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Matt Otto

Matt Otto

Free Jazz Education and Music

  • Bio
  • Skype Lessons
  • Jazz Studies at KU
  • Bass Drones
  • Play Alongs
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    • Bio
    • Drum and Bass Play Along in 4/4
    • Zoom Lessons
    • Play Along CD – in 7/4

Blogs

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By: Otto

11 Days for Big Band.

I’m working on a big band pieces for large ensemble. Here’s the first one. To Support the Blog Visit The Store

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  • Lessons
By: Otto

Blues in all 12 keys – play along

This is a simple educational play along – blues in all 12 keys – swing at 144 bpm

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  • Blues in 12 keys
  • Drones and Play Alongs
By: Otto

Lesson 125: Blues for Alice

Two of my friends, Peter Schlamb and Matt Villinger, mentioned working on Blues for Alice by Charlie Parker during The Pandemic. They’ve been playing it…

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  • -Lesson 125: Blues for Alice
  • Jazz Tunes
  • Lessons
By: Otto

Aeon, an Original Piece for Marimba and Saxophone

I wrote a short original piece for my friend and Marimba player Michael Compitello. Mike is an amazing musician whom I’ve had the honor of working with at KU. This is a duo piece which is a study in cycle 5 motion using minor harmony.

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  • Albums and Recordings
By: Otto

Lesson 124: Shell + triad

By playing a G7 Shell (1,3,b7) and adding a triad over that basic structure, you can create a lot of harmonic voicings and melodic material.

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  • -Lesson 124: Shell + triad
  • -Lesson: 105
  • Lessons
  • ~Lesson 105: Shell and Triad
By: Otto

Lessons Available Now $30

Covid19 has ended my gigging life for now and so I have more time to teach. Skype/Zoom/Hangouts are great ways to both teach and learn…

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  • Private Lessons
By: Otto

Lesson 123: Ear Warm Up

A warm up that activates both your ear and your sound. Trying to discover smarter ways to warm up and do ear training is often…

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  • -Lesson 123: Ear Warm Up
  • Lessons
  • ~Lesson 102: Warm Up Ear Training
By: Otto

Lesson 122: Melody: Triplets grouped in 5

A Simple Major Melody: Exploring Diatonic Enclosures and Descending 6ths I’ve been working on a little melodic exercise that I think you’ll find really useful.…

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  • -Lesson 122: Triplets Grouped in 5
  • -Lesson 122: Triplets in 5s
  • Lessons 100 - 150
  • ~Lesson 101: Maj Melody
By: Otto

Composition using the 7 diatonic chords from the major scale.

This is an original composition of mine using a common writing tool. all the chords and melody to this piece come from one major scale.

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  • Original Sheet Music
  • Quarantime
By: Otto

Lesson 165: Harmonic Major Modes Over 2-5-1 in Minor

Harmonic Major modes over 2-5-1 in Minor. I’ve been working on using the 7 modes of Harmonic Major over various chords as alternate scale choices.…

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  • Lessons
By: Otto

7 Note Diminished Scale

Steve Cardenas, one of my favorite guitar players, taught me how to create a 7 note diminished scale. These scales work over Dominant b9 (half/whole)…

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  • Lessons
  • ~Lesson 103: 7 Note Diminished
By: Otto

Composition “Cuba Reborn”

This a short tune I wrote at the piano for my father Bruce’s birthday. The melody with the bass note creates triad inversions. That was…

