The B Section

I think we can all agree that gear does matter. It is the tool or tools that help us communicate our message as artists. That being said, sometimes equipment can get in the way of developing our craft if we place too much importance on it and get wrapped up in searching for the gear to make us better.

It's a controversial topic! Is the Real Book a helpful tool to learn standards and be able to cut a gig by reading tunes you don't know? Or is it a crutch that enables you to rely on your eyes and not your ears when learning or performing a tune?

In this episode, Brett explains his process for preparing music for a gig or recording. The process involves prioritizing practice time around what is most difficult. Listening to the material if possible is especially helpful.

Here are 5 more tips to help get your charts looking professional!

Having clean looking charts is super helpful when arranging or composing music for other musicians. The easier it is to read, the more efficient rehearsing the music will be. If it's a sight reading situation, the players will have the best chance at performing the chart correctly the first time. Here are 5 tips to make a clean lead sheet!

Being a good player is certainly one important aspect of being a professional musician and we should all strive to better our playing but that is just one piece of the puzzle. Many times, the reason someone is called for a gig has more to do with other professional traits than musical ability. The best player isn't always the most hired!

All of them. All the minor scales. But at the right time! There are quite a few different minor scales that are essential to know and they all have a different use. Context is key!

After teaching a course on building a musical solo at a jazz camp recently, I thought it would also make a great episode for the podcast. Some of the key elements of building a musical solo include melody, dynamics, phrasing, and more. Chops are fun but this episode is about making a musical statement when you improvise!

In this episode, Brett gives some food for thought on how to make the bass player happy while on the gig. Not all bassists are the same but there are certain things that make many bass players frustrated, particularly acoustic bass players. Here are some of Brett's pet peeves.

With the extra time on our hands, there are many skills we musicians can develop (besides playing our instrument) that can really enhance our passion. In the age of content creation, it's worth catching up on our tech skills to keep the music going even when we aren't together!