Back when I was in college, going to music school, there was a running joke between me and my friends where we would, perhaps after practicing or playing a gig, proclaim that we had finally figured out the secret to jazz.

It was a funny statement, I guess you could say. But the reason we would say such a thing is because, you know, at times jazz can be a little bit befuddling, like, confusing and frustrating and feeling like you're stuck.

And how do you improvise better? How do you get to the next level? How do you sound like your favorite jazz musicians? It would be so easy if there is just a secret, right? There must be some kind of secret out there that if you just knew this secret, everything would be easier.

Well, that was a joke back then. But on today's podcast episode, I'm actually taking it a little bit more seriously and sharing with you what I actually do believe today, years later, is the secret to jazz improvisation.

In this episode:

1. The 2 Elements to the secret of jazz improvisations:
         Element #1: Being able to hear music in your head.
         Element #2: Developing muscle memory
2. Strategies to start developing element #1
3. How listening, composing your own solos, and learning solos by ear helps solidify
     what you hear in your head.
4. Practice patterns, scales, and arpeggios to develop or improve muscle memory.

Important Links:
Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart Way
LJS Inner Circle Membership
Listen to the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast

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