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  • Original Sheet Music

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Here's a short Etude over I Love You - Ku Trombone Here's a short Etude over I Love You - Ku Trombone player Eli Lockhart, Asa Martin and Aidan Hamer learned it by ear and played it great! There's a free pdf on my blog m a t t o t t o . o r g
Playing the Majestic 6 to 10 tonight w Zach B. Mor Playing the Majestic 6 to 10 tonight w Zach B. Morrow and Sebastian Arias .
This is an etude I wrote for Alto saxophonist Keeg This is an etude I wrote for Alto saxophonist Keegan Kaiser. It's one chorus of 8th notes and uses the bebop scale, chromatic approach notes, bebop enclosures, diatonic cycle 4 motion (through dorian), the altered scale and tetrad (4 note cell) ideas. We worked on this together for a semester singing it and playing it and have finally began putting it through some other keys. Taking individual phrases through the keys is another valuable method for working with an etude over time.
This is a short etude I wrote over the chord chang This is a short etude I wrote over the chord changes to My Shining Hour in concert C. The etude utilizes a lot of modern-ish concepts in terms of the rhythmic groupings and harmonic/triadic substitutions. You'll find several uses of #9 on major, #11 on minor, Maj7 on -7, sequential fourths grouped in 5 or 7, #5 on Maj7, b6 on -7, plus regular harmonic tensions and standard melodic material. There are also several points where the harmony is anticipated or suspended by several beats. The PDF contains the melodic line and the common chord progression with no analysis.
After 2pm Owen/Cox Dance Group Nutcracker, We'll b After 2pm Owen/Cox Dance Group Nutcracker, We'll be at Corvino's tonight from 7pm to 9:30pm w Ben Leifer, Jaylen Ward, Eddie Moore.
Here's a Rhythm Changes Etude I wrote for Bari Sax Here's a Rhythm Changes Etude I wrote for Bari Sax player Andrea Edwards. Andrea is a senior at KU and is studying both classical and Jazz saxophone. You can visit my blog for a free PDF of the etude.
Here's a short Etude I wrote for Nic over the chor Here's a short Etude I wrote for Nic over the chord changes to Recorda Me (Joe Henderson). The Etude uses some triad pairs from the 4th mode of Harmonic Major over the first 8 bars (as well as the classical augmented scale). The bridge uses some simple triadic ideas. I'll post a free pdf on my blog for anyone interested in checking it out.
Conception etude. pdf at mattotto . o r g Conception etude. pdf at mattotto . o r g
Here's a fun Etude I wrote for KU Major Spencer Ad Here's a fun Etude I wrote for KU Major Spencer Addis over Conception by George Shearing. I wrote this in real time during our lessons and Spencer learned it by ear. This is a good method for learning as it's memorized from the very onset of learning the material. We added about 8 bars each week and finally had the whole chorus after a month or so. After that we just kept playing it and speeding it up while also singing phrases and playing phrases through 12 keys. We used the Bb-7 A7 Ab-7 G7 changes in Bars 7 and 8 although the OG changes are all Dominant 7th chords. I'll post a transcription on my blog later this week.
Got the new trio CD - The Landscape Listens. Feat Got the new trio CD - The Landscape Listens. Featuring Abe Rabade on Piano on Xose Miguelez and myself on Tenor sax. We recorded this in Portugal over the summer each contributing two original pieces to the project. It's available on Band Camp and in the usual web locations.
Instagram post 18036261956239115 Instagram post 18036261956239115
Recorded some original music for a new album today Recorded some original music for a new album today in Portugal with Xose Miguelez (tenor) and Abe Rabade (piano).
Recorda Me w Matt Villinger. #jazzmusic Recorda Me w Matt Villinger. #jazzmusic
Playing at Chaz on the Plaza tonight from 6pm to 1 Playing at Chaz on the Plaza tonight from 6pm to 10pm w Matt Villinger. #jazzmusic
Soul Eyes by Mal Waldron on my old Mark 6 soprano Soul Eyes by Mal Waldron on my old Mark 6 soprano from a few years back. #jazzmusic
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Lessons

