Hey guys,

I’m Rupert Lo, and I’m really happy to be part of the faculty here. I’m a vibraphonist, percussionist, and composer based in New York City. I’ll be sharing some of the things I’ve learned along the way—practice concepts, creative approaches, and hopefully some inspiration for your own playing. I also keep a few private lesson spots open each month for students of all ages and levels. My email is below, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to connect!

Hey guys,

I’m Rupert Lo, and I’m really happy to be part of the faculty here. I’m a vibraphonist, percussionist, and composer based in New York City. I’ll be sharing some of the things I’ve learned along the way—practice concepts, creative approaches, and hopefully some inspiration for your own playing. I also keep a few private lesson spots open each month for students of all ages and levels. My email is below, so don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to connect!

🚨 Tune Deep Dive: “Wave” – Pt. 7: Harmonic Tension & Resolution 🚨

In Part 7, we shift focus to tension notes and their resolutions. By weaving in altered tones (♯11, ♭9, and other upper extensions), you’ll hear how dissonance naturally pulls toward resolution. This creates expressive solo lines that sound deeply connected to the harmony instead of just running scales.

In this lesson we’ll:

🚨 Tune Deep Dive: “Wave” – Pt. 6: Soloing with Motifs 🚨

In Part 6, we focus on building solos using motifs—short melodic ideas that you can develop, repeat, and vary throughout the form. This exercise takes one simple motif and applies it across all the chords of the A section, showing how a small, clear idea can be adapted to fit shifting harmony.

Detailed Summary: The Genesis and Evolution of the Vibraphone

The Genesis and Evolution of the Vibraphone

The history of the vibraphone is characterized by intense commercial competition, continuous technological refinement, and pivotal artistic innovation [1]. It evolved from a novel percussion instrument into a sophisticated concert tool through a "symbiotic and competitive co-evolutionary process" [2].

🚨 Tune Deep Dive: “Wave” – Pt. 5: Scale and Arpeggio Options 🚨

In Part 5, we focus on outlining Wave with scale and arpeggio shapes. Each chord in the A section is approached with either a diatonic arpeggio, a scale fragment, or a tension tone (like ♭9 or ♯11) to bring out its unique color.

Older players have to really think about there hands. Esp if you're coming back to the instrument in retirement.

See if you can grasp this. It's a simple way to work on progressions. 

🚨 Tune Deep Dive: “Wave” – Pt. 4: Chord Voicing Variations 🚨

In Part 4, we explore different ways to add motion and color to your chord voicings throughout Wave. Small shifts—like alternating between a major 7th and a 6th, or sliding inner voices by a half step—can create beautiful forward momentum while keeping the harmony clear.

This lesson focuses on several spots in the tune where these ideas really shine:

🚨 Tune Deep Dive: “Wave” – Pt. 3: Comping Rhythm Variations in the Intro 🚨

In Part 3, we continue working with the intro vamp (Dm7–G7) of Wave, this time focusing on comping rhythm variations. Instead of just outlining the harmony, we’ll explore how subtle rhythmic shifts can transform the groove and add variety without losing the bossa feel.

In this lesson we’ll: