Jazz Piano School, Ep 22: Intermediate Blues
It’s tough creating variety with the blues, but with these reharms and scales you’ll be able to spice up your playing in no time.
Jazz Piano School, Ep 21: Special Guest, Eric Reed
This interview with Eric Reed was such a great pleasure. To be able to talk to one of the leading jazz pianists in the world and history was surreal for me. I had studied with him at the New School University and Eric was kind of enough to come on the show for an interview. He makes such intelligent points about the music and is able to articulate his thoughts with great clarity. Do not miss this episode and listen all the way through. Some of the best info is at the end! Enjoy!
How To Use The “Shells” Of Chords To Improve Your Playing
When I was a young lad studying jazz piano with the great George Russell Jr. back at New England Conservatory in Boston, he had me doing all these exercises playing the shells. While I practiced, I couldn’t help but think, “This is the most pointless practicing ever.” Little did I know he was giving me […]
Jazz Piano School, Ep 20: Solo Piano-Progressing the Basics.
Playing solo can be extremely difficult. It’s hard to move past that beginning stage of just chords in the LH and melody in the RH. This podcast will give you a couple of simple tips that you can be begin to incorporate that will help you sound great in no time! Enjoy!
Jazz Piano School, Ep 19: Introduction To The Blues
The blues is a corner stone of jazz. You will find the blues in many traditional jazz tunes and it will also help improve your improvising as well. Listen to this episode to learn how the blues works and how you can start playing it! Enjoy!
Fix: How To Never Rush Or Drag Your Solo Lines Again
I recently played a senior recital for a student at Sac State University. While hanging out before the performance, one of my friends who is also a student comes up and says “How the heck do you get you your lines to not drag?” When I’m asked this I usually give them a blank stare […]
Jazz Piano School, Ep 18: How To Prepare For Gigs
You’d be surprised how much information gets left out about gigs. This information could make or break your success at the gig or with the band leader. Do you want more gigs or don’t you?
Jazz Piano School, Ep 17: How To Play Jazz Standards!
Playing jazz piano standards is actually quite easy. People tend to over think it and then end up not even trying. It only takes a couple of learned principles and you can play any jazz standard you want! Enjoy!
Take Dead Aim With Your Solo Lines
Why do some solos sound crappy? What makes a solo not sound good? Obviously there a lot of reason. But the main reason people’s improv doesn’t sound good is because their melodic content is dead on with the harmonies. Let me explain. Chord Tones with your soloing Every chord you are playing over is made […]
5 Improvisation Tips That Will Make You Better Immediately
Have you ever opened a jazz book and read through some things and then said to yourself, “Am I really going to be able to use this at all?” I’ve probably done this thousands of time. Searching the internet and musical book stores for those nuggets that will make your playing sound better without even […]
