you can truly express
4. Allowing creative freedom during your practice
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Learn Jazz Live 2021 Virtual Summit

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Internalizing Licks with Jam Tracks and Improving Your Musicality (feat. Quist) Jan 04, 2021

Welcome to episode 251 where today we have on special guest guitarist and professional musician Quist. He shares with us his tips for internalizing jazz licks using jam tracks as a tool, as well as a host of other topics and insights to how he developed his musicianship to a high level.
Now, for many of us sitting at home, who are trying to learn how to play this jazz thing better and become better musicians, we find that backing tracks can be really helpful to practice along with, to stay motivated, to have fun while practicing.
And on today's episode, I have a special guest, Quist, who is a Danish-born jazz guitar player. He is a recording artist and he also makes quite a few backing tracks himself to help his audience practice. And he gives some great tips on how to practice along with backing tracks, the most effective ways to do that, along with a bunch of other awesome, really cool topics that we talk about, and his tips and tricks for musical improvement.
In this episode:
1. How Quist became interested in jazz and improvisation
2. How to use jam tracks to internalize licks
3. 3 questions to ask yourself to "get in the zone" when you are ready to improvise
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Learn Jazz Live 2021 Virtual Summit

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to ACTUALLY Achieve Your 2021 Jazz New Years Resolutions Dec 28, 2020

Welcome to episode 250 where today I talk about what makes a great jazz New Year Resolution that you will actually see through to the end. Most of us want to become better jazz improvisers in 2021, but that's about where it ends. In this episode I break down 3 characteristics of achievable resolutions and a really good one you should commit to in 2021.
In this podcast episode, I'm going to be presenting you a simple strategy that could pay dividends in your jazz playing in 2021. But first, I have to be honest with you. I hate New Years' Resolutions. And to be clear, I don't have a problem with the goal-setting aspect of it or the idea of a New Year being a new chapter.
All those things actually resonate with me quite a bit. It's more the I'm-going-to-do-this-but-I-don't-have-a-plan part. You know, it's this idea that I'm going to achieve my goals whether it would be jazz music or anything else, but I don't really have anything that constitutes a good plan, a good goal, a good action plan for success.
So, in today's episode, I'm going to be going over how you can start setting yourself up for 2021, your jazz playing to accelerate, to grow more than it ever has. I'm also going to share with you what I think could be a good goal for you that will really pack a huge punch in your jazz playing next year.
In this episode:
1. Make sure your goal is measurable and realistic
2. Make sure along with the right tools you have the right strategy
3. Make sure you have a community to help motivate you and hold you accountable when the going gets tough
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Dominate a Jazz Standard in One Month (video mentioned in the episode)

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Using the Concepts You Already Know to Play Great Jazz Solos (feat. Matt Warnock) Dec 21, 2020

Welcome to episode 249 where we have special guest guitarist Matt Warnock from Matt Warnock Guitar to talk jazz and all things improv. We discuss a number of topics including using the concepts you already know to start improvising, the three most powerful concepts he's worked on to gain traction in his playing, and his philosophies on learning jazz and enjoying the process.
You know, I don't know about you but I have this tendency to always want to learn more and more stuff. Like I learn one jazz improv tool or trick or concept and I just want to go on to the next one because maybe that next one has the answer that I'm looking for to start cracking the code, to start playing the jazz solos that I've always dreamed of. But sometimes, we actually can just use the tools that we already know, the scale we already know, the chord tones we already know.
Whatever it happens to be for you, there are million different ways to just use the tools you already have available to you to create really awesome music.
Now this is just only one of the many concepts that I talk about with my guest today, Matt Matt Warnock from Matt Warnock Guitar. And we just had a great time talking and there's just so many golden nuggets in this episode, including about the 3 things that he really feels have packed a big punch in his jazz playing and taken him to the next level over the years and kept him really nice and busy.
In this episode:
1. Matt's classical training and how that helped him play jazz
2. How to use simple tools like scales you know to begin improvising well
3. How to enjoy the process of learning so you enjoy the benefits of the long game
4. Matt's top 3 most effective things he's practiced
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Matt Warnock Guitar and his courses
Learn Jazz Live 2021 Virtual Summit

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Speed Up Your Musical Progress By Focusing On What Matters (feat. Mark Morley-Fletcher) Dec 14, 2020

Welcome to episode 248 where today we have special guest Mark Morley-Fletcher from Play In The Zone on to talk about how to focus on what really matters in your jazz playing to expedite your improvement.
Mark is an incredible educator, and combining his background in analytics and his interest in performance psychology, delivers some incredible tips and tricks for hacking your jazz progress.
What if I told you that if you could identify exactly the way you want to sound like in your jazz playing and you were to distill it down to just a few different items and cast away everything else, that you could improve much quicker, especially if you approached it in a goal-oriented fashion.
And what if I told you that if you develop the right mindsets and the right frames of mind, and understood the way your brain works, you could also increase your potential as a jazz musician.
Well, my guest today Mark Morley-Fletcher from Play In The Zone is going to help us with exactly that -- show us how we can focus on the things that really matter, cast away the things that don't and use psychology in order to help us improve even quicker.
In this episode:
1. Defining what you want to sound like and distilling what elements you should work on
2. The importance of effective learning and how to know when to move on from something you're stuck on
3. Surrounding yourself with the right community to support your success
4. Mark's upcoming Learn Jazz Live 2021 workshop
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Learn Jazz Live 20212.
Mark's playinthezone.com

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Crush It On a “Bird Blues” and Simplify Your Solos Dec 07, 2020

Welcome to episode 247 where today we discuss strategies on Charlie Parker's variation on a blues which has been dubbed a "Bird Blues." Using this song form as a vessel, I show you how you can take fast moving changes, simplify them, and start navigating them without playing a bunch of notes.
I often say that the blues is an incredible jumping-off point into jazz in learning jazz standards and how to improvise over them. And in today's episode, I'm actually going to talk about a variation on the blues called a "Bird Blues". And "bird", of course, refers to the great saxophonist Charlie Parker, the bebop legend. He kind of took those basic blues changes and transformed them into lots of extra moving harmony that just made it creative.
I think that the "Bird Blues" is an excellent example of how we can take a basic blues form and start transitioning into a more typical jazz standard harmony which is going to open up the doors to being able to improvise over tons and tons of different tunes professionally. This is going to be a really good episode. I'm going to give you some strategies and go over what "Bird Blues" is.
In this episode:
1. Understanding "Bird Blues" Harmony
2. Sensoring the chord changes
3. Using motivic development to simplify your lines
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Learn Jazz Live 2021 Virtual Summit

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

5 Important Lessons I Learned From My Jazz Teachers Nov 23, 2020

Welcome to episode 246 where today I discuss 5 lessons I learned from my jazz teachers that had a profound effect on my musicianship and mindset.
Whether it's by example or by the actual words said, I've been lucky to study with some world-class teachers who taught me a lot. Here's some of the best stuff that I'll share with you.
I've had the great fortune of studying with some world-class musicians and jazz musicians over the years. And I've learned so many lessons from these teachers that have not only impacted my jazz playing and the way I think about music but the way I actually think about life.
Here in the US this week, we have a little holiday called Thanksgiving. Now, of course, this holiday is much more about just eating food and getting together with family and friends, but the basis of the holiday is to remind yourself what you are grateful for and thankful for. I am thankful for some of these amazing lessons from these teachers that I'm about to share with you and I hope will have a positive impact on you as well.
In this episode:
1. A lesson about playing with passion from Justin Nielsen
2. A lesson about playing from where you are at from Bruce Forman
3. A lesson about the never-ending pursuit of learning from John Pattitucci
4. A lesson about utilzing jazz standards from Peter Bernstein
5. A lesson about your emotions from Vic Juris
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!

How Much Do I Need to Practice to Make Meaningful Improvement? Nov 16, 2020

Welcome to episode 245 where today I discuss how long you actually need to practice in order to make meaningful improvement in your jazz playing.
While there is no one size fits all answer, it may surprise you to find out that you don't need to practice as much as you think.
One of the main things I hear from people is that they just don't have enough time to practice. There's just not enough hours in the day, they have busy lives and because of that, they worry that they will never become a better musician or jazz improvisers.
And there is a myth out there that you do need to practice long hours in order to improve as a musician or jazz improviser. And while there is some truth in the fact that if you do practice long hours you have more opportunities for growth, it does not necessarily mean that you will improve and improve quickly.
So, in today's episode, I'm going to answer the question, how long do you need to practice in order to improve as a jazz musician and we'll dig a little bit deeper.
In this episode:
1. The myth about practicing for long hours
2. How smarter practice is better than longer practice
3. Examples of practice sessions that pack a lot in a short period of time
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!

3 Roadblocks Intermediate Jazz Musicians Face (And How to Overcome) Nov 09, 2020

Welcome to episode 244 where today I go over 3 common roadblocks I hear about from intermediate jazz musicians. These roadblocks can make these musicians feel like they are stuck on a plateau and unable to move forward in their progress. I discuss one action item for each roadblock to help you move past them.
If you've been at this jazz thing for a while and would consider yourself in the intermediate range as far as skill level as a jazz musician, you've likely come across roadblocks in your playing and have felt like you are stuck on a plateau, like you are just not improving the way you want to.
Well, I've certainly felt that way many times in my playing, and I've noticed with my students in my courses and my Inner Circle members that I hear the same things over and over again when it comes to frustrations from intermediate players with their jazz playing.
So in today's episode, I like to share with you the top three roadblocks that I hear about and give you one thing that you can do for each one to start moving past those roadblocks so that you can move up in your jazz playing and become a better jazz improviser.
In this episode:
1. Unable to apply jazz language they've learned
2. Know the chord tones and notes to play but not able to target them in their solos when improvising
3. Practice a lot but feel like they aren't improving
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!

My Top 10 Favorite Jazz Albums (Old and Modern) Nov 02, 2020

Welcome to episode 243 where today I reveal my top 10 favorite jazz albums of all time. These albums are ones that I have come back to time and time again, and think you should check out as well. I go over 5 older jazz albums and 5 modern jazz albums I absolutely love.
I had someone in our Learn Jazz Standards Facebook group recently ask me, "Hey Brent, what are your favorite jazz albums of all time? Have you done a podcast episode about that?"And at that time, the answer was no.
But today, I am gearing up to fix that. In today's episode, I'm going to go over my 10 favorite jazz albums, the ones that I just always kept coming back to over the years. I'm going to do five old ones and five more modern jazz ones that I really love. And hopefully, you'll also learn some great albums that you can start listening to this week.
In this episode:
1. Sonnyside Up by Dizzy Gillespie
2. Soul Station by Hank Mobley
3. The Bridge by Sonny Rollins
4. Smokin' at the Half Note by Wynton Kelly
5. Someday My Prince Will Come by Miles Davis
6. Strangers in Paradise by Peter Bernstein
7. Deep Song by Kurt Rosenwinkel
8. It's You I Like by John Ellis
9. Art of the Trio 4 by Brad Mehldau Trio
10. Ultrahang by Chris Potter
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!

[Practice Plan] How to Master a Minor Blues and Accelerate Your Progress Oct 26, 2020

Welcome to episode 242 where today we conclude with our final episode of Minor Blues Month!
In this episode, I share with you my in-depth practice plan for mastering a minor blues. I'll walk you through all of the material I work through, how to organize it, and a step-by-step practice plan. Get out your notes, this is a meaty one!
Today is the final episode of Minor Blues Month on the LJS podcast where we've been working through 3 strategies for improvising over minor blues in the last 3 episodes. This episode is really special because I will be revealing my masterplan for mastering a minor blues, for having a very high proficiency at playing over the song form by the time you are done, and also feeling confident in your minor jazz playing, playing over minor chord progressions, and of course on jazz standards. So important.
This is going to be a fun episode. It's one that's really important. It's always the most important episodes, the ones where I actually give you an action plan that you can take action on, that you can start implementing into your practice because practice is what gets results. And this master plan here is definitely going to get you results.
In this episode:
1. My Recycling Jazz Practice Plan and how it works
2. Mapping Exercises and how they work
3. Blues Heads and why they are important
4. Etudes and what they are useful for
5. How to recycle minor blues material in all 12 keys
Important Links:
1. Minor Blues Accelerator course
2. LJS Inner Circle Membership
3. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

[Strategy #3] Sky-rocketing a Minor Blues with Bebop Language Oct 19, 2020

Welcome to episode 241 where today we are diving into Strategy #3 of Minor Blues Month!
In the last episode, we pick up where we left off with an etude that was re-composed to add chord tones and scales. This time we implement bebop language utilizing enclosure and chromaticsm to take it to the next level.
It's episode 3 of Minor Blues Month here on the LJS podcast where I've been going over 3 strategies for improvising over a minor blues, an important song form in jazz. And the last episode, of course, #4 next week, is going to be all about my strategy, my plan for mastering "a minor blues".But in today's episode, we're going to be talking about strategy #3 which is all about bebop language and applying that over a blues. You'll be composing an etude. We've applied blues language. We've applied chord tones and scales. Now, we are going to take that same etude and add some bebop into it and it's going to be really awesome.
In this episode:
1. A review of last episodes etude
2. Adding an extra chord change to the minor blues form
3. 3 characteristics of bebop and how to utilize them
4. I re-compose the etude adding bebop language
Important Links:
1. Minor Blues Accelerator course
2. LJS Inner Circle Membership
3. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

[Strategy #2] Elevating a Minor Blues with Chord Tones and Scales Oct 12, 2020

Welcome to episode 240 where today we are diving into Strategy #2 of Minor Blues Month! In the last episode, we composed a 12-bar minor blues using the minor pentatonic and blues scale almost exclusively. This time we build on that etude by incorporating chord tones and a few scales to level up the jazz in our minor blues.
This is our second episode for Minor Blues Month here where we are going over 3 strategies for improvising over a minor blues, as well as the last 4th episode being my practice plan for really mastering and diving deep into a minor blues. In the last episode, we talked about strategy #1 which was using minor pentatonics and the blues scale to improvise. And on that episode, I basically composed on the spot an etude over a 12-bar minor blues using almost exclusively just those two tools.
Now, in today's episode, we are going to take that exact same etude and add strategy number 2 to it, and start doing a little bit of recomposition. And strategy #2 is all about using chord tones and modes and scales to start adding some more color and dimension to this important song form.
In this episode:
1. A review of last episode's etudes
2. Adding some chords to the minor blues form
3. Chord tones and scales to use over a minor blues
4. I re-compose the etude while implementing the new strategy
Important Links:
1. Minor Blues Accelerator course
2. LJS Inner Circle Membership
3. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

[Strategy #1] Crushing a Minor Blues with Minor Pentatonics Oct 05, 2020

Welcome to episode 239 of the LJS Podcast where today we kick off "Minor Blues Month" on the podcast! We'll be uncovering 3 strategies for improvising over a minor blues and then my master practice plan for dominating a minor blues.
Today is Strategy #1: Minor Pentatonics and "Blues Scales."Listen to episode 239October 2020 is Minor Blues Month here on the LJS podcast where I will be going over 3 strategies for improvising over a minor blues followed by the final episode 4 of the series where I'm going to give you my plan for mastering a minor blues.
Now today's episode is strategy number 1 where we're going to talk about using the minor pentatonic and the blues scale. What's going to be fun about this series is each strategy is going to go over something new. A new kind of approach to the minor blues but I'm going to be composing a solo, it's a 12-bar minor blues solo today on this show, only using those tools.
And in the next episode, I'm going to be taking that exact same solo but changing it and morphing it up a little bit to add the new strategy. And in the next episode, strategy number 3, adding more to the solo to start developing it and making it more complex.
In this episode:
1. Minor Blues Month and what you will learn
2. The chords to a basic minor blues form
3. How to play minor pentatonic and the "blues" scale
4. I compose a solo using these scales on a minor blues
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!

