Most Popular Lessons

Check out the attached PDF!

Interesting Open Voicings Pt. 2 by Behn Gillece

I always try and play a version of the tune I'm doing a lesson on. My 2024 version of Israel is here.

Here's a lesson on Israel. I know I've put up lessons in the past. Well I didn't think of until I started doing the lessons. 

Maybe I cover some of the same stuff. However....

In this version I'm attaching a pdf of my arrangement of the head as well as some simple etudes based on the first few bars of the tune! 

Check out the attached PDF!

Check out the attached PDF!

🚨 Feeling in 3 – Pt. 1: Comping in 3/4 🚨

We’re kicking off this new series by exploring comping rhythms in 3/4, one of the most versatile and expressive time feels in jazz. This lesson focuses on short ii–V progressions that develop your sense of pulse, articulation, and balance between hands.

In 3/4, it’s easy to think in strict “1–2–3,” but the best players treat each measure as a flowing three-beat phrase. By practicing these patterns slowly and evenly, you’ll build a natural, swinging pulse that feels relaxed and centered.

Practicing in Cycles by Behn Gillece

🚨 Playing in 3/4 – Pt. 3: Melodic Shapes and Flow

In Part 3, we move from comping to linear phrasing, focusing on short melodic shapes that naturally fit the 3/4 feel. These lines are designed to help you internalize how melody flows within triple meter—each phrase should feel like a complete, three-beat gesture rather than a sequence of notes.

In this etude, the quarter note remains consistent like an actual walking bass line. The challenge in this exercise is to keep the pedal down and the dampening smooth, making sure no notes ring together. Work on getting a really nice legato sound!

Part 2: Exploring Articulation and Harmonic Detail
In this second lesson on rhythm changes harmonic vocabulary, we shift our focus to articulation and rhythmic variety within the first A section. The exercise begins by introducing the classic Charleston rhythm in the first four measures—a foundational comping figure that adds a strong sense of groove and forward momentum.