Most Popular Lessons

Steve Weiss Mallet Workshop Preview Pt. 1 by Behn Gillece

Hello all,

Just a quick lesson on ending ballads (or any tune, really). I demonstrate a few different options for the final chords on a ballad so you don't always have to end on 1 or the b2. Let me know if there are any questions!

Tune Study - The Jody Grind Pt. 1

This is a solo vibe piece Tony Miceli commissioned me to write for him. Let me know what you guys think! These are the program notes I wrote for the piece:

This piece was written in April of 2024 upon commission from Tony Miceli, professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. While taking private lessons with him, we began experimenting with timbral effects on the vibraphone, and one of my assignments was to write a solo vibraphone piece surrounding this idea. Thus, this piece was born.

🚨 Soloing Through the Changes Pt. 3 – Diatonic 7th Chord Outlinings on “Minority”

In Part 3, we take our soloing a step further by outlining each chord using full 7th chord arpeggios, adding more shape and melodic possibility to our lines. Still working with Minority, this lesson is about expanding from guide tones to complete harmonic outlines—while keeping strong voice leading in mind.

🚨 Soloing Through the Changes Pt. 2 – Guide Tones in a Standard: “Minority”

In Part 2 of the series, we move beyond the blues and apply our guide tone approach to a jazz standard. This time, we’re using Gigi Gryce’s Minority—a minor-key tune with rich harmonic movement and ii–V progressions that challenge your voice leading.

Check out the attached PDF!

Check out the attached PDF!

🚨 New Tune Deep Dive Series! 🚨
Pt. 1: “Wave” – Establishing Form & Groove

We’re kicking off a brand-new Tune Deep Dive with Antônio Carlos Jobim’s Wave—a bossa nova classic that’s as groovy as it is deceptively tricky. This tune has a 44-bar form (A – A – B – A, with 12-bar A sections and an 8-bar bridge), so memorizing the structure is step one.

I would see David performing this when we would play duo concerts. 

It's a cool improv that is also a great study.