  • Lesson 167: Giant Steps – Cycle 5 Melody
  • Lesson 166: Thriving After College
  • Lesson 165: Harmonic Major Modes Over 2-5-1 in Minor
  • Lesson 164: Yardbird Suite Etude
  • Lesson 163: Blues For Alice Etude
  • Lesson 162: Rhythm Changes Etude.
  • Lesson 161: Recorda Me Etude.
  • Lesson 160: Conception Etude
  • Lesson 159: Lee Konitz – Sing a phrase – play it back.
  • Lesson 158: Cycle 5 – Harmonic Major
  • Lesson 157: 96 Melodies from any 4 Notes.
  • Lesson 156: Staying Relaxed While Playing Saxophone
  • Lesson 155: Blues Etude using Diminished and Triad Pairs
  • Lesson 154: Major 7 b9 Melody
  • Lesson 153: Minor Pentatonic Warm Up
  • Lesson 152: Maj Triad add #11 Tetrad
  • Lesson 150: Blues Etude – 4 note cell
  • Lesson 149: What is This Thing Called Love.
  • Lesson 148: I Hear A Rhapsody – Etude
  • Lesson 146 Part 4: Countdown, Giant Steps, Tri-Tonic
  • Lesson 146 Part 3: Countdown, Giant Steps, Tri-tonic
  • Lesson 146 Part 2: Countdown, Giant Steps, Tri-Tonic
  • Lesson 146 Part 1: Countdown, Giant Steps, Tri-Tonic
  • Lesson 145: Major Melody using #9, #11 and #5
  • Lesson 144: Barry Harris – Chromatic Chord Scales
  • Lesson 143: The Sus Chord – G7sus4
  • Lesson 142: Dominant Shell add #11
  • Lesson 141: Major #9 Melody
  • Lesson 140: Cycle 4 Melody – Altered
  • Lesson 139: Simple 3 chord Tune “Melisma”
  • Lesson 138: 6 Bar Tune
  • Lesson 137: All The Things You Are
  • Lesson 136: Woody and You
  • Lesson 135: Practicing Major Scale Melodies
  • Lesson 134: Chet Baker – Just Friends
  • Lesson 133: Singing all tensions on a Dominant 7th chord.
  • Lesson 132: Using Space
  • Lesson 131 b: 4-3 Suspension on Mrs. Jones?
  • Lesson 131 a: “Mrs. Jones” Natural 9
  • Lesson 130: Using the 9 on every chord
  • Lesson 129: Varijashree Venugopal – Sings Naima
  • Lesson 128: C Major Triad add #11
  • 127 Amazing Scale Warm Up!
  • 126: Practice PDFs
  • Lesson 125: Blues for Alice
  • Lesson 124: Shell + triad
  • Lesson 123: Ear Warm Up
  • Lesson 122: Melody: Triplets grouped in 5
  • Lesson 121: Fool To Want You
  • Lesson 120: Singing/Tapping
  • Lesson 119: Relative Pitch
  • Lesson118: All Intervals
  • Lesson 117: Major 9 #5 Melody
  • Lesson 116: The Four Half Diminished Scales
  • 115: Melodic Minor Modes
  • Lesson 114: Groupings of 5/8 Over 4/4
  • Lesson 113: Triads Through Scales
  • Lesson 112: Dominant Pentatonic: The “McCoy Tyner” Scale.
  • Lesson 111: 2nd Inversion Triads
  • Lesson 110b: Repetition – How to do it efficiently and effectively.
  • Lesson 110: Posture, Balance, Breath – Staying Focused and Calm
  • Lesson 109: Relax, Wait, Listen – Staying Focused and Calm
  • Lesson 108: Stardust Phrase – 12 Keys
  • Lesson 107: Car Practice
  • Lesson 106: Warm Up With Major7ths + Altered Scales
  • Lesson 105: 1,9,5,13 Tetrad
  • Lesson 104: Modes of Harmonic Minor
  • Lesson 103: -7b5 chords
  • Lesson 102: Accenting Triplets
  • Lesson 101: Lydian b13 Cycle 5
  • ~Lesson 100: Triads
  • ~Lesson 99: 4 Note Cell
  • -Lesson 98: Trumbauer
  • Lesson 97: Bergonzi
  • ~Lesson 96: Augmented Study