I Learn Part of a Jazz Solo by Ear (My Process) Sep 28, 2020

Welcome to episode 238 of the LJS Podcast where today I sit down and learn the first A section of a jazz etude I've been wanting to learn. Listen in as I walk through my process for learning a jazz solo by ear off of a recording. You'll find observing the process helpful as well as learning some awesome jazz lines to try out for yourself.
Have you ever heard a jazz solo and after you heard it, you just knew you had to learn it, or at least learn a part of it? Because if only you could learn that musical information then somehow it would unlock something that you were missing in your jazz playing. Do you just want to know like how did they do that? Well, I've been feeling like that a lot lately, and here is a particular solo that I've heard recently and have become accustomed to that I just really want to learn a part of it. Now, I often just feel like I don't have enough time to properly practice these days. I'm just so busy with all these different things.
So I'm going to be stealing a little bit of time here on the podcast to learn this solo. But at the same time, I know that you're going to get this in your ears and learn some things along the way as well and get inside of my process for how I go about learning a jazz solo by ear.
In this episode:
1. I learn the first part of a jazz etude on "Misty"
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!

How to Listen to Jazz Mindfully Sep 21, 2020

Welcome to episode 237 of the LJS Podcast where today I share a masterclass I am taking out of the vault about listening to jazz.
The way we listen to jazz can dictate how much we actually get out of it when we listen. As jazz musicians, listening can be one of our best forms of practice if we approach it mindfully.
When you listen to jazz, what are you hearing? What are you listening for? What kind of things are going through your head as you hear the different instruments play? As you hear the melody played? As you hear the comping being played? The drumming being played? What are you listening for?
Well, listening to jazz is one of the most important things you can do if you want to become a better jazz musician. But I find that if we really do some mindful listening, some critical listening, and understand what we're listening for, it can be incredibly helpful for not only appreciating jazz more but for getting as much out of it as possible so that we can start implementing into our playing.
So, in today's episode, I'm going to be sharing with you part of a masterclass I did once for mindful jazz listening and we're going to listen to a couple of tracks, dig deep into them, and see what we can find out.
In this episode:
1. A listen through "Blues Up and Down"
2. A listen through "Someday My Prince Will Come"
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!

Spice Up Your Jazz Ballad Playing with Side Step 2-5’s Sep 14, 2020

Welcome to episode 236 of the LJS Podcast where today I show you a simple technique that will help you take your jazz ballad playing to the next level.
One of the challenges of playing ballads is the slow tempo and chords that seem to last forever. Side step 2-5's will help you add more harmonic movement and have you sounding like a pro.
Ballads can be some of the more difficult jazz standards to solo over top of because they're typically played at fairly slow tempos and there's usually a lot of space in between each chord. And now that may seem like a bit of a luxury for those who struggle with playing over up-tempos but believe me when I say that soloing over top of slow tempos on ballads can be just as difficult if not more difficult than playing on uptempo.
So in today's episode, I'm going to be giving you a cool little technique called side step 2-5's that can actually help you fill in more of that space, create more harmonic movement and therefore, give you more options and more creativity in your jazz ballad playing.
In this episode:
1. Side Step #1: 2-5 replacing the V
2. Side Step #2: 2-5 replacing the vi
Important Links:
1. LJS Inner Circle Membership (Access to ear-training course)
2. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. LJS 59: 5 Tips for Playing Jazz Ballads Like an Expert

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Take This Ear Training Intervals Quiz Sep 07, 2020

Welcome to episode 235 of the LJS Podcast where today I put you to the test.
Instead of the regular format of tips and tricks for becoming a better jazz musician, we're doing an ear training intervals quiz and I want to see how well you do.
Today's episode is a bit more of an experimental episode where I am going to be putting you to the test. We are going to be going outside of our normal format of tips and tricks for becoming a better jazz improviser and we are going to instead be doing an ear training interval recognition quiz.I want to see how well you do at recognizing intervals, ascending and descending.
Now, ultimately as jazz improvisers, we want to be able to play what we're hearing in our head. That's really the goal. But that doesn't come naturally to everybody. Certainly, it doesn't come naturally to me. And ear training fundamentals such as interval recognition are ways that we can work out our ears, help us become more critical listeners, and help us know what we are actually hearing. So, this is a great skill to have. Ear training is something that everybody should do a little bit of and so, we're going to see how well you do and see if you need to be doing a little bit more of it.
In this episode:
1. Intervals Ascending
2. Intervals Descending
Important Links:
1. LJS Inner Circle Membership (Access to ear training course)
2. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. Video: How to Train Your Ears to Hear Intervals
4. LJS 78: How to Master Hearing Intervals and Level Up Your Ears

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Are You Having Fun While You Practice? Aug 31, 2020

Welcome to episode 234 of the LJS Podcast where today I give a quick lecture on the importance of having fun when you practice.
Of course, having fun should be the center of why we practice and want to improve. But having fun when you practice can also lead to quicker results in your jazz playing.
Today's episode is probably the shortest in LJS podcast history, but that's because I want to share a short but powerful message with you. Now, I want to ask you a question first before we jump into it though. When you sit down to practice your instrument when you sit down to improve your jazz playing, are you having fun? Are you having fun more often than you are frustrated? More often than you are feeling held back? Are you enjoying yourself when you are playing? Because if you're not, you could be holding yourself back immensely from improving and becoming a better jazz musician quicker.
So, in today's episode, I want to give a short lecture all about having fun and why that is so important.
In this episode:
1. A short lecture on having fun and how it will help you improve faster
Important Links:
1. LJS Inner Circle Membership
2. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. LJS 159: Brain Hacking for Speeding Up Your Jazz Improv Success (feat. Rodney Brim)

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Learn These 4 Jazz Blues Licks (You’ll Thank Me Later) Aug 24, 2020

Welcome to episode 233 of the LJS Podcast where today I show you 4 jazz blues licks that I know you're going to love.
We listen to them and I explain what makes them work and sound so great. Prepare to have your face melted.
Now if you're an avid listener of the LJS podcast, you may have heard me talk a lot about the blues before and how I believe that the blues is a really great song form to master in order to make all the rest of learning jazz standards easier. It just contains so many important chord progressions, a lot of important concepts, and of course, blues. It's kind of the foundation of jazz as far as the origin story, of course, coupled with European marching music and all of that. But I digress.
So, wouldn't it be great to learn some jazz blues language? Of course, it would. Let's go over some jazz blues licks that are really going to melt your face off, to be quite honest with you, and that you're going to love. I'll do a little bit of showing you what they sound like, a little bit of explaining, and hopefully, you'll come across some great ideas that you can start implementing into your playing right away.
In this episode:
Lick #1
Lick #2
Lick #3
Lick #4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Al-H5R335cw&t=
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!

6 Biggest Mistakes Beginner Jazz Improvisers Make Aug 17, 2020

Welcome to episode 232 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about the 6 biggest mistakes I see beginner jazz musicians make.
Having helped thousands of students through Learn Jazz Standards, I've discovered common mistakes that come up time and time again. Intermediate and advanced players make these mistakes too. I reveal them as well as some alternatives to correct your course.
Over the last 9 years as a musician, teacher, and online jazz educator, I've had the opportunity to help thousands and thousands and thousands of musicians learn how to play jazz and improve. And over that time, I've been able to witness lots of different kinds of issues that these musicians come across in their journey to becoming better jazz improvisers. I've noticed common mistakes that many of them make that only hold them back from reaching their true potential and improving quickly.
So, in today's episode, I'm going to be going over the 6 most common biggest mistakes I see beginner jazz improvisers make and even some that I see intermediate and even advanced players make as well. So you might want to check in on yourself no matter where you are in your journey to see if any of these fit with you.
In this episode:
1. They don't listen to jazz enough.
2. They use scales as plug-and-play tools.
3. They learn standard and solos primarily from sheet music.
4. They try to copy-and-paste licks into their solos.
5. They consume too much content.
6. They don't have a practice plan.
Important Links:
1. LJS Inner Circle Membership
2. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. LJS 229: How to Turn Scales Into Killer Jazz Solos
4. LJS 216: By the End of This Episode You'll Have Learned a Jazz Blues Solo

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Defining Your “Why” and Setting Goals for Jazz Acceleration Aug 10, 2020

Welcome to episode 231 of the LJS Podcast where today I feature a chapter reading from my book "Jazz Improvisation Made Simple" where I discuss establishing your "why" and setting goals for your jazz playing.
Establishing your why will help you keep anchored when the going gets tough or you feel like you are in a plateau.
If you're a long-term listener of the LJS podcast, today's subject is probably not something that you haven't heard before from me. But this is one of my favorite topics to talk about. And no, it's not a sexy episode. It's not learning the next music theory trick. It's not you learn a new solo by the time you end this episode. It's not a plethora of other things that I notice that a lot of people love to listen to and for good reasons because they are great things.
However, today's episode is really getting down to the bottom of why you're actually learning jazz. Defining your why. Why you want to actually be doing this so that if you're tapping into that at all times, it will motivate you to keep going further and then after that, define your actual roles. Now, if you don't think this is important, I hope that by the end of this episode, you will be convinced because I do believe that this is the number one thing that can move the needle in your jazz playing. Trust me on this.
In this episode:
1. Establishing your "why"
2. Establishing Master Goals
3. Establishing Project Goals
4. Establishing Micro Goals
Important Links:
1. LJS Inner Circle Membership
2. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. Jazz Improvisation Made Simple book

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

3 Steps to Playing Licks Organically in Your Jazz Improv Aug 03, 2020

Welcome to episode 230 of the LJS Podcast where today I go over my 3 step LIT Process for learning and applying jazz licks.
Learning licks and then copy/pasting them into your solos rarely sounds natural, so we need to learn and apply them in a way that allows them to come out organically and expressed our own way.
I've got a question for you. Have you ever learned a jazz lick, maybe off of a record, or from some other resource? You were really excited about it and practiced it, it's a great new idea that you can use in your jazz improv. But when it finally came to actually apply it, maybe at a jam session or gig or just by yourself in a practice jam session, you weren't really able to do it very well. It just sort of sounded contrived, you're basically copying and pasting it, maybe you couldn't really time it right, couldn't really fit it into what you are trying to do. It just didn't sound very good and you sort of felt like, oh, that went to waste!
Well, we don't really want to be using licks that way. Yes, we want to learn them, we want to learn new jazz language. But how do we actually play licks and learn licks so they come out organically in our solos?
That's exactly what we are going to talk about in today's episode. I'm going to teach you my LIT process for learning and applying licks in your jazz improv.
In this episode:
1. Learn
2. Internalize
3. Transform
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!

How to Turn Scales Into Killer Jazz Solos Jul 27, 2020

Welcome to episode 229 of the LJS Podcast where today I have on special guest Brett Pontecorvo to teach us how to properly use scales to build great solos.
Scales are useful tools, but if applied in an un-musical way, can be problematic. Brett walks us through some solid tips for taking vanilla scales and developing them into melodic masterpieces.
Scales are a classic way to get started with improvising over a jazz standard and they can be quite useful. However, in the wrong hands and used the wrong way, they just end up sounding like scales. Very unmusical, very vanilla, and it just sort of sounds like you are playing notes overtop of jazz standards.And that's not really what we want. We want to play actual music, actual melodies. So the real big question here is how do we make scales musical? How do we take something that is a linear pattern and turn it into something that actually has great melodic value, yet still helps you identify notes and get ideas and sounds in your head that you can use in your jazz improv?
Well, on today's show, I have a very special guest Brett Pontecorvo, who is my music production manager at Learn Jazz Standards, a phenomenal pianist and educator. He is going to teach us exactly how to take scales and make them musical so that you can play killer jazz solos with them.
In this episode:
1. How to choose which scales to play over chords
2. Mapping scales to connect them together
3. Using rhythms as a starting point
4. Intervals and leaps to begin developing melody
5. How chromaticism can help emphasize important scale tones
Important Links:
1. LJS Inner Circle Membership
2. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. Brett's LiveKeyboardist.com https://livekeyboardist.com/

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Play “Outside” and Sound Good Jul 20, 2020

Welcome to episode 228 of the LJS Podcast where today I teach you a few principles and techniques that will help you play "outside" of the changes without it sounding avante garde or playing wrong notes. I use a lick from an etude in our Inner Circle membership as an example.
Have you ever listened to a jazz recording and suddenly the soloist that you're listening to starts going outside of the changes like it sounds dissonant, it doesn't sound completely stable, feels unstable, and feels a little shaky. But then all of a sudden they brilliantly resolve it back into the key center again and everything sounds like it came home and it sounds great and they end up sounding like a genius, right? You're like, wow, how do they do that? And sometimes we might want to start going outside of the "changes" so that we can create some different colors, some different sounds, and then resolve back to where we want to be in the diatonic changes.
So, in today's episode, I'm going to be going over some ways to do that by looking at a particular lick that goes through this exact idea of playing outside the changes and then resolving back into the harmony again and see what lessons we can learn from that and take away from it.
In this episode:
1. When going out, remember that you need to come back in
2. Use repeated patterns
3. Use melodic direction toward resolutions
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!

