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Online Course

Beginning Improvisation

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Knowing scales isn't the same as knowing how to improvise.

You might already know the theory. You know your chord tones. You know which scale fits which chord. You can figure out what the "right" notes are. But when it's actually time to solo, something different happens. You freeze. You fall back on the same patterns. It sounds like you're calculating instead of playing.

What's Inside the Course

Welcome

  1. video lesson How to Get the Most Out of this Course
  2. download lesson Worksheets
  3. video lesson My Approach to Soloing
  4. video lesson Listening Exercise: Chet Baker on Tangerine

Navigating the Harmony

  1. video lesson Chord Tones Only
  2. video lesson Quarter Note Runs
  3. video lesson Eighth Note Runs
  4. video lesson With Extensions and Alterations
  5. video lesson Practicing over a Rhythmic Transcription

In-Between Notes

  1. video lesson What are in-between notes?
  2. video lesson Half-Step Approaches
  3. video lesson Whole-Step Approaches
  4. video lesson Practicing Approach Notes

Understanding Rhythm & Articulation

  1. video lesson Swing Articulation
  2. video lesson Syncopation
  3. video lesson 8th Notes vs 8th Note Triplets

Implying the Harmony

  1. video lesson Chord Tones on the Beat
  2. video lesson Common Mistake
  3. video lesson Approaches
  4. video lesson Enclosures
  5. video lesson Extended Enclosures
  6. video lesson Combining Movements

Understanding Scales

  1. video lesson Introduction to Scales
  2. video lesson Finding Key Centers
  3. video lesson Picking Scales for Key Centers
  4. video lesson Dominant Scale

Using Scales

  1. video lesson Scale Running
  2. video lesson Dominant Gravity
  3. video lesson 3-3-3

Colorful Scales

  1. video lesson Preparing for Scale Choices
  2. video lesson Pentatonic Scales
  3. video lesson Whole Tone Scales
  4. video lesson Diminished Scales
  5. video lesson Altered Scale
  6. video lesson Lydian Dominant Scale
  7. video lesson Blues Scale

Conclusion

  1. video lesson Congratulations... What's Next

The reason most people can't improvise isn't what they think.

Learning more theory won't help you play better solos. Instead, we must get our ears and hands connected to the jazz language within you.

Starting with just chord tones and simple rhythms, expanding systematically through approach notes, enclosures, scale choices, and rhythmic vocabulary. Not as concepts to memorize. As sounds to internalize. By the time you're working through the final sections, improvising will feel more like telling a story, than navigating theory.

After 3 months of working through the workshops and training lessons, a great amount of hand independence became noticeable. Now I feel more confident to let my left hand play on auto-pilot while I explore with my right hand.

In the past, I would work through a song, measure by measure, until I had it memorized. Now I focus on structure and fundamental skills. My practice has become more focused.

Mark G

I had a strong knowledge of music theory, but a repertoire of zero. The live workshops fixed that.

Mark A

I have learned and executed far more with you teaching than any other self-learning or online instruction... Despite being able to play tunes from scores like the Beegie Adair version of My Romance, I have much to learn about Real book comping. But I am on my way, thanks to you.

Wayne L

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