  • ~Lesson 95: Random Chords
  • ~Lesson 94: 7Alt Monk
  • ~Lesson 93: Scale Pattern
  • ~Lesson 92: the 3rd and 5th
  • ~Lesson 91: Yusef Lateef Scale
  • ~Lesson 90: Blues Tina Brooks
  • ~Lesson 89: Altered Melody
  • ~Lesson 88: Bach Theme
  • ~Lesson 87: ii-7 V7 Melody
  • ~Lesson 86: Bird Line (2)
  • ~Lesson 85: Intervallic Ideas
  • Lesson 84: Miles -Trane
  • Lesson 84: Visa – Charlie Parker
  • ~Lesson 83: No Tongue
  • ~Lesson 82: Maj7 #5 Pentatonic
  • Lesson 80 -Triplets in 4’s
  • Lesson 79: Broken Arpeggio
  • Lesson 78: 8th Note Feel
  • Lesson 77: Triadic Blues
  • Lesson 76: 30 Day Challenge
  • Lesson 75: Cycle Wheel pt.3 (Cycle 4 and 5)
  • Lesson 74: Cycle Wheel Pt.2 (Cycle 3 and 6)
  • Lesson 73: Cycle Wheel Pt.1 (Cycle 2 and 7)
  • Lesson 72: 3 Note Cell
  • Lesson 71: E Modal Melody
  • Lesson 70: Etudes
  • -Lesson 70: Augmented Melody
  • Lesson 69: A Major
  • Lesson 68: -7b5 nat 9 nat 13
  • Lesson 67: min triad add 9
  • Lesson 66: Minor Major 9
  • Lesson 65: Stage Fright
  • Lesson 64: Book ii-V-I
  • Lesson 63: Nat 9 ~ Flat 9
  • Lesson 62: Masterclass
  • Lesson 61: “Drop 2” Voicing
  • -Lesson 60: Diatonic Sequence
  • -Lesson 59: Spread Tri-tone
  • -Lesson 58: Triad Diminished
  • -Lesson 57: Scale Routine
  • -Lesson 56: Giant Steps Etude
  • -Lesson 55: ii – V7#5 -i dim
  • -Lesson 54: Triad w Neighbors
  • Lesson 53: pentatonic
  • Lesson 52: Enclosures
  • Lesson 51: Maj 7 #5 melody
  • Lesson 50: Wide Intervals
  • Lesson 49: sus4
  • Lesson 48: -7b5
  • Lesson 47: Dizzys’ Bebop
  • Lesson 46: Altered Melody
  • Lesson 45: Bird Line
  • Lesson 44: Simple ii – V7
  • Lesson 43: Diminished
  • Lesson 42: Synthetic Scale
  • Lesson 41: Shell + Tension
  • Lesson 40: HW diminished
  • Lesson 39: Bach Cello Suite
  • Lesson 38: 1st Inv Triads
  • Lesson 37: Singing Modes
  • Lesson 36: ii-V-i Harmonic Min.
  • Lesson 35: ii-V-i Harmonic Min
  • Lesson 34: V7 Altered Scale
  • Lesson 33: Rhythmic Grouping
  • Lesson 32: Bach – Minor V7 – i
  • Lesson 31: Bach Sing-Play
  • Lesson 30: Sing and Play
  • Lesson 29: Maj #5 #9 #11
  • Lesson 28: My Shining Hour
  • Lesson 27: 4ths-Maj7
  • Lesson 26: Relative Pitch
  • Lesson 25: 13 #11 Displaced
  • Lesson 24: Major Melody
  • Lesson 23: Harmonic Maj
  • Lesson 22: ii – V – I Chromatic
  • Lesson 21: V7 Chromatic
  • Lesson 20: V7 to i using -3rds
  • Lesson 19: Maj7 #9 #11 Melody
  • Lesson 18: Long Tones 2
  • Lesson 17: Intervallic Melody
  • Lesson 16: Long Tones
  • Lesson 15: Drones and Pedals
  • Lesson 14: Diminished Melody
  • Lesson 13: Lydian Melody in 5ths
  • Lesson 12: Embellished Triad
  • Lesson 11: Major b9, b13
  • Lesson 10: Whole Tone Melody
  • Lesson 9: Arpeggiating Voicings
  • Lesson 8: ii-V7 using triads
  • Lesson 7: C7 using Maj7(#5)
  • Lesson 6: Minor ii-V-i
  • Lesson 5: 13th Arpeggios
  • Lesson 4: Cycle Melody
  • Lesson 3: Rhythm Changes
  • Lesson 2: Diatonic 4ths
  • Lesson 1: Spread Triads

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https://mattotto.bandcamp.com/
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