The more I do this the more I realize the power of a site like this. The more you talk about things, the more you post, the more you comment, I think, the more you learn.

When you record something with the intent of posting on this site you will work hard on the piece and it will sound your best by the time you get it up here. That's important. We all have to do things to sound our best.

For me it's about my 12th year teaching at the college. Man I think Ed Saindon is going on 20+ something. Maybe even 30!!

It's always fascinating for me to start the year off. I know I have certain stereotypes and I'm always curious to see which ones will hold and if any will break.

Multi Part lesson of the standard Invitation.

You're Practicing Everything.

One of my favorite quotes. My mentor Steve Giordano told me that.

I thought I'd put that out there to see what it means to you guys.

I've been thinking about transcribing these days as I work on a Tom Harrell solo.
I dig Joe's philosophy.

We have a new trumpet site up with Joe and I asked him if I could post his trumpet video on transcribing. He said yes.

When Bobby Hutcherson heard Joe Magnarelli play his reply was: 'Man that cat can spell!'.
I love that quote!

I'm always checking myself. Especially with all the different opinions here on the site. Gary has really helped me chill out about practicing. I still DO practice a lot, but i'm not as freaked about it. I'm someone who put in 8 hours a day on average for about 20 years. And personally I think most young musicians should be practicing and playing ALL THE TIME.

No matter what I read or hear about transcribing, I just love doing it. It's fun and I play along with someone whom I really admire for a few days and have a good time.

Here's the first lesson on Invitation!

First off, the title is a bait-and-switch. The Beatles aren't mentioned in any substance until the last chapter of the book. The book is really about its subtitle: "An Alternative History of American Popular Music", and judged on that content it's a great read. It covers the American popular music scene in loving detail from about 1890 through 1970, with colorful anecdotes, musical analysis, movers and shakers behind the scenes, and thoughtful analysis of the economic, social and technical factors behind many of the changes in popular music.

The A Train study is an in depth look at a tune. Tunes unlock secrets to harmony and improvising. In a way, a tune is a well thought out solo! A prepared one! And in a way a solo is a quickly conceived melody over a tune. That's not quite true but you get the idea.

The A train study is a way to really work through this tune and learn the nuances, see what you can take over to your improvisation and work on your chords, chord melodies and solo playing.

Here is the PDF to go along with Drop 2 Lesson 3 Part 3