A Solo Sendoff by Chick Corea from “My Spanish Heart” (LOTW #208)
Chick Corea is always full of surprises! Check out this solo sendoff to complete our review of “Armando’s Rhumba” off of his iconic album “My Spanish Heart” (1976). https://youtu.be/CC519BH199U CLICK HERE TO GET A TRANSCRIPTION OF THE LICK If you have questions or suggestions for a Lick Of The Week you would like us to […]
Creating Left Hand Chord Lines (Ep: 218)
“Plopping and Dropping” left hand voicings can only get you so far. Developing architectural left hand chord lines creates a beautiful backdrop for your right hand to improvise over. In today’s podcast we will break down some key techniques to creating your own left hand chord lines!
How to Use Block Chords – Jazz Piano Tutorial Pt. 2 (Ep: 217)
Block chords are one of jazz piano’s unsolved mysteries. This style made famous by George Shearing and Nat King Cole was once ubiquitously used by jazz pianists of the 20th century who came after them. In part two of this jazz piano tutorial, we will cover two more advanced strategies to integrate this style of playing into your repertoire.
3 Things You Need To Do More With Less (Ep: 216)
Most the time we feel like we’re inadequate players. That’s rough, and I know because I’ve been there. But the truth is, the tools we currently possess are usually more than enough to make and play beautiful jazz piano music. You just need 3, very simple, yet powerful things. In this episode I’ll share with you what those 3 things are and how they will instantly bring your playing to life, no matter WHAT level you are! Enjoy!
How to Use Block Chords – Jazz Piano Tutorial Pt. 1 (Ep: 215)
Block chords are one of jazz piano’s unsolved mysteries. This style made famous by George Shearing and Nat King Cole was once ubiquitously used by jazz pianists of the 20th century who came after them. In this jazz piano tutorial, learn how to use this technique in your improvising, comping, and more!
Armando’s Rhumba by Chick Corea Pt. 1 (LOTW #204)
Armando Anthony Corea, also known as “Chick,” wrote many amazing compositions. This self-titled rhumba features a two-handed melody and becomes a highlight of his iconic 1976 album, “My Spanish Heart.” Tune in next week for Part 2! https://youtu.be/I8abYEchE4E CLICK HERE TO GET A TRANSCRIPTION OF THE LICK If you have questions or suggestions for a […]
Setting Restraints to Spark Creativity (Ep: 214)
Setting restraints forces us to play things we never would have thought of on our own. By limiting our choices, we actually drastically increase the amount of creativity in our lines. Restraints help us to bypass muscle memory and create new pathways through the harmonies. Check out these 3 strategies to implement restraints into your practice routine and jumpstart your creativity!
The Magic of Monk – Jazz Piano Tutorial (Ep: 213)
In honor of Thelonious Monk’s 103rd birthday this October, we will be taking a deep dive into his musical style in this podcast lesson! Follow along as we explore two Monk compositions and examine what makes them tick. By the end of this lesson, you will have a new appreciation for Monk’s style and discover new ways to incorporate it into your own personal creativity!
Monk’s Mellifluous Melody on “Straight, No Chaser” (LOTW #202)
Happy 103rd Birthday, Monk! To celebrate Thelonious Monk this October, here is a lick from his quintessential 12 bar blues, “Straight, No Chaser.” The opening chorus of his solo features a rhythmic melodic idea which he transforms through the chorus with style. Thanks for the music, Monk! https://youtu.be/Oh-C_jWaHcI CLICK HERE TO GET A TRANSCRIPTION OF […]
How To Break Out of Your Improv Norm (Ep: 212)
It’s hard to break out of habits. A lot of times we play on autopilot but guess what, in order to make progress we need to STOP. We need to pay close attention to what we’re playing and analyze it. Then after we’re AWARE of what we’re doing, we need to play the opposite texture. This episode will show you an easy process you can use to instantly break out of your improv norms.
