Hi everyone, I hope everyone is having a great summer.

I just wanted to let you know that my duo CD with guitarist Brad Shepik has been released and is available in digital and/or Compact Disc formats over at our website http://www.beckhamshepik.com. You can also purchase from CD Baby as well.

The new album is called "Flower Starter" and here is a link to a short intro video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBa-r1lw9U4

Hope you enjoy it!

- Tom Beckham

Memorize it! Study it.

Ok with this etude:

Enter the chords in the music. Study the notes, mark altered chords etc.
Memorize the solo.
Play the head first. Play the solo. Hear the tune?
Now play it with the bass part.

You should know the chords.

Enter the chords on the pdf with the extensions. It's important to know what the fundamental chord it. That is the chord as it appears on a lead sheet and then to know what extensions I added.

Play the etude, memorize it if you can!

Play it with the bass track.

Transpose the voicings if you can.

Attached is a PDF. Listen to the simple audio file AFTER you play the melody to the tune or listen to it on CD.

Here the changes? Lots of rootless voicings there but you hear the harmony. Rootless voicings are a little magical to me.

Write the chords in from a lead sheet but add my chord extensions so you know exactly what is there.

Memorize the voicings and then add your own rhythms.

If you are really a hard work, transpose everything into another key.

Practicing the beautiful composition "Emily" by Johnny Mandel. Of course inspired by the brilliant version of the great Bill Evans.

A little rendition of "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning" before teaching a long day at Berklee. Thanks to the great pianist Keith Jarrett for the inspiration and nice changes.