Subscribers

Bb Rhythm Changes - had a great improv class this semester. It's a joy to teach when the students come to class inquisitive and motivated to learn. Throughout the semester some of the improv concepts that we worked on included Four Note Groupings (FNGs), Major 7th #5 Superimposition, Tension Resolution, Motivic Playing and Reharmonization Concepts. Yesterday the students were asking what to play on Bb rhythm changes so we selected Bird's Anthropology and applied some of the concepts that we covered in the semester.

Play this as fast as you can. It trips me up!

Here's a variation on the first chord etude. Notice the different voicings used here to give the harmony some different motion.

Another bit of practicing in between videoing lessons.

Here is part two of the guide tones etude. Notice more have been added, with approach tones getting in and out of them.

Chinese translation for Chinese students

在這個網站中，很重要的一個練習是“開離密集的和弦”（open-closed voicing）。
Tony說他練這個練習，練了好幾年。
如果你想要真的成為一個很厲害的鐵琴家，你要專心練一個東西，
練很多很多年，鑽研的很深，你就會成功。
像是Tony他自己就是練這個open-closed練習。至於他的另外一個學生Behn就是練Gary Burton的chega de saudade solo練了兩年，從裡面學到非常非常多東西。

所以Tony在這邊要說的，就是你要選一個項目，
值得你鑽研好幾，你會從中學到很多很多。