I frequently encounter students that are working on 4 mallet playing, but they're having trouble bringing the technique into their soloing. The play the head with four mallets and solo with 2.

Bringing all the mallets into play is a difficult but doable task. When you work out 4 mallets over a head you're already working on this problem. All you do then is examine how you used the mallets on the head and start applying it to soloing. It's a process that can be done. In this audio podcast I talk about that.

Watch the workshop here

Chris is a monster sax player. Played with Maynard Ferfuson and Jill Scott just to name 2 groups. He's a Philly guy and is probably the best young tenor around here.

He'll talk Wed. about playing over dominant chords and how he approaches them. It's based on the lesson I have up here on Dominant Chords, the lesson is linked under 'Check this out'.

My practice time is inversely proportional to the number of posts per day on this site. So keep it down ;-). I had a nice practice tonight. Some scales, some tunes.

One thing led to another and I started playing Norwegian Wood in 6ths. I think I might add this one to my office's Christmas party cocktail hour gig. Enclosed is an arrangement I came up with. I later heard the original and found I played it in the wrong key (C vs. original E). I think I might keep it in C since it lays nicely.

What is the common point between those three songs:
- Autumn Leaves
- Beyond the Sea
- I wish you love

N.B.: Tifoo, and maybe Pap, this one is too easy for you, please let some time for the others to answer! Thanks! :o)

Hi all!

I visited the www.rossmallets.com site and it turned out that apparently Ross vibes are no longer available but there is another brand called Majestic that belongs to Jupiter who has a new series of vibes.

Check it out: http://www.jupitermusic.com/majestic/

It seems that I bought an already no more existing "vintage" brand vibe - probably bad for reselling :-(

Cheers Stefan

Hopefully if this is after the Chris masterclass there will be a recording of it. If you don't see one, then email tony at tony@tonymiceli.com and check if there is one.

Here are 2 lessons for dominant chords.

Any jazz musician has been tripped up by the bridge of Rhythm Changes, the 4 dominant chords. It's easy to fake your way through the bridge and difficult to weave your way through the bridge.

Make sure you study dominant chords and scales and ways of getting through them!

I simply grouped to lessons that would be in two different places here for you to check out.

Work hard on the modes. They are the foundation of the line!!

Locrian the crazy scale! The 7th scale degree of the major scale.

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Chinese translation for Chinese students

如果拿Locrian 音階和大調（major）音階來比較，Locrian音階多了降2降3降5降6降7音。

因為沒有完全五度（根音跟五音中間），所以聲響上沒有被解決的感覺。

單單只打這個音階覺得沒有被解決，所以通常用在minor7b5- dominant7b9,

例如Cminor7b5- Fdominant7b9 - Bbminor7

Locrian 是比較難的音階，可以練習在不同調式之間轉換，熟悉不同調式音階的聲音。

Aolian the 6th scale degree of the major scale.

Chinese translation for Chinese students.

Aeolian是大調音階降3,降6,降7
在爵士樂中，比Phrygian多，比Dorian用的少。
Aeolian和Dorian的不同是Dorian沒有降6音, Phrygian多了降2音,

I analyze Giant Steps.

Go slow and play everything. Then work on the tune in 12 keys.

This is for advanced players. I move fast.