Charlie Parker Tunes as Practice Etudes
About two weeks ago I started working on a couple of Charlie Parker tunes: Donna Lee and Ornithology. I was
Jazz, practice, Practice Mindset, Practice Techniques
Practice Mindset
Practice Mindset, Practice Techniques
When you Can’t Practice – Listen!
When life gets too busy or travel keeps you away from your instrument, you don’t have to stop making progress. Learn how active listening and mental rehearsal can help you “download” new techniques, master tricky passages, and continue improving—even when you can’t pick up your horn.
Practice Mindset, Practice Techniques
Rebuilding Jazz Sax Repertoire After a Long Break: ‘Oleo’ by Sonny Rollins
Want to learn jazz standards without the stage fright? Think of your backing tracks as a flight simulator. Here is what happened when I tackled Sonny Rollins’ “Oleo” after a break, stumbled into an unexpectedly fast backing track tempo, and used the “sink-or-swim” method to build up performance confidence in private.
Practice Mindset, Practice Techniques
Coming Back to Music After a Break? Keep These Two Things in Mind
Coming back to music after a long absence is tough. Your coordination is gone, your endurance is shot, and the frustration of past vs. present ability can make you want to put the horn away. But you can’t force your way back. Discover the two essential mindsets that helped me navigate the slow crawl of progress and rebuild my playing, one five-minute session at a time.