How Coltrane disguises repetition in "Moment's Notice"

Coltrane's solo on Moment's Notice is often labeled as a turning point for him as an improviser; breaking it down into it's core improvisational concepts can help reveal that it's more simple than one might think.

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Jazz Improvisation

Saxophone

Recent articles

How to listen to jazz: Listening webs

If someone wants to excel at any activity, it is necessary for them to observe the greatest practitioners of the craft. This is especially true of jazz. By immersing themselves in ...

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Enclosures: The genius and simplicity of Clifford Brown

Learn how to use a fundamental part of the jazz language, enclosures, by referencing how Clifford Brown uses them in his solos.

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I transcribed. Now what?

If you’re like me, then there always seems to be a gap between the time you spend transcribing and your growth as an improviser.

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Principles for productive practicing

A very common trend that I’m seeing from people these days is the claim that they practice for hours on end without results.

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Why starting improvisation in beginning band is a necessity

Improvisation is an essential skill in today’s musical landscape. Professional musicians of all kinds are often expected to improvise whether on a “classical”, “jazz”, or “commerci...

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4 tactics to getting and keeping the gig

Getting and keeping a regular gig as a sideman is a skill that presents a myriad of challenges. "Learn the music and you'll be fine" only goes so far.

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How to listen to jazz: Intro to deep listening

In this season of school closures and social distancing, many educators have been tasked with converting their classrooms into an online format. Listening assignments are incredibl...

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The road to launching Downbeat Academy

What was the result the last time you searched for something music education-related on the web? If you’re like me and my confidants, the results were...less than fruitful.

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