Learn Jazz Standards Podcast

So what are some practice hacks that can help you improve exponentially faster and not waste your precious practice time? Well, today I'm gonna share with you 5 you've probably never heard of before. In this episode: 1. The Pareto Principle 2. The 5 Filters 3. Filter #1- Goal Setting 4. Filter #2 - Know the 3 Pillars of Jazz Improvisation 5. Filter #3 - What Has Pizza Got to Do With This...

Show DescriptionWelcome to episode 319 where today I go over a common frustration many have which is feeling like their jazz improvisation is not improving, even if they are doing all of the right things. I go over some questions to ask yourself as well as some possible solutions to help bridge the gap. Main Points: 1. The things you should be practicing as a jazz musician 2. Memorizing vs. not me...

So how can you start playing amazing jazz solos using jazz chords to your full advantage? Well, today I'm gonna show you 3 levels to do exactly that. In this episode: 1. Level 1 - Start playing this instead of scales. 2. Level 2 - How to creatively resolve these tones in your lines. 3. Level 3 - Combining Level 1 and 2 and figuring out different ways that you can resolve to them. Important Li...

So what jazz standards can you get super bluesy in your jazz solos? Well, today I'm gonna teach you 4 of those tunes that you need to know. In this episode: 1. Intro 2. Jazz Standard #1 3. Jazz Standard #2 4. Jazz Standard #3 5. Jazz Standard #4 Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way Listen to the Learn Jazz Standa...

Welcome to episode 315 where today I walk us through a harmonic analysis of a bebop jazz standard. Analyzing the function of harmony within jazz standards is a great practice that can help you understand them better. You'll learn some amazing lessons from this jazz standard. Main Points: 1. Benefits of analyzing jazz standards 2. Analyzing Yardbird Suite 3. Backdoor dominants 4. Secondary dom...

So how do you learn jazz solos by ear without sheet music so you can start improving your jazz improv exponentially? Well, today I'm sharing with you my full-step process for doing exactly that. In this episode: 1. Intro 2. Two Things You Need To Become A Better Jazz Improviser 3. The L.I.S.T. Process for Learning Jazz Solos by Ear 4. Step #1: The L 5. Step #2: The I 6. Step #3: The S 7. Step...

Welcome to episode 313 where today I talk about the state of Learn Jazz Standards, where things stand today, and what we are doing in 2022. This is a fun, different kind of episode to kick off the year to help fill you in on all of the exciting things to come. Main Points: 1. The future of the podcast 2. The future of the blog/website 3. The future of the YouTube channel 4. The future of the LJS I...

Welcome to episode 312 where today I talk about how to do a self-audit of your jazz playing. Auditing your playing can be really valuable for honing in on the things you are good at and bad at so you can make action plans to hone in on them. I do a jazz audit on myself and walk you through my process. The New Year is around the corner, and what I want you to realize is that the things that got you...

A huge mistake that many jazz players are making is not utilizing rhythm. So today I'm going to show you 3 common jazz rhythms and how to use them in your solos. In this episode: 1. Jazz Rhythm #1 2. Jazz Rhythm #2 3. Jazz Rhythm #3 4. Rhythmic Motif Exercise 5. Adding Pitches to Exercise Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards t...

Welcome to episode 310 where today I talk about all of the gear I use to play, teach and practice jazz. I go over everything from microphones, amps, guitars, cameras, audio interfaces, and software. I talk about what they are, how I use them, and what I would recommend for you. Today on the podcast we are talking about gear - the gear I use for playing jazz, teaching jazz, and practicing jazz. I&a...

Are you making any of these three critical mistakes when learning jazz? Well, today I'm gonna show you exactly what they are, how to avoid them, and what to do instead. In this episode: 1. Mistake #1 2. Master This For Better Improvisation Skills 3. Mistake #2 4. How To Be More Creative With Your Own Licks 5. Mistake #3 6. How To Gain Freedom From Music Scores 7. The Best Way To Learn Jazz St...

Welcome to episode 308 where today I talk about why the mindset of needing to practice a lot to improve as a jazz musician is potentially a toxic mindset. I go through 3 reasons why practicing less can actually have a much higher impact on your jazz playing. There have been a lot of regrets that I've had during my journey to becoming a better jazz musician. There are a lot of moments I look b...

So how do piano and guitar players learn to comp like jazz pros? Today I'm going to show you 3 things you need to be practicing in order to get there. In this episode: 1. Definition of Comping 2. Comping Tip #1 3. What are Inversions? 4. Comping Tip #2 5. Ascending Off Beat Exercise 6. Comping Tip #3 7. My #1 Tip for Improving Comping Important Links: 1. Subscribe to the Podcast - Apple Podca...

