The LJS Podcast is the podcast where you get weekly jazz tips, interviews, stories and advice for becoming a better jazz musician! Hosting the show is the jazz musician behind learnjazzstandards.com, author, and entrepreneur Brent Vaartstra, who’s one goal is to answer any question about playing jazz music you may have. Jazz can be a challenging music to learn and play, but it doesn’t have to be so hard. Each episode features a specific musical challenge that jazz students may come across, where it is discussed and answered. Special jazz guests frequent the show, sharing their expertise on an array of different musical subject matter. Listeners are invited to call in with their jazz questions to the podcast hotline, where it could get answered on a future LJS Podcast episode. Join thousands of other listeners getting free jazz education every week!
https://www.learnjazzstandards.com/podcast
Gesamtlänge aller Episoden: 10 days 3 hours 40 minutes
episode 10: The One Jazz Standard Strategy for Jazz
In this podcast episode, Brent introduces the "One Jazz Standard Strategy for Jazz." The philosophy behind this strategy is rooted in the belief that the most effective way to improve jazz playing is by learning new songs.
The strategy involves dedicating one month to learning a single jazz standard, focusing on the melody, chords, and choosing one specific area of improvement...
episode 11: Is Good Instrument Technique Important for Jazz?
In this episode, Brent from Learn Jazz Standards addresses a question from Elmer Pickett about hand position on the guitar neck to enhance ease of play and minimize the risk of injury.
Brent emphasizes the importance of technique in playing jazz well but acknowledges exceptions. He shares a personal experience with bassist John Patitucci providing guidance on hand position...
episode 12: Who Is The Greatest Jazz Guitarist of All Time?
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent explores the question of who the greatest jazz guitarist is. Acknowledging the subjectivity of such a determination, Brent highlights influential figures like Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, Wes Montgomery, and many other jazz guitar legends...
episode 13: What Are Ghost Notes in Jazz?
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent answers a question from Marlene about ghost notes in jazz soloing. He describes ghost notes as less intentional and more of a stylistic and phrasing element in jazz improvisation.
Using the example of Charlie Parker's "Scrapple from the Apple," Brent illustrates how ghost notes are integrated into jazz melodies...
episode 14: How Do I Turn Scales and Arpeggios Into Solos?
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent addresses a question from Paul Elwood about connecting scales/arpeggios and improvisation. Brent emphasizes that scales and arpeggios are foundational tools but suggests a shift in mindset from thinking about chord tones or scales to improvising more instinctively.
He introduces a framework involving learning, recomposing, composing, and improvising to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and creative expression...
episode 15: How to Create Less Choppy Solos
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent addresses a strategy to improve improvisation. He discusses the common issue of playing short and choppy phrases in solos and suggests an exercise called the "subdivisions exercise" to overcome this habit.
The exercise involves playing continuous quarter notes, eighth notes, and triplets against a metronome or backing track to develop longer flowing eighth note lines...
episode 16: The Biggest Challenge In Jazz I've Ever Faced
In this podcast episode, Brent addresses a question from David Garcia about his biggest challenge in jazz. Brent candidly discusses the significant obstacle he faced throughout his jazz journey—the fear of sounding bad.
He emphasizes how this fear, rooted in concerns about ego and judgment, can impede progress, hinder creativity, and diminish the joy of playing music...
episode 17: Can Non-Jazz Instruments Play Jazz?
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent addresses a question from Jim about learning jazz on non-traditional instruments, specifically the bluegrass-style five-string banjo. Brent emphasizes that, regardless of the instrument, all musicians need to focus on common aspects of jazz, such as learning songs, playing melodies, understanding chords, and improvisation...
episode 18: How Do I Improvise Over Unrelated Chords?
In this podcast episode, Brent addresses a question from a listener named Lewis. Lewis is interested in transitioning smoothly between unrelated keys in jazz improvisation, specifically dealing with non-diatonic chord progressions.
Brent emphasizes the importance of thinking about voice leading, even when faced with unrelated chords. He uses examples from jazz standards like "Beatrice" and "Well You Needn't" to illustrate the concept...
episode 19: How Do I Recognize Secondary Dominants In Jazz?
In this episode of the Learn Jazz Standards Podcast, Brent answers a question from inner circle member Kevin Pritchett about recognizing and using secondary dominants in jazz standards.
Brent explains the concept of secondary dominants and he illustrates the idea using a one, six, two, five chord progression in the key of C, emphasizing the importance of turning the six chord into a dominant seventh chord to tonicize the following two-chord...