'Just Enough Piano' To 'Understand Jazz'!

A Simple Understanding!

For many, the hardest part about learning to play jazz on any instrument is trying to get to the 'simple and clear understanding' of Jazz that we all need before we can actually make meaningful progress with our practice time! There are a lot of frustrated jazz players out there - I know, because I used to be one of them!

The Cure For Jazz Frustration!

Don't get me wrong - I am not a seasoned jazz artist, but I did finally learn how to 'understand jazz' in a way that now makes it accessible, creative and fun! In other words, I now hold the absolute cure for 'jazz frustration' and I am willing to help you have, and enjoy having, the cure as well!

Jazz Etudes!

In the video, below, I am improvising jazz on the alto saxophone, and it is material like this that often turns into the kind of easy-to-learn and easy-to-analyze jazz etudes that I create as vehicles to help others understand jazz. You might notice that it does not sound exactly like any one style of jazz [dixieland, swing, bebop, modern, etc]. This is because I am highlighting 'jazz principles' that are contained within all jazz styles instead of just reproducing a preexisting formula. When you learn these 'jazz principles' for yourself, you can then analyze any great jazz artist's formula and borrow whatever you wish to add to your own sound!

he Piano Makes It All Clear!

It wasn't until I 'sat behind the piano', that all the jazz I wanted to play on jazz saxophone, jazz trumpet and jazz guitar started to make perfect sense. It's too bad that I waited so, so long to finally step behind the piano and learn the simple truth about jazz! Oh well, regardless, it [the whole thing, including the frustration] has certainly been a great adventure!

Just A Few Virtual Lessons!

I will swing back later to write more. But for now, imagine how a few virtual music lessons [where we learn and analyze a simple etude like this] can help you finally 'understand jazz' in a way that makes it creative and fun like it is supposed to be! One of my favorite things is watching students discover that they can use this 'jazz understanding' to create their own jazz compositions! That's fun!

I Can Help You 'Learn & Analyze One Or More Etudes'!

The etudes [practice pieces] listed below are just 8 measures in length. This means that they are short as well as easy to learn. Once you have learned how to play at least one etude, we can then use it a great vehicle for establishing your understanding of jazz!

• Etude No.1a: Double Time Jazz [8 bars]

• Etude No. 1b: Jazz Conversion [8 bars]

• Etude No. 2: Cool Swing [8 bars]

• Etude No. 3: Jazz Ballad [8 bars]

• Etude No. 4: Uptempo Jazz [8 bars]

More Etudes: Standard Chord Progressions!

Once a student has learned the short etudes, listed above, it's time to apply all of the lessons learned to standard chord progressions. Here, see video below, is an example of just that on a basic 12 bar blues progression similar to what what used in Duke Ellington's C Jam Blues! Students, at this point, are also encouraged to create their own compositions as well, on their own and/or with a little help.

Stay Tuned For More!