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.

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?

Next pop up class is May 24th 7pm EDT

Ok guys,

next tune is Chi Chi by Charlie Parker.

Memorize the melody and the chords.
Post something here where you play the melody and play the chords. It has to be memorized. And you have to post before the class. :-)
If you don't want to do that, then the pop up class is 25 dollars a session. Get it? Do the work and you get in for free :-).

Pop up classes are informal classes to study a tune. If I get a gig, I would move the class or just turn it over to the students to hang and talk.

What's cool about this lesson is you never hear and bad note out of Andrei and he's playing the same triad over and over. Check him out on YouTube. He's a really great player. He plays classical and jazz. I'm especially blown away by his classical playing and he's also a great improviser.

Adapt then Change! :-)