3 Practice Habits for Retaining Musical Material Jul 13, 2020

Welcome to episode 227 of the LJS Podcast where today we cover 3 practice habits for retaining musical material.
It can be frustrating when you learn a jazz standard, solo, or lick, only to forget it later. In this episode, I introduce some practice habits that can be helpful for long-term retention and set you up for success.
It can be tough when we are learning a new jazz language, new jazz standards, to retain all of the information that we are learning. I mean, there is so much out there that we are learning. We're learning licks. We're learning jazz standards. We're learning melodies. We're learning chord changes to multiple different things. And eventually, we could possibly forget all of those things and it would feel like a lot of hard work has been wasted. But we don't want any of that to happen.
So, what are some of the best practices that we can put into place in order to retain the information that we are learning so that we can get out there and play the best music we possibly can?
Well, that's exactly what we are going to talk about in today's episode. Three different practice habits that I want you to adapt in order to be able to retain information better.
In this episode:
1. Consistency (different from repetition)
2. Limiting Material (not overloading)
3. Breaks (to allow your subconscious to absorb information)
Important Links:
1. LJS Inner Circle Membership
2. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. LJS 181: I'm Taking a Break from Jazz

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How to End a Jazz Standard Jul 06, 2020

Welcome to episode 226 of the LJS Podcast where today we cover the very important topic of ending jazz standards.
Ever come to the end of jamming on a standard only for things to fall apart at the end? We all need some stock endings in our arsenal, and in today’s episode, I go over 7 different endings you can use to conclude jazz standards.
In this episode:
1. Take the A Train ending
2. Count Basie ending
3. Ritardando ending
4. bIImaj7 Ending
5. Altered I Chord Ending
6. ii-IV-iii-VI Tag Ending
7. b5 Chromatic Descending Ending
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS 179: Intros to Play on Jazz Standards

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When to Stop Practicing Something and Move On Jun 29, 2020

Welcome to episode 225 of the LJS Podcast where today I answer a question that I get asked quite often: when do I stop practicing something I'm working on and move on to something else?
Often we get overly concerned about mastery and perfection, which can lead to getting stuck. Learn when you know something "good enough" and why you may want to move on even if things aren't perfect.
There's that famous Winston Churchill quote that goes, "Perfection is the enemy of progress". And when it comes to playing jazz and becoming a better musician, this can't be more true in my opinion. When we get stuck trying to "master things", we don't move on to the next lesson that we need to learn. We get stuck in one place, we over-obsess over something. We're not allowing ourselves to learn all of the multitudes of things that could be learned and refined when we move on to other material.But at the same time, how do we know when we've learned something well enough? We don't want to move on to the next thing if we really haven't gotten any control over a particular musical concept.
So, in today's episode, I'm going to dive in deep with that. I want to help us answer this question: how do we know when to move on to the next thing in our jazz playing?
In this episode:
1. Why moving on is sometimes the path to quicker improvement
2. Q1: On a scale of 1-10 how comfortable do I feel with the material?
3. Q2: How long have you been working on this material?
4. Q3: Does the material you are working on occur often in other jazz concepts you will work on?
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

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By the End of This Episode You’ll Know a New Jazz Standard Jun 22, 2020

Welcome to episode 224 of the LJS Podcast where today I learn a new jazz standard in real-time on the show. If you'll join with me you'll know a new jazz standard by the end as well.
You'll see how I approach learning a jazz standard by ear, no filters, no edits.
You know, I love a lot of things about jazz music, like I love the improv, I love the creativity, I love the challenge it provides to us as individual musicians. Just a lot of things are great about it that I enjoy playing and listening to it. But what a lot of people don't know is, my favorite part about jazz is the ballads. I just love ballads! I love playing the ballads. I think it's just some of the most beautiful music. It's all tunes! Oh man, it's so great! And so, I've been thinking to myself for a while, there's this particular ballad that I've really been wanting to learn and still don't know it.
So in today's episode, I am going to learn that jazz standard for the very first time. And I think in the process, you might learn it as well just by going along this with me and maybe at least get inside of my head of what I think about when I learn a jazz standard by ear.
In this episode:
1. I walk through a Brad Meldau recording of "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered" and learn it by ear
Important Links:
1. LJS Inner Circle Membership
2. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. LJS 212: Improv Hacking Jazz Standards (3 Step Process)

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3 Jazz Theory Lessons from On the Sunny Side of the Street Jun 15, 2020

Welcome to episode 223 of the LJS Podcast where today we go over three music theory concepts in the jazz standard On the Sunny Side of the Street that can be helpful for improvising on standards in general. I discuss the three concepts as well as a few different ideas on how to approach them in your solos.
I don't know about you, but whenever I work on a jazz standard or learn a new jazz standard, I'm always looking for little nuggets of wisdom, little tidbits that are going to help me in my jazz improv, not just with that song but with all other jazz standards. Because each jazz standard really is a treasure trove of new explorations, new opportunities for different kinds of improvisation and to spark new creative ideas for ourselves.
So, in today's podcast episode, I'm going to look at a really awesome jazz standard called On the Sunny Side of the Street and we are going to look at 3 different jazz theory takeaways and some different ways to approach them in an improvisational standpoint.
In this episode:
1. Deceptive Cadence
2. Diminished replacing a dominant 7
3. Dominant II7 chord (Secondary Dominant)
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!

Jazz, Racial Injustice, and What This Music Really Means (feat. Kyle Younger) Jun 06, 2020

Welcome to episode 222 of the LJS Podcast where today we have on special guest Kyle Younger on the show to discuss the history of jazz and its ties to the racial oppression of the African American community.
Jazz is African American music, and we cannot understand or play this music without recognizing the oppression of those who created this music.
When we play jazz music and when we practice jazz music, it's important that we remember that it is African American music and it was born out of slavery. It was born out of racism, injustice, oppression, and it developed under injustice and oppression. And music is always a reflection of the times. It's always the reflection of the people who are playing the music. And we can never untie jazz and playing jazz, or not connect the two together. They are so intertwined. And so it's important that when we play this music, we have a reverence, we have an understanding of what this music really means, just even outside of the notes and the theory and how to play it. Now, I am not the right person to deliver this message, obviously.
So I've got a very special guest on the show today, multi-instrumentalist, educator, and jazz aficionado, Kyle Younger, to share what jazz music means. Not only what it means to the African American community, but what it should mean to us, and what we should think about when we play this music.
In this episode:
1. Jazz is a music born out of slavery, injustice, and oppression.
2. When we play this music we need to understand the context of which the music was created.
3. Jazz is music created by African Americans but shared with all. Jazz is love.
Important Links:
1. Kyle's Book Suggestions: Beneath the Underdog
2. Music is My Mistress
3. The Jazz Life
4. LJS Inner Circle Membership
5. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

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Improv Hacking Jazz Standards (3 Step Proven Process) Jun 01, 2020

Welcome to episode 221 of the LJS Podcast where today in celebration of the launch of my new LJS Inner Circle Membership, I go over my 3 step proven process for "improv hacking" jazz standards.
This is one of those episode that has so much value packed into it, I know you'll be reaching for your notepad!
From time to time on this podcast, I like to come out with a super high-value episode like one that just really packs a punch. And in my opinion, when it comes to becoming a better jazz improviser, it's all about frameworks. It's all about step-by-step processes for actually getting better. Not fancy tricks, not new little licks or solos to learn. These are the things that really matter to me in our practice. So when a lot of us look at jazz standards and we're confused, we don't know where to start, we're not sure how to take our jazz improv on a jazz standard from one place to the next level, and we need frameworks.
And so, in today's episode, I'm going to be talking about improv hacking jazz standards. My 3 step proven (and I mean that when I say that) process for really starting to crush it on jazz standards and start getting better at jazz improv.
In this episode:
1. Step 1: Learning Jazz Standards by Ear the Right Way
2. Step 2: Mapping Out Jazz Standards for Improv Success
3. Step 3: Creating Killer Jazz Solos in 2 Phases
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

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Less is More (Reduce Overwhelm While Skyrocketing Your Jazz Skills) May 25, 2020

Welcome to episode 220 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about how working on less is oftentimes the best way to improve as a jazz musician quickly.
It seems counterintuitive to many that practicing less stuff (or even for less time) will produce greater results in your playing. But in this episode I share what will make the biggest differences, and how to apply a less is more strategy.
Have you ever been going through YouTube or maybe a podcast like this or blogs collecting a bunch of jazz lessons? Just learning a bunch of different concepts, working on them, going to the next thing, and to the next thing, and to the next thing, and to the next thing. And then before you know it, you're not really quite sure what you've been learning, what you've been doing, what direction you're going in. You just kind of feel overwhelmed.
Or here's a different scenario. Maybe you learn a tune one week and then you learn another tune in the next week, and you learn a solo for that tune. So you keep learning a bunch of things really quickly and maybe you're reading it off a piece of sheet music so you just blow in through it and you're thinking to yourself, I'm doing all the right things. This is what everybody tells me to do but it's just a lot of stuff. Right. So you don't really get a lot out of each one. Well, I don't know about you. I've definitely felt like this before. I'm sure that you can relate to this as well.
And my message in today's podcast episode is less is more. So, today we're going to learn about what we should be doing, and some different methods for applying the less is more strategy.
In this episode:
1. The 80/20 rule applied to jazz
2. Working the 3 Pillars of Jazz Improvisation
3. The Single Project Method
4. The Batching Method
5. The 1 Big, 1 Small Method
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!

How to Apply Scales to Jazz Standards May 18, 2020

Welcome to episode 219 of the LJS Podcast where today I walk through an exercise for applying scales to jazz standards and song forms such as the blues.
Scales are a great way of mapping out note choices over chords. But we want to be able to do this in a way that connects chords together melodically. You'll learn how to do this over a 12-bar blues.
Imagine you are planning a cross-country road trip in whatever country you live in. And before you go on your trip, you want to map out all the different possible attractions you could possibly see on the way to your final destination. And even though you are not going to end up seeing all of them, at least you know what's available to you. Sometimes it's just going to look like a zigzag. It's going to go way off course. It's going to be taking twists and turns but eventually, you will get to your final destination. But when it comes to jazz improvisation, sometimes we want to map out all the different note choices we have available to us before we start trying to create actual melodies. And this is where scales can be helpful when applied in exercises.
So, in today's episode, I'm going to talk about how to start applying scales to jazz, in a way that we can start mapping out note choices but connecting them together so that we end up getting to our final destination at the end of the song form.
In this episode:
1. Scale choices over a concert C blues
2. Scale tone map over a concert C blues Episode Images:
Important Links:
1. LJS Inner Circle Membership
2. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. LJS 214: 16 Scales to Know for Jazz

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Practicing with Intention and Growing Through Consistency (feat. Trent Jordan) May 11, 2020

Welcome to episode 218 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk with LJS course member and saxophonist Trent Jordan.
Trent is a hobbyist musician living in Brisbane, Australia who enjoys spending his downtime practicing his saxophone and honing his jazz improv skills. In this episode, Trent shares what's working for him in the practice room and get inside what he's doing to improve.
One of the most enjoyable things for me as an online jazz educator is getting to watch my students in my courses post video and audio assignments of the different things that we do in those courses, a video and audio of them practicing, of them playing and improvising. It's just really fun for me to see people making progress and it's also really fun for the rest of the community to see each other working on things. It's very motivating and I feel like everybody gets to learn from each other by just seeing what each other is doing in the practice room.
So, in today's episode, I'm going to have on a special guest, Trent Jordan from Brisbane, Australia. He is a member of a few of my different courses and he is an avid practicer, someone who is very engaged in the community. I'm just excited to learn alongside with you what he's doing, and what's working best for him, and we will all learn from him together.
In this episode:
1. How Trent got started playing jazz
2. Why Trent plays jazz and what keeps him motivated
3. What Trent is working on in the practice room and what is working best
4. I help Trent with a few exercises to help him start connecting his lines together
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!

Learn Music Faster with Community (feat. Christopher Sutton) May 04, 2020

Welcome to episode 217 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk with the founder and director of Musical-U, Christopher Sutton. Musical-U is a music education membership with a focus on training and community learning. Christopher shares the impact he's seen with learning music within his own community, and the power of musical social connection for your jazz playing.
It's been my personal experience with learning jazz that when I do it in a community with other musicians who are trying to accomplish the same things that I'm trying to accomplish, I learn much faster and much more efficiently. This is because I'm looking at other musicians taking action. I'm watching them do something that I want to do. I get motivated, and I get to ask questions and learn from them. And when we pull all of our knowledge and resources together, it can become a powerful force in our jazz education. I've seen this as well in my students in all of my courses, and how much of a powerful effect this can truly have to get together as a community, even an online community, and learn together and grow as jazz musicians faster and more efficiently together.
So, that's what we are going to talk about today. Today we have a special guest Christopher Sutton from Musical-U, to talk to us about the power of learning in the community.
In this episode:
1. Musical-U and the community it provides
2. Why introverts should buy the idea of community learning
3. The psychology behind learning music in the community
4. How to benefit from being a part of a musical community
Important Links:
1. Musical-U
2. The Musicality Podcast
3. LJS Inner Circle Membership
4. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

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By the End of This Episode You’ll Have Learned a Jazz Blues Solo Apr 27, 2020

Welcome to episode 216 of the LJS Podcast where today I go walk you through a 12 jazz blues etude I've composed, and help you learn it by ear. Learning jazz solos by ear is important, so instead of talking about it and giving strategies, we actually do it on the episode.
What if I told you that by the time this episode is over, you are going to be able to play a 12-bar jazz blues solo by ear by memory? Would you believe me?
Well, that's exactly what we are going to do today in this episode. I'm going to walk you through 12 bars of a jazz blues solo, a little etude that I've composed, and I want you to learn it, and we are going to do it on the podcast. So, even if you are new to learning music by ear and you've heard people talk about doing it and how important it is, and how it's going to help you become a better jazz improviser, and you are feeling a little bit nervous or anxious right now, don't worry. We are going to go slow and I think that you are going to surprise yourself by the time this episode over. And if you are a veteran of this stuff, you are going to know some great new jazz language and this is going to be well worth it for all parties involved.
In this episode:
1. Why learning solos by ear is important
2. I teach you the 12 bar jazz blues solo
Important Links:
1. LJS 212: Improv Hacking Jazz Standards (3 Step Process)
2. LJS Inner Circle Membership
3. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
4. Boost Your Jazz Blues free Masterclass

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Apps, Software, and Technology for Practicing Jazz Apr 20, 2020

Welcome to episode 215 of the LJS Podcast where today I go over different apps, software and technology that I and other members of the LJS community recommend for practicing jazz.
Apps and software shouldn't be used as crutches, but if they are used as aids to help the learning process they can be a really helpful thing.
One thing we're lucky to have as jazz musicians here in the 21st century is lots of apps, software, and technology to help aid us in our jazz practicing and learning the music more efficiently. Now, some would say that's not so much of an advantage. I mean, if you look back at the jazz greats, they had to put in the hard work and really train their ears by picking up that needle on the record player, by going to gigs, and listening and picking things up on the fly. And absolutely, sometimes, things made easier are not made better.On the other hand, we have all these great tools at our disposal, at our fingertips, and they can be really helpful for us if used as tools and not crutches.
So, in today's episode, I'm going to be sharing some different apps, software, and technology that you can use to help you on your jazz education journey.
In this episode:
1. iReal Pro
2. Chord Bot
3. Tonaly
4. Band-in-a-Box
5. Amazing Slow Downer
6. Transcribe
7. iPhone or recorder
8. Spotify
Important Links:
1. iReal Pro
2. Chord Bot
3. Tonaly
4. Band-in-a-Box
5. Amazing Slow Downer
6. Transcribe
7. iPhone or recorder
8. Spotify

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16 Scales to Know for Jazz Apr 13, 2020

Welcome to episode 214 of the LJS Podcast where today I go over 16 scales that can be useful when it comes to conceptualizing jazz improv.
Scales are never to be used exclusively to improvise, but the 16 I cover in this episode can be helpful to map out note choices over many different chords you will come across in jazz standards.
When it comes to jazz improvisation, scales can be really great ways to organize pitches or note choices over top of chords in chord progressions. Now, I don't think scales should be used exclusively by any means to improvise. If we do that, they often become crutches and not tools, and it sounds more like you are playing scales than actual musical melodic lines. But that doesn't mean we should throw out scales altogether. Not at all. We need to know them in order to know our instruments better, to explore them, to navigate them, and they can also be super helpful for helping us identify those note choices.
So, in today's episode, I'm going to be going over the 16 most important scales that I think you should know for jazz.
In this episode:
1. Ionian or Major
2. Dorian
3. Phrygian
4. Lydian
5. Mixolydian
6. Aeolian
7. Locrian and Locrian #2
8. Half Whole Diminished
9. Whole Half Diminished
10. Altered scale
11. Whole Tone Scale
12. Minor Pentatonic and Blues Scale
13. Lydian Dominant
14. Major Bebop Scale
15. Minor Bebop Scale
16. Mixolydian Bebop Scale
Important Links:
1. LJS Inner Circle Membership
2. Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
3. Blog Post: 16 Most Important Scales in Jazz
4. LJS 67: How to Use Pentatonics Over Any Chord

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How to Comp Over Jazz Standards Like a Pro Apr 06, 2020

Welcome to episode 213 of the LJS Podcast where today we talk about all things comping.
This isn't just an episode for the guitarists and pianists - everyone can get benefit from the concepts discussed in this episode. You learn 3 things to keep in mind while you are comping so that you are serving the musicians you are playing with as best as possible.
In my personal opinion, one of the hardest things to teach in jazz is comping. Now, if you are a guitar player or a piano player, or a vibes player, you understand that comping is hard to put a method to, hard to put inside of a box. There are so many different things that are involved in comping. And if you are a saxophone player or a trumpet player, or any horn player, I don't want you to tune this episode out, because indeed, it is also important for you to understand the art of comping.
However, I, today, on the podcast, will give you 3 important things that you need to keep in mind as a comper when you are accompanying other musicians on the bandstand over jazz standards.
In this episode:
1. Be a rhythmic timekeeper
2. Offer supportive harmony
3. Use logical voice-leading in your voicings
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS 50: How to Become an Expert Comper (feat. Keelan Dimick)

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Harnessing Pure Musical Expression (Improv Session with Brent) Mar 30, 2020

Welcome to episode 212 of the LJS Podcast where today I get behind my guitar and have an improv session.
During trying times, it can be helpful to use music as an outlet to express things that you may not be able to in words or thoughts. In this episode, I perform an improvisation for you that I hope not only you will enjoy, but feel inspired to do the same.
During times of uncertainty, music has the potential to be a healing force and to help us express our emotions, to get things out to the table that maybe we just wouldn't be able to do otherwise through the written word or through language. There's something about music and the expression through music that reaches some part of our soul that as musicians, we are very lucky and fortunate to be able to tap into. But sometimes music and studying jazz, all the things we talked about in this podcast, can be a little stressful, too. Like you are actually diving deep into concepts and putting pressure on yourself to get better and better. But today I want to live by example here and I just want to create freely for you and hopefully, you will do the same at the end of this episode as well.
In this episode:
1. How music can be a powerful outlet during trying times
2. I perform an improvisation session
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!

