103: -7b5 chords
In this practice video I’m working on minor 7 b5 chords or half diminished chords. I’ve found that by just focusing on the 4 notes of the 7th chord (tetrad or tetrachord) I strengthen my understanding of the structure and
Lessons
102: Accenting Triplets
In this practice video I’m working on using hand drums (in this case books) to practice accenting the 2nd triplet. This is similar to Lesson 80 (triplets grouped in 4). I also demonstrate working on triplets grouped in 5’s. I’ve
101: Lydian b13 Cycle 5
In this short lesson, I’m delving into the Lydian b13 scale (1, 9, 3, #11, 5, b13, maj7, 1), in real time, exploring its nuances across all twelve keys. This will give you an idea how I practice when I’m
Skype Lessons
Having taught hundreds of Skype lessons over the last ten years, I’ve come to believe that Skype is a great way to both teach and learn from the comfort of your own home. Although I’m teaching full time at KU
~Lesson 100: Triads
A continual study of triads helps to build an ever strengthening grasp of the underlying structure of both melody and harmony. Using this simple approach will help you explore all the types and inversions of triads as well as the
~Lesson 99: 4 Note Cell
In this lesson we’ll look at 5 different harmonic contexts for a common 4 note cell. This 4 note cell is often thought of as one of the simplest Major 7 #11 voicings (1,Maj 3, #11, Maj 7). In C
-Lesson 98: Trumbauer
This past week in my Jazz Theory and Performance class at KU we looked at a solo recorded in 1927 by Saxophonist Frankie Trumbauer. The entire solo is fantastic, but in this lesson we’ll look at just one idea that
Lesson 97: Bergonzi
I had the wonderful opportunity to meet composer, educator and tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi at the KU Jazz Festival last weekend. The KU faculty and students did big band arrangements of a few of his tunes and, not surprisingly, Jerry
~Lesson 96: Augmented Study
In this lesson we will look at a melodic pattern derived from the (classical) Augmented Scale (not to be confused with the whole tone scale). This scale, which we studied in Lesson 7 , Lesson 56 and Lesson 70, is comprised
~Lesson 95: Random Chords
Playing by ear over tunes you don’t know can be challenging. I’ve found this easy ear training routine to really help in this regard. We’ll be trying to play and correctly label a random dominant 7th chord progression by ear.
~Lesson 94: 7Alt Monk
Taking a short phrase from a popular jazz tune and working it through the keys by alternating between singing and playing is great way to learn a new melody that comes directly from the jazz tradition. This is a simple
~Lesson 93: Scale Pattern
In this lesson we’ll play a simple scale pattern ascending chromatically through all 12 keys. This is a variation on what is often called “diatonic 3rds” although it’s a little bit harder in that it leaps up or down by
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