. Self critique is an important part of learning as an artist. You can only really know how you sound when you’re not playing. In…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 183: Learning from PDFs
Using PDFs and/or sheet music is a fantastic way to learn. You just have to be sure to learn to “hear” the material in a…
Read Full Blog PostMatt Otto Big Band Arrangements:
11 Days – Original Composition and Arrangement By Matt Otto: 11 Days Audio File: . July – By Walter Smith – Arranged by Matt Otto…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 182: Easy Coltrane Ideas
I’m often drawn to Coltrane’s lyrical simple ideas within a complex solo. I like it when he plays melodically and leans heavily on his amazing…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 181: Old Milestones Etude:
This is a Jazz Etude I wrote over the chord changes to “Old Milestones”. I wrote and taught the Etude in lessons to my students…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 180: How To Write A Song #3
In this video I write a simple straight 8th tune in real time. I write from the chord progression first and than add a bass…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 179: Whole Tone
This is an overview of the Whole Tone scale. In the video I cover some basic concepts, patterns and theory. There’s a pdf below with…
Read Full Blog Post178: Miles Davis Chromatic Concept
. Here’s a simple lesson on using a chromatic sequence from Miles Davis for jazz improvisation. This concept helps musicians introduce a free concept over…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 177: Charlie Parker “Outside” Concept
In this short video lesson I explain a simple “outside” concept that Bird uses over a Blues solo that can be easily adapted to any…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 176: 3 Note “Lick”
In this simple lesson I outline a 3 note cell or melody that sounds really nice over Major, Minor and Dominant 7th chords. By avoiding…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 175: Learn A Blues Etude By Ear.
In this lesson, I play each phrase of this Blues Etude slowly so you can learn the whole chorus completely by ear. This is great…
Read Full Blog PostLesson 174: Giant Steps Etude
Here’s a second Giant Steps Etude I wrote for Keegan Kaiser, an excellent alto saxophonist who I’ve been working with that Kansas University. This Etude…
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