Bonus Episode: Special Message from Brent About COVID-19 Mar 24, 2020

Today's episode is a special message from me to the Learn Jazz Standards family about how we can get through these trying times together, and come out the other side stronger and more motivated than ever before.
Hey, what's up, Learn Jazz Standards family! I wanted to record this bonus episode today just to say, hey listen, we are all in this together. I know that we are going through a hard time here in the world with the COVID-19 pandemic. For a lot of us, life has changed quite dramatically. From my listeners in Japan, from my listeners in the UK, from my listeners in the United States, in Canada, and all over the world. It's something that affected all of us and I know it is a time when we are feeling a lot of anxiety, some pain, some hurt, and a lot of fear about what the future holds. And what I want to do and use this platform today is not necessarily to talk about music and all that stuff that I always talk about on this show. But rather to say, in solidarity, I am here for you.
In this episode:
1. Default to Gratitude
2. Default to Generosity
3. Default to Community
4. Default to Goal Setting
Thanks for listening to this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast. If you aren't already, make sure you are subscribed to iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. I look forward to having you join me in the next episode!

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Making Jazz Standards Your Own and Developing Your Musical Voice (feat. Mike Casey) Mar 23, 2020

Welcome to episode 211 of the LJS Podcast where today we have special guest Mike Casey on the show to talk to us about arranging jazz standards so you can make them your own unique expression.
Mike lays down the value with lots of practical tips for improving your jazz improv, gives us insight to his musical growth, and gives us examples of how to arrange jazz standards.
Once you've learned the jazz standard and feel comfortable with it, you may think to yourself, well, I know how to play the melody, I know how to play the changes. I can go to a jam session or even a gig and play it with other musicians. But then, what do I do with it after that? How do I make it my own? How do I give it my own voice and how can I develop that voice through these jazz standards so it sounds like me playing it so that there is something special I'm bringing to the table.
Well on today's episode, I have a special guest saxophonist, Mike Casey, who is going to lay down a lot of really value-packed tips today. Full of stuff on how to become a better jazz improviser and a great musician in general. But he also talks a lot about taking jazz standards, arranging them to be your own, and having your own original voice. You are going to really love this episode. I know you are going to learn tons from it today.
In this episode:
1. How Mike got started playing music
2. How Mike learned every Charlie Parker head
3. A solo that Mike learned and got a lot out of
4. How to arrange jazz standards to make them your own Mike Casey's "Unforgettable" Arrangement https://youtu.be/JFg3jYZcs_w
Thanks for listening to this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast.
If you aren't already, make sure you are subscribed to iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. I look forward to having you join me in the next episode!
Important Links:
Mike's website
Enter to win a free lesson with Mike

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1-6-2-5 Licks Over Rhythm Changes (Learning From Dexter Gordon) Mar 16, 2020

Welcome to episode 210 of the LJS Podcast where today I take out my guitar and do a little bit of practicing with you. We explore some incredible jazz language over 1-6-2-5 chord progressions while listening to a Dexter Gordon recording of a rhythm changes. I learn and pick apart licks from scratch to help you understand what makes them so effective and great.
We are going to have some fun on the podcast today. I have not been able to pick up my guitar in a little while. I've been traveling. I've been doing a lot of work for a new membership that we have coming up here later on in the year for Learn Jazz Standards. And so, I'm going to be practicing with you today. We are going to learn some 1-6-2-5 material with the help of our good friend Dexter Gordon, to show us the light, to show us the way on some killer jazz language to play over 1-6-2-5 chord progressions. This is going to be fun. I'm excited to learn and I hope that you are excited to learn along with me.
In this episode:
1. How Dexter Gordon uses minimalism to play powerful melody over fast-moving chord changes.
2. How Dexter Gordon plays great bebop lines over 1-6-2-5's.
3. How Dexter Gordon makes the major pentatonic scale musical over a 1-6-2-5.
4. The power of resolving to the 3rds of different chords in the progression.
Thanks for listening to this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast. If you aren't already, make sure you are subscribed to iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. I look forward to having you join me in the next episode!
Important Links:
How to Improvise on Rhythm Changes Like a Pro
Jazz Improvisation Made Simple (book)

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4 Secrets for Jazz Improv Success Mar 09, 2020

Welcome to episode 209 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about 4 secrets for jazz improv success. I find that jazz is often overcomplicated, so in this episode, I do my best to simplify with these 4 secrets so that you can have a great path forward and a good idea of what to work on to make the most progress in the shortest amount of time.View Show Notes: https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/episode209 Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/newsletter/

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Making Good Musical Decisions Through Effective Practice (feat. Dani Rabin of Marbin) Mar 02, 2020

Welcome to episode 208 of the LJS Podcast where today I have on special guest Dani Rabin from the prog jazz-rock band Marbin.
Dani is not only a phenomenal musician but a great musical mind and educator. We discuss his philosophy on learning jazz improvisation, and effective strategies to practice towards making great musical decisions when improvising.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes

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3 Strategies for Melodic Improv on Jazz Standards Feb 24, 2020

Welcome to episode 207 of the LJS Podcast where today I demonstrate three strategies you can practice to help you develop more melodic jazz solos.
Often, we are tempted to jump straight to bebop lines and complex theory applications when improvising. But simple melodies are often skipped, and therefore missing an important aspect of making meaningful solos. Learn how to start practicing this.
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Jazz Improvisation Made Simple (A Preview Reading of My New Book) Feb 17, 2020

Welcome to episode 206 of the LJS Podcast where today I have a special podcast episode planned.
My new book, "Jazz Improvisation Made Simple" is launching on Amazon on March 8, 2020. The Kindle eBook version is now available for pre-order and to celebrate, I do a reading of the Introduction and first chapter of the book. I know you'll enjoy this.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes

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Learning from the Greats and Embracing the Joy of Musical Growth (feat. Shirley Jansen) Feb 10, 2020

Welcome to episode 205 of the LJS Podcast where today I have a special guest and 30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing alumni, Shirley Jansen on the show.
Shirley is a tenor saxophone player who exudes the joy of musical growth. She shares what has been working for her in her jazz playing, the power of learning solos from the jazz greats, and how the community is helping her grow.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Prepare for Jam Sessions and Group Playing (feat. Diego Maldonado and Wallace Stelzer) Feb 03, 2020

Welcome to episode 204 of the LJS Podcast where today I have professional jazz musicians Diego Maldonado and Wallace Stelzer on the show to talk all about preparing to play live with other people.
One of the top musical goals I hear among the LJS Community is to be able to play with other musicians, whether that be at the local jazz jam or with some friends.
In this episode, we discuss what you need to do to prepare, and how to know when you are ready.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes

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Practicing with a Plan and Crushing Musical Weaknesses (feat Bob Petix) Jan 27, 2020

Welcome to episode 203 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk with special guest and LJS community member, Bob Petix about his journey as a jazz bassist.
He talks about getting started playing bass in his late 40's and how he has developed his musicianship since then. We talk about what's working for him in the practice room and some of the key things that have stimulated his musical improvement.
One of the biggest themes for Learn Jazz Standards this year 2020 is community. This is really the year of community where we are building community and we are learning from each other as a community because I do believe that this is the best way that we can truly learn — it's from each other. And so one thing that I will be doing a lot more often on this podcast is have guests that are listeners of the podcast, who are members of my online jazz courses so that we can listen and find out what's working well for them in their practice room, what's working well, the things that are making the highest impact in their jazz playing at the moment. And in general, getting to know them and their stories because I do believe that we can learn so much from each other's stories, so much from each other's experiences as jazz musicians, will help us all learn and grow together.
So, I have Bob Petix on the show today, who is an attorney, who is a bass player from Jackson, Wyoming, who is going to share with us today and we are going to learn a lot from him.
In this episode:
1. How Bob got started playing bass and jazz
2. Why Bob plays jazz and what keeps him motivated
3. What Bob is working on in the practice room and what is working best
4. I help Bob with an exercise he can work on for developing better time feel and longer lines
Thanks for listening to this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast. If you aren't already, make sure you are subscribed to iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. I look forward to having you join me in the next episode!
Important Links:
Jazz Blues Accelerator (course mentioned in episode)
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

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3 Ways to Start Improvising Organically Jan 13, 2020

Welcome to episode 201 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about 3 ways to start improvising organically when you play jazz solos. A common problem I hear from subscribers is the struggle to let go of pre-meditating or thinking about what they need to play. It can be tough to let go, "forget" what you've been practicing, and just improvise freely. I share some simple ways you can start training yourself to do this better.View Show Notes: https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/episode201Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/newsletter/

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Podcast Listeners Share Their 2020 Jazz Goals (Celebration Episode) Dec 30, 2019

Welcome to episode 200 of the LJS Podcast where today we celebrate the big 200 episode mile marker!
To do that, I have a lot of special guests today, you, the podcast listeners, to share your 2020 jazz and music goals. We go through each goal and I give some feedback. Get inspired and get ready to take action!
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Top 5 Learn Jazz Standards Podcast Episodes (2019 Year End Review) Dec 23, 2019

Welcome to episode 199 of the LJS Podcast where today we take a look back on 2019.
A lot of really great stuff happened with Learn Jazz Standards in 2019 and I go over some of the big mile markers, as well as the top 5 downloaded episodes of the year. I also share my favorite episodes and a sneak peek into what's coming next year.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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3 Steps for Hearing Chords (Ear Training Masterclass) Dec 16, 2019

Welcome to episode 198 of the LJS Podcast where I go over my 3 step process for learning to hear chords.
Being able to hear different chord qualities is important for being able to hear chord progressions, which of course is important for learning jazz standards. It's also important for our improvisation as well, so I show you a great method for training your ears to hear any chord.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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A Jazz Geek Hang with Diego Maldonado and Wallace Stelzer Dec 09, 2019

Welcome to episode 197 of the LJS Podcast where I have my good buddies drummer Diego Maldonado and bassist Wallace Stelzer over to the studio to hang out and geek out on jazz.
This is a fun episode full of jazz nerdery, music philosophy, a little bit of alcohol, NYC's best cookies, and some shenanigans.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Recycling Jazz Practice Plan (Jazz Practice Plan #2) Dec 02, 2019

Welcome to episode 196 of the LJS Podcast where today I go over jazz practice plan #2, the last in a series of 2 episodes. This practice plan is called the Recycling Jazz Practice Plan which is having a powerful effect on my Jazz Blues Accelerator course students, which is based on this framework. Learn how this practice plan works and how to start taking action.View Show Notes: https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/episode196Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/newsletter/

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Stair Step Practice Plan (Jazz Practice Plan #1) Nov 25, 2019

Welcome to episode 195 of the LJS Podcast where today I go over a jazz practice plan in a series of two episodes we'll be going through.
This practice plan is called the Stair Step Practice Plan, and this has been highly effective for students in my 30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing course, which uses this exact framework.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Understanding the Jazz Eras (Jazz History Made Simple) Nov 18, 2019

Welcome to episode 194 of the LJS Podcast where today we take a look back in time at jazz history. We look into the different eras of jazz, the important musicians to listen to from them, and how the music evolved over time.
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Jazz Theory Made Simple (Only Theory You Need to Know) Nov 11, 2019

Welcome to episode 193 of the LJS Podcast where today I take the often overwhelming and confusing world of jazz theory and make it simple.
Jazz theory is often overcomplicated with way too much information and concepts that are unnecessary. I boil things down to the basics and help make things more understandable.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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I Compose a Jazz Tune on the Spot Nov 04, 2019

Welcome to episode 192 of the LJS Podcast where today I put myself on the spot and compose a jazz tune on the podcast.
I had no pre-conceived ideas before recording, I just start going in real-time. See how I did and the tune I came up with in the end.
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Understanding All the Things You Are Oct 28, 2019

Welcome to episode 191 of the LJS Podcast where today I walk you through a chords analysis of the popular jazz standard All the Things You Are.
This tune is packed full of valuable lessons that will help you understand other jazz standards better and ultimately improve your improvisation skills.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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3 Ways to Get Jazz Gigs Oct 21, 2019

Welcome to episode 190 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about how to get jazz gigs. One of the big goals for most musicians is to get out there and play.
That's where the real fun and learning can happen. But how do you acquire those gigs? I go over three ways with different strategies for each to help you get out there and start performing.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Finding More Time to Practice and Skyrocketing Your Jazz Potential (feat. Brett Pontecorvo) Oct 14, 2019

Welcome to episode 189 of the LJS Podcast where today I have on special guest pianist and educator Brett Pontecorvo to talk about making time to practice and setting up a masterplan to achieve your musical goals.
Not having time to practice is a common complaint, but this episode crushes that limiting belief and shows you a path to achieve more in your musical life.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes

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Inside Look on a Pro Jazz Musicians Development Oct 07, 2019

Welcome to episode 188 of the LJS Podcast where today I have on special guest jazz pianist Keelan Dimick to discuss the transformational moments in his musical development.
Keelan is a jazz piano phenom and he opens up and shares his journey as a musician and the key points in his development.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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[Strategy #3] The Secret Sauce for Mastering a Jazz Blues Sep 30, 2019

Welcome to episode 187 of the LJS Podcast where we conclude "Jazz Blues Month!"
In this episode, I cover my philosophy on mastering musical material, and it especially applies to jazz blues. No, it's not a bunch of fancy licks, shortcuts, and hacks. It's a real process. I dig into that and how you can start taking action.
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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[Strategy #2] 3 Pillars of Jazz Blues Language Sep 23, 2019

Welcome to episode 186 of the LJS Podcast where we continue onto week 3 of "Jazz Blues Month!"
In this episode, I cover the 2nd strategy of this series which is understanding the 3 pillars of jazz blues language. Not only do we discuss what they are, I tell you what to practice and a few tools that can help for each.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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[Strategy #1] Mapping out a Jazz Blues for Improv Success Sep 16, 2019

Welcome to episode 185 of the LJS Podcast where we continue "Jazz Blues Month!" In this episode, I cover the first of 3 strategies I'll be covering on crushing it on a jazz blues.
Strategy #1 is "Mapping", and I go over 3 phases of mapping over a jazz blues. After mapping, the mystery of what notes to play will be completely solved.
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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3 Reasons You NEED to Master the Jazz Blues Sep 09, 2019

