Most Popular Lessons

Trying to sort some stuff out, but I have some things in mind over the xmas break. I'm finished teaching at school (Univ of the Arts) and have a month off.

I'd like to get on line a lot over the month and hang out with subscribers. Maybe Piper and Saindon and Joe will join me for some? That's in the works. Just have to get my schedule together.

I've asked Patty Franceschy to do some lessons during these meet ups with the stevens grip.
I even asked Harvey Price who just wrote a book of Milt transcriptions to do some mini Milt lessons!

This is a great lesson by Behn Gillece on some approaches to solo playing as well as voicings.

Here are the major scales and some ideas on how you could practice these scales.

Here is a simple exercise for brushing up on triads and also good for technique!

Step 1. Play any triad (ex. F)
Step 2. Take the 3rd of that triad and begin a new triad based off of that note!
Example: First triad is F then second triad is an A triad.
Step 3. Take the 3rd of the 2nd traid and build a triad off of that note.
Example: Second triad is A then 3rd triad is C#(Db).
Step 4. The next triad in the series would be the same as the first triad so you are back to the beginning! (ex. F) So just continue for another octave and then start a new triad!

Example:

Several years ago 1980's, I did a lot of transcribing. I found a great way was to start in the beginning of the Jazz Era and work your way up. We had a great library in Pasadena, CA and I checked out a bunch of early jazz from around early 1900s starting with "Cylinder Jazz" (before vinyl recording were done on wire and cylinder) and started transcribing melodies that were descendants of slaves' field chants.