Learn Jazz Standards Podcast

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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!

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