Welcome to episode 184 of the LJS Podcast where today we kick off "Jazz Blues Month!" In this episode, I discuss 3 reasons why you need to master the jazz blues.
If you go deep into understanding and navigating a jazz blues it will unlock countless secrets for becoming a great jazz improviser. Here's why!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Analyzing a Good and Bad Jazz Solo (What Makes a Good Solo) Sep 02, 2019

Welcome to episode 183 of the LJS Podcast where today we listen to two solos I've recorded in the past.
We'll listen to one that I'm proud of and checks off the boxes of a good jazz solo, and we'll also listen to one I'm not so proud of. I analyze what made the good one good, and the bad one bad.
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Understanding Diminished 7th Chords and How to Improvise Over Them (feat. Adam Levy) Aug 26, 2019

Welcome to episode 182 of the LJS Podcast where today I have special guest Adam Levy on the show to talk about diminished harmony and how to start improvising over diminished 7th chords.
If you've ever felt confused by diminished chords and how to approach them, consider this a must-listen episode.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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I’m Taking a Break from Jazz Aug 19, 2019

Welcome to episode 181 of the LJS Podcast where today I announce that I'm taking a break from jazz...for two weeks. But the fact that I'm taking a break does have some significance, and I want to explain the benefit of taking breaks for you and your musicianship.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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I Answer Your Jazz Questions (Ask Me Anything) Aug 12, 2019

Welcome to episode 180 of the LJS Podcast where today I answer questions from the Learn Jazz Standards Community Facebook Group and YouTube channel. Lots of great jazz questions are answered over a wide range of topics.
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Intros to Play on Jazz Standards (7 Options) Aug 05, 2019

Welcome to episode 179 of the LJS Podcast where today I go over 7 different options for playing an intro on a jazz standard.
While you can just count off a tune and start playing the head on beat one, it can be nice to set up a song with an intro. I walk you through some options and give you a call to action at the end.
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Becoming Your Own Jazz Teacher by Recording Yourself (feat. Jens Larsen) Jul 29, 2019

Welcome to episode 178 of the LJS Podcast where today I have on special guest jazz guitarist and Youtuber, Jens Larsen to talk about recording yourself.
I frequently get comments from my course students that the power of recording themselves has become a game-changer. Jens goes into detail about overcoming fears, and what to look out for when you listen back to yourself.
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Composing a Jazz Solo Over a Minor Blues Jul 22, 2019

Welcome to episode 177 of the LJS Podcast where today I demonstrate a solo I composed over a minor blues.
Composing jazz solos is one of the best ways to solidify the jazz language you already know and get it to come out in your playing.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Leveling Up Your Jazz Improvisation by Thinking Slow (feat. Nick Mainella) Jul 15, 2019

Welcome to episode 176 of the LJS Podcast where today our special guest Nick Mainella from the 10 Minute Jazz Lesson Podcast discusses how we can improve our jazz improv by thinking slow.
To be a great jazz improviser you need to think fast and effectively, and in order to do that, you need to start by doing the opposite.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Using Pitch Collections to Create Jazz Lines Over Static Chords Jul 08, 2019

Welcome to episode 175 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about using pitch collections to create jazz lines over static chords.
I personally don't enjoy thinking about playing scales over chords. I think a better way to think about scales is as "pitch collections" which can be especially helpful when learning to improvise over different qualities of chords. I go over the concept and demonstrate some licks.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Learn Chord Progressions By Ear (Step-by-Step) Jul 01, 2019

Welcome to episode 174 of the LJS Podcast where today I walk you through a step-by-step process for learning chord progressions by ear.
Learning chord progressions by ear is usually the more challenging aspect of learning jazz standards by ear, and the benefits of learning by ear are numerous. I show you how the power of ear training, a tiny bit of harmony knowledge, and some practice will have you unlocking chord progressions.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Taking the Blues Through All 12 Keys (How and Why to Do It) Jun 24, 2019

Welcome to episode 173 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about the importance of blues, and why you should take it into all 12 keys.
Jazz is a music that emerged from the blues and therefore jazz language is steeped in it. If you can play the blues in any key your jazz improv skills will be miles ahead.
In this episode, I demonstrate myself taking the blues through all 12 keys and how you can too!
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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5 Things I Did to Jump-Start My Jazz Playing Jun 17, 2019

Welcome to episode 172 of the LJS Podcast where today I share my personal story of how I jump-started my jazz skills.
When I first became interested in jazz I felt like I was way behind compared to my peers. I wanted to become a great jazz improviser and so I invested my time and energy into it. I go over 5 things that had a big impact on my jazz playing and will have a big impact on yours as well.
mportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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10 Jazz Standards That Will Expand Your Understanding of Jazz Harmony Jun 10, 2019

Welcome to episode 171 of the LJS Podcast where today we talk about 10 jazz standards that will expand your knowledge of jazz harmony.
My philosophy is that if we learn jazz repertoire all of the lessons we need to learn about improvising will fall into place. These particular 10 jazz standards start exploring jazz harmony past a basic level of understanding and will help you know hundreds more.
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Limiting Beliefs are Crushing Your Jazz Potential Jun 03, 2019

Welcome to episode 170 of the LJS Podcast where today we talk about limiting beliefs and how they can dictate the success or failure of our jazz improvement.
Often times musicians are their own worse enemy. We choose to diminish our true capabilities and believe that our potential is limited.
This episode is about taking a look in the mirror and breaking free from the shackles of our musical limiting beliefs.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Composing Jazz Solos Using Target Notes (Over There Will Never Be Another You) May 27, 2019

Welcome to episode 169 of the LJS Podcast where we conclude "Jazz Standards Month." This lesson goes over composing target notes over the jazz standard There Will Never Be Another You and then using those target notes to create a jazz solo. This is a great way to start developing improv skills by slowing things down and intentionally composing jazz lines under the parameter of target notes.View Show Notes: https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/episode169Sign up for the Newsletter: https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/newsletter/

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Making Rhythms the Foundation of Your Jazz Solos (Someday My Prince Will Come Study) May 20, 2019

Welcome to episode 168 of the LJS Podcast where we continue "Jazz Standards Month."
Oftentimes in jazz education, we place an emphasis on harmonic and melodic elements. We typically don't place enough emphasis on rhythm. However, rhythm is important for understanding jazz music and becoming a better jazz improviser.
In this episode, we learn how to apply rhythmic motivic development to the jazz standard Someday My Prince Will Come.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Making Pentatonic Scales Musical Over Just Friends (Analysis and Improv Lesson) May 13, 2019

Welcome to episode 167 of the LJS Podcast where we continue "Jazz Standards Month."
My subscribers often wonder what scales to play over jazz standards to help them improvise. However, scales are rarely the answer to creating great melodic solos. With that being said, they should not be discarded and in the right hands can be used to create great music.
In this episode, we take the pentatonic scale and apply it to the jazz standard Just Friends.
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Simplifying Jazz Standards to Make Them Easy (Tune Up Analysis) May 06, 2019

Welcome to episode 166 of the LJS Podcast where we kick off "Jazz Standards Month."
This month we are exploring jazz standards and digging into different concepts to see how we can learn, understand, and improvise over them better.
In this episode, I go over the jazz standard Tune-Up by Miles Davis, and demonstrate how to simplify these chord changes to make them easier to understand.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Improvising Over the LJS Podcast Theme Song (feat. Listener Improvisations) Apr 29, 2019

Welcome to episode 165 of the LJS Podcast where today we have a fun show where we discuss how to improvise over the LJS Podcast theme song.
It's an episode mixed with a bit of education, and just plain having fun. Best yet, we listen to several recordings of LJS community members improvising over the theme. Listen in!
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Warming Up the Body and Mind for Killer Musical Performances (feat. Michael Lake) Apr 22, 2019

Welcome to episode 164 of the LJS Podcast where today we have on special guest trombonist, author, and educator Michael Lake to talk about warming up the body and mind for musical performance.
Warming up is important for avoiding injury, and physically being able to play to your best ability, but it's also good for your mental game as well. We get inside Michael's head and learn his best practices and tips.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes
Michael Lake's website

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5 Things to Do When You Feel Un-Motivated to Practice Apr 15, 2019

Welcome to episode 163 of the LJS Podcast where today we talk about what to do when you feel unmotivated to practice.
Sometimes we are burnt out, sometimes we just don't want to and don't have a good reason. It can be confusing especially since deep inside we know we want to become better jazz musicians. Don't panic, here are 5 things you can do.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Developing an Engaging Story Line for Your Jazz Solos (feat. Aimee Nolte) Apr 08, 2019

Welcome to episode 162 of the LJS Podcast where today we have on special guest Aimee Nolte on the show to share with us how to develop an engaging solo that tells a story.
Aimee thinks the biggest mistake she sees jazz improvisers make is coming out of the gate playing a slew of notes and run-on lines. She shows us how she develops a great jazz solo and let's loose and some amazing tips.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes
Aimee's website

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Understanding the Jazz Standard There Will Never Be Another You (Chords Analysis) Apr 01, 2019

Welcome to episode 161 of the LJS Podcast where today I go over an in-depth analysis of the jazz standard "There Will Never Be Another You."
This is a fantastic tune that has a lot to teach us about traditional diatonic jazz harmony, with a few fun surprises along the way. Learn how to start approaching this great jazz standard.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes

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1 Month Practice Plan For Learning 1-2 Jazz Solos by Ear Mar 25, 2019

Welcome to episode 160 of the LJS Podcast where today I walk you through how to learn a jazz solo (or possibly two) by ear in 1 month.
This practice plan breaks things down and makes things easy, even if you've never learned a jazz solo by ear before. Having a plan is important, and this one will set you up for success.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes
Learn more about my 30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing Course

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Brain Hacking for Speeding Up Your Jazz Improv Success (feat. Rodney Brim) Mar 18, 2019

Welcome to episode 159 of the LJS Podcast where today we have special guest Rodney Brim on the show to talk about how to properly "hack" your brain for bigger, faster improvement in the practice room.
Rodney is a psychologist and professional musician and knows the inner workings of the brain and how it works. He walks us through 4 huge tips for brain hacking in the practice room.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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1,000,000+ Downloads of the LJS Podcast! Mar 13, 2019

Special announcement! The Learn Jazz Standards Podcast has passed 1,000,000 total downloads over the past 3 years with 4 new episodes a month.
It's a big mile marker, so here's a short episode to share some gratitude to the most important people who make this show a success: my listeners.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Using Chromaticism to Develop Your Jazz Lines Mar 11, 2019

Welcome to episode 158 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to add chromaticism into your jazz lines.
Chromaticism is one of the characteristics of a classic "jazz sound" and so we take a close look at how to implement it. We go over 5 different licks and gradually introduce chromaticism into them.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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4 Scales to Play Over a Half-Diminished Chord Mar 04, 2019

Welcome to episode 157 of the LJS Podcast where today we discuss four different scale options for approaching half-diminished chords.
Sometimes it can be helpful to take chords out of the context of chord progressions and look at them individually. These scales will help you map out note choices for this mysterious chord.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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How to Memorize Chord Changes and Not Get Lost Feb 25, 2019

Welcome to episode 156 of the LJS Podcast where today we feature a listener question all about how to memorize chord changes so you don't start confusing them with others.
If you've ever gotten lost playing a jazz standard because you accidentally switched to playing a similar one, you're going to find this episode helpful.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes

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Using “Musical Playgrounds” For Better Improvisation (feat. Christopher Sutton) Feb 18, 2019

Welcome to episode 155 of the LJS Podcast where today we have special guest Christopher Sutton back on the show to talk to us about improvisation.
What I love about this interview is Christopher is not a jazz musician, and he offers some unique perspectives on improvisation that are really refreshing. Learn about musical playgrounds and how thinking this way will enlighten your improv.
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes
Christopher Sutton's website

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How to Avoid Meandering Jazz Solos (feat. Jeff Schneider) Feb 11, 2019

Welcome to episode 154 of the LJS Podcast where today we have special guest Jeff Schneider back on the show to talk to us about avoiding meandering jazz solos.
Jeff talks about how to create jazz lines that sound more like a conversation than just a stream of notes. This one is packed full of jazz truth nuggets. Listen in!
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes
Jeff Schneider's website

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28 Jazz Skills to Practice (by Category) Feb 04, 2019

Welcome to episode 153 of the LJS Podcast where today we are covering 28 different jazz skills that you can start practicing today.
No more excuses of not knowing what to practice! I break them down by category and list a lot of resources we have on Learn Jazz Standards to help you accomplish them.
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
List of all resources mentioned in this episode

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Music Theory Checklist for Understanding Jazz Improvisation Jan 28, 2019

Welcome to episode 152 of the LJS Podcast where today we are covering my music theory checklist for understanding jazz improvisation.
If you are wondering what step-by-step building blocks you need in place for understanding jazz harmony and improv, this is a solid list. Take notes on which ones you need to work on. Listen in!
This list is based on my eBook and companion course "Zero to Improv"
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Applying Patterns to Scales for Jazz Improv Flexibility Jan 21, 2019

Welcome to episode 151 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how you can apply different pattern exercises over scales.
Patterns are great technical exercises that can help us become more flexible on our instruments. I give several different examples that you can put to use. Listen in!
This lesson comes out of my jazz theory and improv eBook and companion course "Zero to Improv"
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Using Enclosure to Create Bebop Lines Over a Jazz Blues Jan 14, 2019

Welcome to episode 150 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about a technique called "enclosure."
Enclosure is a way to conceptualize bebop language, and how jazz musicians approach important chord tones. We learn the basics of enclosure and then apply it over a jazz blues. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Setting Up a Game-Changing Practice Plan for Your Jazz Playing Jan 07, 2019

Welcome to episode 149 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to set up a game-changing practice play for your jazz playing.
If you're tired of meandering and practicing aimlessly, you need a practice plan that works. Learn how Project, Short-term, and Micro Goals work together with the Stair-Step Practice Plan to help you reach your desired musical transformations. Listen in!
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
I go over more stuff like this in my free mini-course "Accelerate Your Jazz Skills"

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Top 5 Learn Jazz Standards Podcast Episodes (2018 Year Review) Dec 31, 2018

Welcome to episode 148 of the LJS Podcast where today we are taking a look back at the year 2018 and everything that has happened in the Learn Jazz Standards community.
It's been an eventful year, and lot's of great content, courses, and eBooks have come out. We talk about the top 5 downloaded episodes as well as my top 2 favorites!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Writing Tunes With Non-Functional Jazz Harmony (My Composition Analysis) Dec 24, 2018

Welcome to episode 147 of the LJS Podcast where today we are taking a look at one of my compositions and exploring how some of the non-functional jazz harmonies work within it.
Often on this podcast, we cover functional harmony in jazz standards, but this time we discover how you can take that knowledge and start to break the rules. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

3 Strategies for Improvising Over a Jazz Blues Dec 17, 2018

Welcome to episode 146 of the LJS Podcast where today we are covering 3 awesome strategies for improvising over a jazz blues.
The blues is an important song form in jazz that every aspiring jazz musician needs to be proficient at. These strategies will help set a strong foundation for improvising freely over the blues. Listen in!
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Sign up for my free mini-course "Accelerate Your Jazz Skills"

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Listen to a Jazz Recording (And Learn From It) Dec 10, 2018

Welcome to episode 145 of the LJS Podcast where today we are listening to some jazz together and doing some critical listening.
We take Miles Davis' rendition of "Someday My Prince Will Come" and pick a section of it apart by honing in on each instrument individually. Lot's to learn from this recording. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Bonus Episode! My New Podcast On Making Money Teaching Music Online Dec 05, 2018