Welcome to episode 306 where today I talk about a 5-step process to help you get "un-stuck" in your jazz playing. Most of us completely resonate with the experience of being stuck on a musical plateau. It can be frustrating and feel like there's not a way out. But in this episode, you'll get a sure-fire process for moving forward. I find that a lot of musicians that come to me...

So how do we go from beginner jazz player, to intermediate, and even advanced? Well, today I'm going to show you exactly how to level up your jazz playing. In this episode: 1. Level #1 Complete Jazz Beginner 2. Level #2 Jazz Beginner 3. Level #3 Jazz Intermediate 4. Level #4 Jazz Advanced 5. #1 Tip for Leveling Up Your Jazz Playing Important Links: 1. Subscribe to the Podcast - Apple Podcasts...

Welcome to episode 304 where today I talk about 5 personality traits that some of my most successful students possess. There are certain members of my Inner Circle community and course students that I see improve faster than everyone else. When I take a deeper look, these general traits they have tend to give them the upper hand. Learn what they are and how you can embrace them. Main Points: 1. Re...

So you get up to play a song at the jam session and you're terrified, sweaty, and nervous. You just don't feel good. You're afraid you're gonna mess up, screw up, and embarrass yourself. In this video, we will talk about how to get over performance anxiety so we feel confident and fearless. In this episode: 1. Intro 2. Overcoming Jazz Performance Anxiety Tip #1 3. Overcoming Ja...

Welcome to episode 302 where today I walk you through an in-depth process for how to learn chord progressions by ear. For some learning any music by ear is difficult, but when it comes to hearing chords and chord progressions, it can be even more challenging. You'll learn some tips to make it easier and a step-by-step process for how to get started. Main Points: 1. Using backing tracks instea...

There are some jazz standards that are so commonly called the jam sessions that you cannot get away with not knowing them. So, today I'm going to go over ten jazz standards from beginner to advanced. In this episode: 1. Jazz Standard # 1 2. Jazz Standard # 2 3. Jazz Standard # 3 4. Jazz Standard # 4 5. Jazz Standard # 5 6. Jazz Standard #6 7. Jazz Standard # 7 8. Jazz Standard # 8 9. Jazz Sta...

Welcome to episode 300 where today we're celebrating this huge milestone of the podcast with two very special guests, both members of team LJS - Brett Pontecorvo and Justin Kellerer. We recorded this episode live for our Inner Circle members and go behind the scenes and reveal the history of LJS and how it works. Listen to episode 300Learn Jazz Standards started back in 2010 as a simple blog....

How do you play scales over jazz chords so that you are playing the right notes but not making it sound like you are just playing scales? Well, today I'm going to show you a melodic approach to making scales musical. In this episode: 1. Intro 2. The Big Problem with Scales 3. Taking Scales into Context 4. The Right Way to Think About Scales in Jazz 5. First Step to Making Scales Musical 6. Us...

Welcome to episode 298 where we go back in the vault to 2016 with an interview by the renowned jazz guitarist Peter Bernstein. This was one of the first shows of the LJS Podcast, and a tremendously amazing opportunity to sit down with one of the jazz guitar greats. Peter shares his musical knowledge and insights about being a jazz musician. Important Links: LJS Inner Circle Membership Free Guide t...

So how do you play killer bebop solos like Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie?  Well, today I'm going to show you a simple bebop hack that will help you start playing amazing bebop solos instantly. In this episode: 1. Intro  2. Target Notes and Approach Notes  3. 2 Different Kinds of Approach Tones  4. Using Enclosure  5. Chromatic Approach Tone Exercise  6. Analyzing the Approach Tone Exerci...

Welcome to episode 295 where today I discuss 5 "filters" for knowing what you should practice. There are so many things out there to practice, and sometimes when told what to practice it can seem generic and not catered specifically to you. So in this episode, you'll learn 5 filters to help you assess what to practice to shorten your jazz learning curve. In this episode: 1. Your Mas...

If you're like most people who are strapped for time to practice, then you may wonder, how do I improve my jazz skills while practicing less? Well, today I'm going to show you a practice routine that packs a huge punch in only 30 minutes. In this episode: 1. What is the Inner Circle Power Plan 2. Practice session #1 3. Jazz practice mindset 1 4. Practice session #2 5. Practice session #3...