Welcome to episode 181 of the LJS Podcast where today I announce that I'm taking a break from jazz...for two weeks. But the fact that I'm taking a break does have some significance, and I want to explain the benefit of taking breaks for you and your musicianship.

Important Links:
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Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Welcome to episode 180 of the LJS Podcast where today I answer questions from the Learn Jazz Standards Community Facebook Group and YouTube channel. Lots of great jazz questions are answered over a wide range of topics.

Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Welcome to episode 179 of the LJS Podcast where today I go over 7 different options for playing an intro on a jazz standard.

While you can just count off a tune and start playing the head on beat one, it can be nice to set up a song with an intro. I walk you through some options and give you a call to action at the end.

Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Welcome to episode 178 of the LJS Podcast where today I have on special guest jazz guitarist and Youtuber, Jens Larsen to talk about recording yourself.

I frequently get comments from my course students that the power of recording themselves has become a game-changer. Jens goes into detail about overcoming fears, and what to look out for when you listen back to yourself.

Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes 

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Welcome to episode 177 of the LJS Podcast where today I demonstrate a solo I composed over a minor blues.

Composing jazz solos is one of the best ways to solidify the jazz language you already know and get it to come out in your playing.

Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes 

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Welcome to episode 176 of the LJS Podcast where today our special guest Nick Mainella from the 10 Minute Jazz Lesson Podcast discusses how we can improve our jazz improv by thinking slow.

To be a great jazz improviser you need to think fast and effectively, and in order to do that, you need to start by doing the opposite.

Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes 

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Welcome to episode 175 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about using pitch collections to create jazz lines over static chords.

I personally don't enjoy thinking about playing scales over chords. I think a better way to think about scales is as "pitch collections" which can be especially helpful when learning to improvise over different qualities of chords. I go over the concept and demonstrate some licks.

Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes 

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Welcome to episode 174 of the LJS Podcast where today I walk you through a step-by-step process for learning chord progressions by ear.

Learning chord progressions by ear is usually the more challenging aspect of learning jazz standards by ear, and the benefits of learning by ear are numerous. I show you how the power of ear training, a tiny bit of harmony knowledge, and some practice will have you unlocking chord progressions.

Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
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Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Welcome to episode 173 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about the importance of blues, and why you should take it into all 12 keys.

Jazz is a music that emerged from the blues and therefore jazz language is steeped in it. If you can play the blues in any key your jazz improv skills will be miles ahead.

In this episode, I demonstrate myself taking the blues through all 12 keys and how you can too!

Important Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes 

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!

Welcome to episode 172 of the LJS Podcast where today I share my personal story of how I jump-started my jazz skills.

When I first became interested in jazz I felt like I was way behind compared to my peers. I wanted to become a great jazz improviser and so I invested my time and energy into it. I go over 5 things that had a big impact on my jazz playing and will have a big impact on yours as well.

mportant Links:
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Free Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
View Show Notes 

Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!