This is a short bonus episode where I announce a new podcast I've recently come out with that could be helpful for LJS Podcast listeners who teach music.
If you're someone who makes money off of music at all, whether it be gigging or teaching, you may wonder how I make a living teaching music online. The Passive Income Musician Podcast is where I'm sharing the deets!
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
You can check out the Passive Income Musician Podcast here

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How to Know When to Move On From Something You Are Practicing (feat. Brent Arnold) Dec 03, 2018

Welcome to episode 144 of the LJS Podcast where today we are closing up a series of coaching calls with one of my 30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing students, Brent Arnold.
Brent asks a lot of really great questions, including how to know when to move on to something new. We talk through them one by one. Listen in!
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Sign up for my jazz practicing course 30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Learning Jazz by Ear and Putting Away Fakebooks (feat. Ina Dennekamp) Nov 26, 2018

Welcome to episode 143 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking to 30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing student, Ina Dennekamp, about her journey in learning jazz.
Ina is an inspirational character and someone who loves learning more about music. She shares her tips and what's working for her. Listen in!
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
If you're interested, you can sign up for 30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing here

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Creating Melodic Jazz Solos and the Art of Not Thinking (Coaching Call with Dan Sich) Nov 19, 2018

Welcome to episode 142 of the LJS Podcast where today we are sitting in on a coaching call with 30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing student, Dan Sich.
Dan asks how he can better outline chord tones, guide tones and other techniques without losing focus and getting off track. Brent gives out some exercises that take things in a slightly different direction. Listen in!
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
If you're interested, you can sign up for 30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing here

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

What I Think About When I Take a Jazz Solo Nov 12, 2018

Welcome to episode 141 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about what I am thinking when I take a jazz solo.
This is a question I get a lot so we talk about what the end goal should be and I record a solo and analyze it. Listen in!
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

3 Hip 1-6-2-5 Licks to Practice Nov 05, 2018

Welcome to episode 140 of the LJS Podcast where today we have a short but sweet episode demonstrating 3 hip I-VI-ii-V licks.
This is an important chord progression found in jazz and it's important to learn some jazz language over it. Listen in!
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Sign up for our free eCourse "Accelerate Your Jazz Skills"

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Learning Jazz by Ear or Sheet Music (Which One is Better?) Oct 29, 2018

Welcome to episode 139 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about learning jazz by ear and with sheet music.
Which one is better and what are the benefits of each? Listen in!
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!

How Alexander Technique Can Help You as a Musician (feat. Christian Steineder) Oct 22, 2018

Welcome to episode 138 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking with Alexander Technique teacher and guitarist Christian Steineder.
He talks all about Alexander Technique, what it is, and how it can help you as a musician. Listen in!
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!

Chord Progression Hacks to Make Playing Jazz Simple (feat. Steve Nixon) Oct 15, 2018

Welcome to episode 137 of the LJS Podcast where today we have on special guest Steve Nixon to talk about the three categories of chord progressions you need to know.
Steve has a great way of making music seem simple and we talk about a lot of other fun stuff too. Listen in!
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

I Critique My Jazz Playing From 7 Years Ago Oct 08, 2018

Welcome to episode 136 of the LJS Podcast where today I listen back to a recording of myself from 2011 and give myself some honest feedback and critique.
It's a great practice to record yourself and listening to old recordings can help you gain insight into where you were, where you are now, and how you can improve. Listen in!
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!

How to Learn Difficult Jazz Standards Oct 01, 2018

Welcome to episode 135 of the LJS Podcast where today we are exploring how to learn, understand, and memorize complex jazz standards.
We take a look at Wayne Shorter's "Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum" and extract lessons we can apply to others. Listen in!
Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
Start understanding standards with The Jazz Standards Playbook

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10 Myths About Playing Jazz You Need to Stop Believing Sep 24, 2018

Welcome to episode 134 of the LJS Podcast where today we are debunking 10 common myths about playing jazz.
These myths are limiting beliefs that are holding us back from our full potential and improving as jazz musicians. You may resonate with some of these. Listen in!
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The Sad Truth About Ear Training Fundamentals (Why You Should Practice Them) Sep 17, 2018

Welcome to episode 133 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about ear training fundamentals and why you should be working on them as a jazz musician.
The sad truth is they are being ignored by so many. But I want you to recognize their importance and allow them to level up your skills. Listen in!
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!

Avoiding “Avoid Notes” and When Not to Avoid Them Sep 10, 2018

Welcome to episode 132 of the LJS Podcast where today we are answering a question from a podcast listener who asked about avoid notes.
Avoid notes are used in music academia to help identify which notes to not play over given chords or chords in the context of chord progression. But should you really "avoid" avoid notes? Listen in!
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The Neuroscience Behind Radical Musical Improvement (Feat. Marc Gelfo) Sep 03, 2018

Welcome to episode 131 of the LJS Podcast where today we have on special guest Marc Gelfo to talk about neuroscience and the music learning process.
Marc calls himself a neuro-symphonic french hornist, and he's the CEO of the Modacity practice platform. He talks all about the power of neuroscience and music. Listen in!
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Ask Me Anything- Listener Jazz Questions Answered Aug 27, 2018

Welcome to episode 130 of the LJS Podcast where today we are having a special show where Brent answers questions from podcast listeners.
Some are musical questions and some are more personal. It's a fun episode and lots of great tips for all. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Using Musical Parameters for Next Level Jazz Practice (feat. Josiah Boornazian) Aug 20, 2018

Welcome to episode 129 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking with saxophonist, composer, and educator Josiah Boornazian.
Josiah is a brilliant musician, and he lays down some of his best tips. He hones in on the concept of setting parameters in your practice sessions and lays down three great options. Listen in!
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!

3 Hip 2-5-1 Licks for You to Practice Aug 13, 2018

Welcome to episode 128 of the LJS Podcast where today we are exploring 3 hip 2-5-1 licks.
Learning licks is always a good practice for learning jazz language, and 2-5-1 chord progressions are arguably the most common in jazz harmony.
This is a great episode to help you take action and practice. Listen in!
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Maintenance Practice to Keep Up Your Jazz Skills Aug 06, 2018

Welcome to episode 127 of the LJS Podcast where today I spend some time maintenance practicing.
Maintenance practicing is a great way to keep up your skills even when you have very little time to spend practicing. I play through my quick routine and let you know how I keep my fingers fresh. Listen in!
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Practicing Away from the Instrument Effectively and Using Jazz as Therapy (feat. Joyce Kettering) Jul 30, 2018

Welcome to episode 126 of the LJS Podcast where today we are doing a coaching call with current 30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing student, Joyce Kettering.
Joyce has an inspiring reason why she started learning jazz. We spend some time talking about that, and how she can effectively practice even when she doesn't have access to her instrument. Listen in!
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The Power of Structured Jazz Practice (Coaching Call with Francis Belanger) Jul 23, 2018

Welcome to episode 125 of the LJS Podcast where today we sit in on a coaching call with 30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing course alumni Francis Belanger.
Francis took our jazz practicing course last year and Brent checks up on post-course life. Listen in!
Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

The Only 3 Big Things You Need to Be Practicing as a Jazz Musician Jul 16, 2018

Welcome to episode 124 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about the Big 3 things you need to be practicing in order to improve as a jazz musician.
This episode piggybacks off of last week's episode where we talked about focused, goal-oriented practicing. Learn what to practice so you don't get overwhelmed and how to do it. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

5 Powerful Results That Come From Focused, Goal-Oriented Jazz Practicing Jul 09, 2018

Welcome to episode 123 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 5 powerful results that come from focused, goal-oriented practice sessions.
If you want to improve as a jazz musician you need this kind of practice. That's why the next handful of episodes are geared towards this and how to accelerate your jazz skills.
Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Use Target Notes to Create Melodic Jazz Lines (Feat. Jens Larsen) Jul 02, 2018

Welcome to episode 122 of the LJS Podcast where today we are joined by special guest Jens Larsen to talk about using target notes to create melodic jazz lines.
Jens is a pro jazz guitarist and teacher, and he lays down his tips on how to bring out the chord tones in your jazz solos and use them to make real melodies. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

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Understanding Secondary and Backdoor Dominant 7 Chords Jun 25, 2018

Welcome to episode 121 of the LJS Podcast where today we are digging into some jazz theory and talking about secondary and backdoor dominant 7 chords.
These are two concepts that are used to resolve to a tonic I chord. If you understand these concepts they can help give context to a chord progression you are improvising over. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Practice Towards Fail-Proof Musical Performances (Feat. Diego Maldonado) Jun 18, 2018

Welcome to episode 120 of the LJS Podcast where today we have on special guest Diego Maldonado to talk about how to practice towards fail-proof musical performances.
If you've ever practiced a piece of music only for it to go completely wrong during a performance (like all of us), this episode will help you avoid this from happening. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Get Unstuck From a Musical Slump and Start Improving Jun 11, 2018

Welcome to episode 119 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about a common problem that plagues all musicians from time to time: musical slumps.
We all go through periods where we feel like we aren't improving or even motivated to play. Sometimes it's hard to break free from those plateaus but this episode goes over some great antidotes. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Top 13 Jazz Lessons From Our Podcast Guests Jun 04, 2018

Welcome to episode 118 of the LJS Podcast where today we are featuring some of the greatest hits of our guest episodes so far.
Over the last few years, we've developed a big catalog of episodes with special guests sharing their best jazz tips and advice. We listen to important clips from those episodes and some additional commentary. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Practice Licks in all 12 Keys May 28, 2018

Welcome to episode 117 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about learning licks in all 12 keys and how to do it.
Learning small pieces of jazz language is a great way to start developing vocabulary over chords and progressions. Taking them through all 12 keys adds even more value to that material and your musicianship. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

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Dominating a Learning Mindset and Transcending Musical Limits (Feat. Kobie Watkins) May 21, 2018

Welcome to episode 116 of the LJS Podcast where today we have on a very special guest, drummer, composer and teacher, Kobie Watkins.
Kobie has played with the who's who on the jazz scene, and in this show, he shares his story and talks about his mindset of continuous growth and learning. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Balance Music Theory and Playing by Ear May 14, 2018

Welcome to episode 115 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about the balancing act of music theory and playing by ear.
In the jazz world sometimes one or the other can be overemphasized and as a result, can cause a player to miss out on a balanced jazz education. Learn the importance of working on both and how to balance them in your practicing. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Minor Tonality and How to Build Minor Chord Progressions (feat. Dan Carillo) May 07, 2018

Welcome to episode 114 of the LJS Podcast where today we have on special guest Dan Carillo to talk about understanding minor tonality and building minor chord progressions.
Minor tonality can be complicated because there are three minor scales at play. Dan gives a thorough explanation and unlocks this confusing topic. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

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How Play-Alongs Could Be Hurting Your Jazz Playing Apr 30, 2018

Welcome to episode 113 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking all about jazz play-alongs and how they could be hurting your jazz playing.
Backing tracks can be great tools, but if used in the wrong way they could instill some bad habits. Learn when and how to use them, and when to leave them be. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Mastering the Art of Transcribing (feat. Greg Fishman) Apr 23, 2018

Welcome to episode 112 of the LJS Podcast where today we have on special guest renowned saxophonist and educator Greg Fishman.
Greg shares his story of how he has developed such a successful career in jazz and talks about one of his secret weapons: transcribing. Can you guess how many solos Greg has transcribed? Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

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Learning Songs on the Bandstand and Other Lessons From My Gig Apr 16, 2018

Welcome to episode 111 of the LJS Podcast where today Brent changes up the format for today's show to talk about some lessons from a recent gig.
He shares the good, the bad, and the ugly. Find out what he learned and how he used certain tools he has built up for himself. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

How to Start Crushing It On the Blues (Feat. Nick Mainella) Apr 09, 2018

Welcome to episode 110 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking with Nick Mainella from The 10 Minute Jazz Lesson Podcast all about the Blues and how to start playing it with confidence.
Blues is a foundational element of jazz music and Nick teaches you the ins and outs and everything you need to know to get started. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

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Pro Tips on Proper Music Notation, Formatting and Phrasing (feat. Brett Pontecorvo) Apr 02, 2018

Welcome to episode 109 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking to professional music notation editor and engraver, Brett Pontecorvo.
Brett lays down his best tips and tricks on how to properly notate music, as well as layout great, readable charts. These are valuable skills every musician needs to know how to do. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Using Motivic Development to Create Musical Themes Mar 26, 2018

Welcome to episode 108 of the LJS Podcast where today we are concluding "Jazz Standards Month" with the topic of motivic development and how we can utilize it to develop musical themes, and structure into our jazz solos.
Brent tells you what motivic development is and gives some examples. Listen in!
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Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Composing Contrafacts to Develop Melodic Ideas Mar 19, 2018

Welcome to episode 107 of the LJS Podcast where today we are continuing "Jazz Standards Month" talking about composing contrafacts to develop melodic ideas.
Composition and melody are huge aspects of great improvisation. Learn why, and the great benefits composing contrafacts can have. Listen in!
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Mapping Out a Jazz Standard for Improv Success Mar 12, 2018

Welcome to episode 106 of the LJS Podcast where today we are moving forward in Jazz Standards Month to talk about mapping out a tune you are learning.
We'll explore mapping out the guide tones and chord tones to build a strong foundation for our improvisation. Listen in!
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Analyzing Jazz Standards With Roman Numerals for Max Results Mar 05, 2018

Welcome to episode105 of the LJS Podcast where today we are jumping head first into "Jazz Standards Month."
This month on the podcast we will be focusing on learning jazz standards and extracting everything we can out of them.
To kick it off, we talk about analyzing jazz standards with Roman Numerals for max results. Listen in!
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11 Listeners Give Their Jazz Tips and Advice Feb 26, 2018

Welcome to episode 104 of the LJS Podcast where today we are celebrating our 2 year podcast birthday!
To do that we are having on 11 different special guests on the show. They are special because they are listeners just like you! They all give excellent jazz tips and advice and have great stories to share. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Playing Along vs. Knowing a Jazz Tune Feb 22, 2018

Welcome to episode 103 of the LJS Podcast where today we are having podcast listener Gabriel from Fishers, Indiana on the show to share his jazz tips and advice.
Gabriel talks about a moment of musical failure, and how he learned from it and has been crushing it in the practice room ever since. Specifically, he hones in on the difference between play-along and actually knowing tunes. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Blazing Your Own Trail Towards Musical Success Feb 19, 2018

Welcome to episode 102 of the LJS Podcast where today we feature the story and advice of a podcast listener, Stacy from North Carolina.
In this episode, Stacy shares some breakthroughs she had in her jazz playing when she learned how to utilize the tools that worked for her and shifted her mindset. Listen in!
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Learn How to Play “My Shining Hour” Feb 12, 2018

Welcome to episode 101 of the LJS Podcast where today Brent will teach you how to play one of his favorite jazz standards, "My Shining Hour" by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer.
Learn the melody, chords, and how harmony works. Brent improvises a chorus at the end to tie it all together. Listen in!
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Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

My Jazz Mentor Gives You His Best Tips and Advice (feat. Justin Nielsen) Feb 05, 2018

Welcome to episode 100 of the LJS Podcast where today we are celebrating 100 episodes!
To do that, Brent has a very special guest on the show, his jazz mentor Justin Nielsen who got him into the music and set him on a path to success.
Justin talks about what he teaches his students and some of his best tips for musical improvement. Listen in!
Important Links:
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Which Scales You Can Play Over Different Kinds of 7th Chords Jan 29, 2018

