Learning the vocabulary of jazz is one of my favorite -- and, I would argue, most rewarding -- things to do in the practice room. Just like human language, jazz vocabulary allows us to musically understand one another, know how to react to one another, and keep ourselves from saying something stupid. From Monk-ish quirks to the pentatonic idiosyncrasies of Coltrane, jazz history is, in many ways, synonymous with jazz language -- you can see the evolution of the music, the cultural influences, the “family tree” of players, etc.

1. make sure you're posted your version of yourself playing the melody and the chords. Otherwise if you can not play the tune: click here to pay the $25 entrance fee for tonights class. If you have recorded Chi Chi and posted it on the site then you are fine to attend for free. Leave your camera off if you have paid and are auditing the class.

What is your biggest complaint about your instrument frame? What repairs have you been putting off because parts are too hard to find or too expensive to purchase? I've heard many complaints over the years and I want to offer solutions to all these problems. I'm not interested in cosmetic issues like chipping paint or color of the bars. I'm more interested in the sound of the instrument and performance of the frame. These are things I can help with. I want PIPERvibe.com to be the place everyone goes for upgrades, improvements, parts and repairs at a REASONABLE price.

My rendition of Etude #14 from Friedman's Dampening and Pedaling.

Here's an etude I recently composed for the vibraphone in F minor. It begins with arpeggios, switches to an expressive melody, then to a chorus section, and back to arpeggios. Four mallets and an understanding of pedaling required.

I've attached an .mp3 and a .pdf of the etude. The mp3 is *mostly* accurate.

I think of things like you guys do. I think of them all day long and I'm sure you guys do as well. I am preparing for the Team Omega workshop and I'm writing down all these notes and ideas.

So this is something I thoroughly believe and I'm thinking of having guys keep a journal during the workshop and write there thoughts and my thoughts in them as well as any one's thoughts and then think about them BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY act on them.

So you guys are my test subjects.
What does this mean?
How do you do it?
What is the outcome?