Welcome to episode 99 of the LJS Podcast where today we are going over scales you can play over different kinds of 7th chords.
While scales aren't musical by themselves, they can be helpful for mapping out tones you can choose from in chords and chord progressions.
This episode covers the essential basic chord qualities and alterations. Listen in!
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How to Beat the Brain Game for Musical Freedom (feat. Matt Vaartstra) Jan 22, 2018

Welcome to episode 98 of the LJS Podcast where today we are joined by sports and performance psychologist Matt Vaartstra to talk about how to channel your mindset towards musical freedom.
At the end of the day, music is a brain game. There are so many negative voices that hinder our progress, and Matt teaches us how to train your brain for optimal performance. Listen in!
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Using the 80/20 Rule for Productive 30 Minute Practice Jan 15, 2018

Welcome to episode 97 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how we can use the 80/20 Rule to get big results out of 30 minute practice sessions.
Life can be busy and sometimes it's tough to find time to practice. But if we are practicing the right things and stay focused, 30 minutes may be all we need. Listen in!
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Important Jazz Chord Substitutions You Need to Know Jan 08, 2018

Welcome to episode 96 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about important jazz chord substitutions you should know about.
Jazz musicians love to add and substitute chords and progressions within jazz harmony, and these are some common ones that you should explore. Listen in!
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10 Tips for Successful Jazz Gigs and Jam Sessions Jan 01, 2018

Welcome to episode 95 of the LJS Podcast where today we are walking through 10 important tips for playing successful jazz gigs and jam sessions.
At the end of the day, the end goal for our practicing and honing our craft is to get out there and play. These tips will help set up you and the other musicians you are playing with for success. Listen in!
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How I’m Planning for Musical Success in 2018 Dec 25, 2017

Welcome to episode 94 of the LJS Podcast where today we are reflecting on this past year and everything that has been accomplished.
Brent shares his non-musical and musical accomplishments during 2017, and reveals a confession. He shares his successes and failures, what he's learned, and how you can learn from them too. Listen in!
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How to Unlock Bebop Language (feat. Chad Lefkowitz-Brown) Dec 18, 2017

Welcome to episode 93 of the LJS Podcast where today we have on special guest jazz saxophonist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown to talk about developing bebop language.
Chad talks about his musical journey and the lessons he's learned along the way to becoming a renowned jazz musician and recording artists.
Specifically, he hones in on Bebop, and gives us some great exercises to work on. Listen in!
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How to Use Tritone Substitution In Your Jazz Improv Dec 11, 2017

Welcome to episode 92 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about tritone substitution and how we can use it in our jazz improvisation.
Tritone substitution is a cool harmonic tool jazz musicians use to add movement and color. This episode goes over several ways we can use it along with some lick examples. Listen in!
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Understanding African Music and the Origins of Jazz (feat. Joe Agu) Dec 04, 2017

Welcome to episode 91 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking with Afro percussion maker and musicologist Joe Agu all about African music and the origins of jazz.
Jazz is African American music, but it didn't just start in New Orleans. It's roots go way back into African music and culture. It's important to understand where this music comes from. Listen in!
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How to Get the Very Most Out of Your Jazz Solo Transcriptions Nov 27, 2017

Welcome to episode 90 of the LJS Podcast where today we are answering a question from a listener who wants to know how to analyze solo transcriptions to get the most out of them.
This episode discusses what you should look for, and how you can break the solo down to identify the most important parts. Listen in!
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How to Develop Time Feel and Up Your Rhythm Game Nov 20, 2017

Welcome to episode 89 of the LJS Podcast where today we have special guest drummer and composer Dorota Piotrowska on the show to talk about time feel and rhythm.
These are some of the most important aspects to focus on to improve your jazz playing, and Dorota has some killer tips to share. Listen in!
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Using the LIST Method to Learn Jazz Solos by Ear Nov 13, 2017

Welcome to episode 88 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking all about a great 4 step process for learning jazz solos by ear.
This is a practice that has a ton of benefits for your jazz musicianship and every aspiring jazz player should be doing this. Learn the LIST method and how it can help. Listen in!
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Inside the Development of a Jazz Musician (feat. Chris Davis) Nov 06, 2017

Welcome to episode 87 of the LJS Podcast where today we are joined by special guest jazz trumpeter Chris Davis to talk all about his development into the jazz musician he is today.
Chris talks about the stuff he practiced during his formidable years and some excellent lessons we can learn from his story. Listen in!
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7 Chords You Can Play the Melodic Minor Scale Over Oct 30, 2017

Welcome to episode 86 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about the modes of the melodic minor scale and how you can use them to improvise over 7 different chords.
The melodic minor scale can be a great tool to conceptualize some of these sounds. Listen in!
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How to Practice Smart and Improve Quickly (feat. Steve Nixon) Oct 23, 2017

Welcome to episode 85 of the LJS Podcast where today we have special guest Steve Nixon from freejazzlessons.com on the show to talk all about how to practice smart and improve quickly.
When it comes to becoming a better jazz musician it's all about practicing, and Steve knows more than a thing or two about this. Listen in!
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Important Jazz Standards You Need to Learn Oct 16, 2017

Welcome to episode 84 of the LJS Podcast where today we are answering a question from a caller who asked which jazz standards are important to be listening to and learning.
Brent breaks down a list of 40 standards into important categories that you can work from. Listen in!
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How to Improve Speed and Accuracy in Your Jazz Solos Oct 09, 2017

Welcome to episode 83 of the LJS Podcast where today we are answering a question from a caller who asked how to improve speed and accuracy in his jazz solos.
Brent goes over a great exercise that you can start working on today to develop your time and rhythm feel, as well as technique. Listen in!
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How to Set Game-Changing Goals for Your Musicianship Oct 02, 2017

Welcome to episode 82 of the LJS Podcast where today we have a special guest Christopher Sutton, the founder of Musical-U, to talk to us about how to set game-changing goals for our musicianship.
Christopher shares with us his MAGIC process for setting up result-oriented goals, and then going out and actually accomplishing them. Listen in!
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How to Translate What You Hear to Your Instrument Sep 25, 2017

Welcome to episode 81 of the LJS Podcast where today we are concluding Ear Training Month with a very important topic: how to translate what you hear to your instrument.
We've been talking about the fundamentals of ear training, and this is the last step to connect the dots. Listen in!
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Chord Progressions and How to Identify Them By Ear Sep 18, 2017

Welcome to episode 80 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about hearing chord progressions by ear.
We are in the middle of Ear Training Month where we are delving deep into training our ears to hear on a deeper level. Chord progressions are an important next step. Listen in!
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The Power of Training Your Ear to Hear Chords Sep 11, 2017

Welcome to episode 79 of the LJS Podcast where today we are delving deeper into Ear Training Month which we are doing for the month of September.
This lesson is all about hearing chords and how to do it. This is a deeper level of ear training that will have a huge impact on your playing. Listen in!
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How to Master Hearing Intervals and Level-Up Your Ears Sep 04, 2017

Welcome to episode 78 of the LJS Podcast where today we are starting a new series in September called Ear Training Month.
Ear training is extremely important for all musicians to work on. Our first lesson is on intervals and how to master them. Listen in!
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How to Navigate Major 1-6-2-5 Chord Progressions Aug 28, 2017

Welcome to episode 77 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about an important chord progression, the Major 1-6-2-5.
This is a chord progression that shows up all of the time in jazz repertoire and you will want to learn how to navigate it. You'll learn a helpful exercise and a few licks. Listen in!
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5 Huge Benefits of Playing With Musicians Better Than You Aug 21, 2017

Welcome to episode 76 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about the huge benefits of playing with musicians who are better than you.
If you want to improve and improve quickly, one of the best things you can do for yourself is to play with musicians with more experience and ability than you. Listen in!
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How to Internalize Jazz Language Aug 14, 2017

Welcome to episode 75 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to internalize jazz language. At the end of the day, we don't want to just learn new musical information.
We want to keep it forever and we want it to make a lasting impact on our playing. Today's show breaks down 4 important processes for internalization. Listen in!
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How to Improvise Over Sus Chords Aug 07, 2017

Welcome to episode 74 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to improvise over suspended chords.
Specifically, we are covering the Dominant 7 Sus 4 chord, which shows up a lot in jazz music. These chords can sometimes stump an improviser when they come up and this lesson digs into some different ways to approach them. Listen in!
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4 Strategies For Improvising Over Major 2-5-1’s Jul 31, 2017

Welcome to episode 73 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about the major 2-5-1 chord progression and 4 strategies for how to improvise over it.
The 2-5-1 (ii-V-I) is one of the most common chord progressions in jazz and other styles of music. You will see it come up all of the time in jazz standards so it's important you have a good handle on it. Listen in!
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How to Beat Performance Anxiety and Quiet Your Inner Critic Jul 24, 2017

Welcome to episode 72 of the LJS Podcast where today our special guest, performance psychologist Noa Kageyama, talks to us about how to beat performance anxiety and quiet the inner critic in our heads.
Noa is the face behind the website bulletproofmusician.com and teaches at the Julliard School in New York City. Listen in!
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Why The “Vibing” Culture In Jazz Has to Go Jul 17, 2017

Welcome to episode 71 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about why the "vibing" culture in jazz has to go.
Vibing is best defined as a mean-spirited attitude towards another musician and the way they play the music.
It's a toxic environment that sometimes exists at jam sessions, gigs, and in jazz communities. It's time for it to go. Listen in!
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Bossa Nova Basics with Livio Almeida Jul 10, 2017

Welcome to episode 70 of the LJS Podcast where today we have a very special guest on the show, Brazilian saxophonist, and composer, Livio Almeida.
In today's episode, Livio gives us a great lesson on Bossa Nova, important artists, songs, and rhythms that we need to know.
If you are new or want to know more about Bossa Nova and Brazilian music, this episode is for you!
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4 Awesome Tools For Jazz Musicians Jul 03, 2017

Welcome to episode 69 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 4 awesome jazz tools for jazz musicians.
These are tools and resources that we personally use that help us in our jazz studies and practice sessions. Listen in!
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How to Compose a Jazz Solo From Scratch Jun 26, 2017

Welcome to episode 68 of the LJS Podcast where today we are asking talking about how to compose a jazz solo from scratch.
Podcast host Brent Vaartstra composes a jazz solo live on the show and walks you through his process of building a jazz solo he would love to improvise. Listen in!
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How to Use Pentatonic Scales Over Any Chord Jun 19, 2017

Welcome to episode 67 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about pentatonic scales and how you can use them to improvise over any kind of chord.
Pentatonic scales are familiar to many but are often not utilized to their full potential. Let's learn how to take major and minor pentatonics to the next level. Listen in!
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5 Most Important Jazz Musicians You Need to Listen To Jun 12, 2017

Welcome to episode 66 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 5 of the most important jazz musicians that you need to listen to.
There are many important jazz musicians to talk about, but these five had an innovative impact on jazz and how it has evolved.
If you want to be an educated jazz musician you need to check these musicians out. Listen in!
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How to Create Killer Jazz Solos By Thinking Like a Composer (Feat. Jeff Schneider) Jun 05, 2017

Welcome to episode 65 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to create killer jazz solos by thinking like a composer.
Joining us to talk about this today is the Downbeat award winner and three-time recipient of the ASCAP Young Jazz Composers Award, Jeff Schneider.
Learn how to think like a composer and start building jazz solos that really stick out. Listen in!
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5 Tips for Never Losing Your Place In a Jazz Standard May 29, 2017

Welcome to episode 64 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 5 tips for never losing your place in a jazz standard.
Getting lost while playing jazz standards is a frustration many listeners and readers have expressed to us and we are here to help. Listen in!
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How to Become an Expert Sight Reader (feat. Brett Pontecorvo) May 22, 2017

Welcome to episode 63 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to become an expert sight-reader.
Sight reading is a skill that is important for all musicians to work on, and special guest Brett Pontecorvo unloads his expertise on this topic. Listen in!
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4 Steps for Playing What You Hear In Your Jazz Improv May 15, 2017

Welcome to episode 62 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 4 steps for playing what you hear in your jazz improvisation.
This is a question that we get a lot. "How do I play what I am hearing in my head?" There is no easy answer, but these 4 steps will get you headed in the right direction. Listen in!
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How to Use Scales In Your Jazz Solos the Right Way May 08, 2017

Welcome to episode 61 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to use scales in your jazz solos the right way.
You'll learn what scales are good and bad for, how to think about scales as pitch collections, and examples of how to convert them into actual melodies. Listen in!
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How to Develop Relative Pitch (Feat. Aimee Nolte) May 01, 2017

Welcome to episode 60 of the LJS Podcast where today we have special guest jazz pianist and vocalist Aimee Nolte on the show to talk about developing the relative pitch.
Wouldn't it be awesome to hear a note being played and know exactly what it is, even if you don't have a perfect pitch? Aimee teaches us how. Listen in!
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5 Tips for Playing Jazz Ballads Like an Expert Apr 24, 2017

Welcome to episode 59 of the LJS Podcast where today we are dishing out 5 tips for playing jazz ballads like an expert.
Jazz ballads can be tricky, largely because slow tempos can open up a number of challenges. Treat these tips like a checklist the next time you play a ballad. Listen in!
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How to Use Triads to Improve Your Jazz Improvisation Apr 17, 2017

Welcome to episode 58 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how you can use triads to improve your jazz improvisation.
Today's lesson comes straight out of our brand new eBook "Zero to Improv". Exercises are given out for this lesson. Listen in!
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Why I Stopped Hating My Playing Apr 10, 2017

Welcome to episode 57 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to turn around our mentalities about our music.
Podcast host, Brent Vaartstra, tells us his story about how he stopped hating his jazz playing and started having fun again.
If you find yourself constantly upset with your playing, this is for you. Listen in!
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8 Reasons Why Jazz Musicians Should Shed Classical Apr 03, 2017

Welcome to episode 56 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 8 reasons why jazz musicians should shed classical.
That's right, classical music. How can classical music help you become a better jazz musician? Special guest Josiah Boornazian gives us the pitch. Listen in!
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4 Important Jazz Chord Progressions You Need to Master Mar 29, 2017

Welcome to episode 55 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 4 important jazz chord progressions you need to master.
You will come across these progressions often in jazz standards. Lick examples are demonstrated for each. Listen in!
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How to Organize Balanced Jazz Practice Sessions Mar 20, 2017

Welcome to episode 54 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to organize balanced jazz practice sessions.
At the same time, we are answering the question of what jazz musicians should be practicing in the first place. Balanced practice routines are one of the keys to musical success. Listen in!
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How to Improve Your Jazz Solos By Using Guide Tones Mar 13, 2017

Welcome to episode 53 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how you can improve your jazz solos by using guide tones.
One of the big questions students have is how do I navigate chord changes in my improvisation? Guide tones are a great springboard for identifying the important chord tones to focus on. Listen in!
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Birthday Episode feat. 8 Special Guests with Musical Failures Mar 06, 2017

Happy 1 year's Birthday LJS Podcast! In today's episode, we celebrate one year of successful podcast episodes.
On the show, we have a record-setting 8 guests joining us to talk about their musical failures, how they overcame them, and what they learned from them.
This is a value-packed episode, so listen in!
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Everything You Need to Know About Jazz Jam Sessions Feb 27, 2017

Welcome to episode 51 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about everything you need to know about jazz jam sessions.
Learn why they are important, how to be prepared, and how to network. Listen in!
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How to Become an Expert Jazz Comper Feb 20, 2017

Welcome to episode 50 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about being a jazz accompanist and how to comp like a pro.
No matter what instrument you play, this is an important topic. Special guest, jazz pianist Keelan Dimick, gives us some of his best tips and advice. Listen in!
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3 Ways Practicing in all 12 Keys Will Make You a Better Musician Feb 13, 2017

Welcome to episode 49 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 3 ways practicing in all 12 keys will make you a better jazz musician.
This is a practice that can have profound effects on your playing. Be sure to take the challenge at the end of the episode! Listen in!
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Why You Should Stop Practicing Feb 06, 2017

Welcome to episode 48 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about why you should stop practicing.
Stop practicing!? Indeed, there are certain scenarios where taking a little bit of time off can be incredibly helpful for your jazz playing. Listen in!
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3 Ways to Develop an Original Sound On Your Instrument Jan 30, 2017

Welcome to episode 47 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 3 ways to develop an original sound on your instrument.
As jazz musicians, we spend a lot of time studying the great jazz musicians that came before us. This is important! But we also want to be developing a sound that is original to us. Find out how. Listen in!
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How to Make Extra Money From a Jazz Side Hustle Jan 23, 2017

Welcome to episode 46 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to make extra money from a jazz side hustle.
A side hustle is any small business you do on the side from the full-time job that helps you make additional income.
If you love jazz and have a passion for it, why not convert some of that to some pocket cash! Find out how. Listen in!
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Should I Go to College For Jazz? Jan 17, 2017

Welcome to episode 45 of the LJS Podcast where today we are asking the question: Should I go to college for jazz?
You may be a student in college or considering going to school for jazz. Or you may be a hobbyist interested in becoming a part-time student and furthering your jazz education.
Regardless, this is an important topic to cover. Listen in!
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How to 2X The Results of Your Practice Sessions Jan 09, 2017

Welcome to episode 44 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to 2X the results of your practice sessions.
Quality practice is important for jazz improvement. We all know this, but we need to identify how to get the most out of the precious practice time we have. Listen in!
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Why We Play Jazz Jan 03, 2017

Welcome to episode 43 of the LJS Podcast where today we are asking the question: why do we play jazz?
It's the start of the year 2017, and it's always good to center ourselves and remind ourselves why we play the music we do.
Podcast host Brent Vaartstra tells the story of his jazz journey. Listen in!
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How to Keep Your Jazz New Years Resolutions Dec 26, 2016

Welcome to episode 42 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to keep your jazz new years resolutions.
2017 is upon us, and like many others, we realize that we can treat it as a new chapter for our jazz playing. It's easy to make a resolution, but much harder to keep it. Find out how. Listen in!
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How to Become a Better Jazz Musician Just By Listening Dec 19, 2016

Welcome to episode 41 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to become a better jazz musician just by listening to jazz.
Listening is one of the most important things you can do, but not just any kind of listening. Find out what you should be focusing on when listening to jazz. Listen in!
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An Important Jazz Improv Technique and How to Use It Dec 12, 2016

Welcome to episode 40 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about an important jazz improvisation technique called enclosure, and how to use it.
This is a great technique to help you conceptualize jazz language. Listen in!
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A Jazz Master You’ve Probably Never Heard of Before Dec 05, 2016

Welcome to episode 39 of the LJS Podcast where today we sit down to talk to a jazz master you've probably never heard of before.
Meet Don Hahn, a trumpeter, and flugelhornist who has played with the likes of Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich, and many others.
Don talks about his life and the way he thinks about music. Listen in!
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5 Questions I Ask Myself During My Jazz Gigs Nov 30, 2016

Welcome to episode 38 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 5 questions to ask yourself during your jazz gigs.
These are questions to ask before and during your gigs that will help set you up for success. Listen in!
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How to Tell Stories With Your Jazz Solos Nov 21, 2016

Welcome to episode 37 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to tell stories with your jazz solos.
If you think about it, some of the best solos out there tell captivating stories. Each phrase has a trajectory, and we want to learn how to do this. Listen in!
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14 Jazz Practicing Ideas Nov 15, 2016

Welcome to episode 36 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 14 practicing ideas for jazz musicians.
If you need some help with what you should be practicing as a jazz musician, or just need something new, this is a good episode for you. Listen in!
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How Mastering Tempo and Rhythm Can Transform Your Jazz Playing Nov 10, 2016

Welcome to episode 35 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how mastering tempo and rhythm can transform your jazz playing.
Oftentimes, non-percussion instrumentalists don't pay enough attention to these things, and it shows.
Today's special guest, professional drummer Diego Maldonado, walks us through how to do this. Listen in!
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How Playing Gigs For Free is Destroying the Music Economy Nov 01, 2016

Welcome to episode 34 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how playing gigs for free is destroying the music economy.
It may seem harmless. It may be that musicians who play for free just want to get some playing time. But consider the consequences. Listen in!
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How Charlie Parker and John Coltrane Became Great Oct 25, 2016

Welcome to episode 33 of the LJS Podcast where today we are taking a look at two jazz icons, Charlie Parker and John Coltrane, and asking the question: What made them great. Was it talent? Was it a lot of practice? Or is there something more to it? Listen in.
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Music Advice I Wish Someone Had Told Me Oct 17, 2016

Welcome to episode 32 of the LJS Podcast where today podcast host Brent Vaartstra talks about music advice he wishes someone had told him from the beginning.
This advice is ultimately about being the best musician you have the potential to be. Listen in!
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Ear Training For Jazz Musicians Oct 11, 2016

Welcome to episode 31 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about ear training for jazz musicians.
Having a solid, well-rounded ear is one of the most important things a jazz musician can have.
Great ears are essential for improvisation, and so ear training needs to be at the forefront of jazz musicians' studies. Listen in!
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5 Jazz Solos You Should Learn and Why Oct 04, 2016

Welcome to episode 30 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 5 jazz solos you should learn and why.
Learning jazz solos by ear is a practice that all jazz musicians should be doing and is incredibly important for becoming better jazz musicians.
If you are having trouble finding good solos to learn, these are definitely some to consider. Listen in!
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Jazz Challenge #4 Learn a New Jazz Lick Sep 26, 2016

Welcome to episode 29 of the LJS Podcast where today we are introducing Jazz Challenge #4 of our 4 part series of jazz challenges.
These challenges will be leading up to the release of our first eCourse 30 Days to Better Jazz Playing in October 2016. Today’s challenge is to learn a new jazz lick. Listen in!
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Jazz Challenge #3 Write Your Own Jazz Solo Sep 19, 2016

Welcome to episode 28 of the LJS Podcast where today we are introducing Jazz Challenge #3 of a 4 part series of jazz challenges.
These challenges will be leading up to the release of our first eCourse 30 Days to Better Jazz Playing in October 2016.
Today’s challenge is to write your own jazz solo. Listen in!
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Jazz Challenge #2 Practice the Blues in all 12 Keys Sep 12, 2016

Welcome to episode 27 of the LJS Podcast where today we are introducing Jazz Challenge #2 of a 4 part series of jazz challenges.
These challenges will be leading up to the release of our first eCourse 30 Days to Better Jazz Playing in October 2016.
Today's challenge is to practice the blues in all 12 keys. Listen in!
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Jazz Challenge #1 Write Your Own Contrafact Sep 06, 2016

Welcome to episode 26 of the LJS Podcast where today we are introducing Jazz Challenge #1 of a 4 part series of jazz challenges.
These challenges will be leading up to the release of our first eCourse 30 Days to Better Jazz Playing in October 2016.
Today's challenge is to write your own contrafact. Listen in!
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4 Fears That Jazz Musicians Face (And How to Overcome Them) Aug 30, 2016

Welcome to episode 25 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 4 fears that jazz musicians face and how to overcome them.
Jazz musicians (and musicians in general) tend to be especially hard on themselves. They are constantly upset with their playing and worried about what others think about them. It's time to overcome these fears. Listen in!
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Why Jazz is Unpopular and What We Can Do About It Aug 23, 2016

Welcome to episode 24 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about why jazz is unpopular and what we can do about it.
According to Nielsen's 2014 Year-End Report, jazz is one of the most unpopular genres of music in the United States.
In this episode, we take a closer look at these details, try to figure out why, ask some questions, and reflect on what we can do about it. Listen in!
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Gig Etiquette 101 for Musicians Aug 15, 2016

Welcome to episode 23 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about some gig etiquette 101.
These are some really helpful tips for acting professionally, keeping your gig, and setting it up for success. We point out some classic mistakes musicians make during the gig and more. Listen in!
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How to Play at Fast Tempos and Not Get Burned Aug 08, 2016

Welcome to episode 22 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to play at fast tempos and not get burned.
Up tempos tunes are something that all jazz musicians must confront, and we've all been burned by them before!
In this episode, we go over some tips for playing fast tempos and how we can start getting better control over them. Listen in!
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4 Steps to Finding More Time to Practice Aug 01, 2016

Welcome to episode 21 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 4 steps to finding more time to practice.
We get a lot of emails about this, and since practicing is such an important thing for musicians (especially in jazz), it is important we talk about it.
Find out how you can squeeze practice into your regular schedule. Listen in!
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How Studying Jazz Can Make You a Better Musician Jul 25, 2016

Welcome to episode 20 of the LJS Podcast where today we are joined by special guest Nathaniel Schroeder to talk about how studying jazz can help you play other styles of music better, and vice versa.
Nathaniel is primarily an upright and electric bassist, but also a multi-instrumentalist and has his feet in multiple genres. Listen in!
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Jazz Talk With Larry Koonse (Part 2) Jul 18, 2016

Welcome to episode 19 of the LJS Podcast where today we talk with internationally renowned jazz guitarist Larry Koonse.
LJS guest blogger Peter Rubie conducts Part 2 of this interview, and they talk about Larry’s career, jazz, music, and a host of other stuff. Listen to Part 1 if you haven't yet, otherwise onward!
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Jazz Talk With Larry Koonse (Part 1) Jul 11, 2016

Welcome to episode 18 of the LJS Podcast where today we talk with internationally renowned jazz guitarist Larry Koonse.
LJS guest blogger Peter Rubie conducts Part 1 of this interview, and they talk about Larry's musical beginnings and much more. Listen in!
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8 Jazz Records You Need To Listen To Jul 06, 2016

Welcome to episode 17 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 8 jazz records you need to listen to.
Our host of the LJS Podcast, Brent Vaartstra, talks about his favorite jazz albums that have stood the test of time, and invites you to chime in with yours. Listen in!
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Practicing With a Metronome Jun 27, 2016

Welcome to episode 16 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about practicing with a metronome.
Practicing with a metronome can help us attain improvisational freedom and rhythmic confidence. Having a great time feel and a strong inner clock is a big factor that sets apart the greatest musicians. Working with a metronome can help you reach that level. Listen in!
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LJS 15: 5 Steps to Learning Jazz Language By Ear Jun 20, 2016

Welcome to episode 15 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 5 steps to learning jazz language by ear.
In this episode, we talk about why it's important to learn jazz language by ear rather than from sheet music, and 5 practical steps to do it.
Learning music by ear is certainly the road less traveled, but the rewards are well worth it! Listen in.
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10 Important Jazz Standards You Need To Know and Why Jun 13, 2016

Welcome to episode 14 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 10 important jazz standards you need to know and why.
These 10 jazz standards are not only commonly called at jam sessions and gigs, they each have something specific to teach us about jazz and other songs in the repertoire.
If you know these 10, you are well on your way to understanding many of the harmonic concepts traditionally found in jazz. Listen in!
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The Art of Playing Duo Jun 07, 2016

Welcome to episode 13 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about the art of playing duo.
Bassist Wallace Stelzer joins us as a guest on the show again to discuss why jazz musicians should play duo, different kinds of duos, tips for playing duo, and important jazz duo recordings. Listen in!
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Social Music, Bus Drivers and Jazz Musicians with Peter Bernstein May 31, 2016

Welcome to episode 12 of the LJS Podcast where today we are joined by a very special guest, jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein.
We caught Peter in between touring to sit down and talk about jazz! Pete talks about the New School, jazz as a social music, Jim Hall, the jazz career, and much more. Listen in!
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4 Ingredients to Becoming a Better Jazz Musician May 23, 2016

Welcome to episode 11 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 4 ingredients to becoming a better jazz musician.
These "ingredients" aren't things you should practice or what licks or solos you should learn. These are some really important things to be done outside of the practice room if you are serious about becoming a better jazz musician. Listen in!
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Interview With Bruce Forman May 16, 2016

Welcome to episode 10 of the LJS Podcast where today we call up internationally renowned jazz guitarist Bruce Forman in Los Angeles, California to talk jazz!
Bruce talks about his musical beginnings, the state of jazz today, what tunes every jazz musician should know, and much more. Listen in!
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The How and Why of Jazz Composing May 09, 2016

Welcome to episode 9 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking all about composing music as a jazz musician.
Our special guest, saxophonist and composer Josiah Boornazian talks about how he composes music, why all musicians should compose, and several different approaches to composition. Listen in!
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2 Exercises For Hearing Chord Changes In Your Solos May 03, 2016

Welcome to episode 8 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about 2 exercises for hearing chord changes in your solos.
As jazz musicians, we want to be able to clearly hear the harmony of the tune we are playing in our solos.
This is a skill that can really take your solos from sounding amateur and bland to professional and full of life. Listen in!
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How Playing Free Can Make You a Better Improviser Apr 27, 2016

Welcome to episode 7 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how playing free can make you a better improviser.
Our special guest saxophonist and composer Josiah Boornazian walks us through some enlightening ways to bring free improvisation into the practice room, rehearsals, and even gigs. Listen in!
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Why Jazz Is Important to Society Apr 18, 2016

Welcome to episode 6 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about Why Jazz Is Important to Society.
If you never listen to another one of our podcast episodes again, at least listen to this one! Brent discusses the importance of music and jazz in society and why it needs to be valued. Listen in!
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How to Play Well With Others, Gig Etiquette and More Apr 12, 2016

Welcome to episode 5 of the LJS Podcast where today we are joined by two very special guests, drummer Diego Maldonado and bassist Wallace Stelzer.
In this episode, the guys talk about an assortment of important issues such as playing together as a band, pet peeves on the bandstand, the does and don'ts of gig etiquette, and practice tips.
Also, a special treat awaits at the end of the episode!
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3 Things Every Jazz Musician Should Practice Apr 04, 2016

Welcome to episode 4 of the LJS Podcast where today we will be talking about 3 Things Every Jazz Musician Should Be Practicing.
In this episode, we go over three things to practice that are proven to be very effective in improving jazz soloing and jazz playing in general.
If these are not a part of your practice routine now, you are going to want to pencil them in!
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How to Overcome Low Self-Esteem as a Musician Mar 29, 2016

Welcome to episode 3 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to overcome low self-esteem as a musician.
In this episode we talk about how musicians (especially jazz musicians) can suffer from low self-esteem by being hard on themselves and unhappy with their playing.
We walk through 4 different things to consider to help overcome low self-esteem as a musician. Listen in!
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How to Properly Learn a Jazz Standard Mar 22, 2016

Welcome to episode 2 of the LJS Podcast where today we are talking about how to properly learn a jazz standard.
In this episode, we talk about why learning jazz standards is so important and 5 great steps to learning a jazz standard so you can really own it. Find out how!
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4 Habits For Better Practicing Mar 18, 2016

Welcome to our very first episode of the LJS Podcast, where today we are talking about 4 Habits For Better Practicing.
As jazz musicians, practicing is one of the most important things we can talk about.
Listen in as NYC-based jazz guitarist and LJS blogger Brent Vaartstra walks us through these important practicing habits.
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