The ability to see written music for the first time and play it on the spot is a superpower that will open creative and career possibilities. Here are some tips to expand your skills at sight-reading music. Read the post.
Just as actors channel emotions and use what they are feeling to enhance and inform their acting choices, you can do the same to enhance your musical performances on stage and in the studio. Read the post.
When I had the opportunity to be playing at Carnegie Hall with the great Wouter Kellerman, I had to say yes. With the gig five days away, thoughtful, strategic practicing helped get the music where it needed to be in a short amount of time. Read the post.
Watching yourself in a mirror while you perform or practice can help you elevate your music and performance, so find opportunities to gaze while you play and learn from what you see. Read the post.
Strategies that involve focused listening and practice are key to learning new material quickly, and looking closely at song structure can lessen the amount of time it takes you to get from first listen to a strong, quality performance. Read the post.
If you’re in a situation where you have to learn lots of new music in a very short time, these tips can help you develop a strategy so you can tackle the task and perform with confidence. Read the post.
Whatever your genre, your solos and musical arrangements can come to life in you incorporate call and response between instruments, vocalists, and any combination you can think of. Read More.
Transcribing solos that other musicians have played can be a challenge, as it requires significant music notation chops and a sharp ear. Like any musical skill, though, it can be learned, and is well worth the investment of time to make it happen. Read More.
Our May 24th Disc Makers #DMchat focused on improvisation and soloing techniques featuring pianist, composer, and producer Michael Gallant. Read More.
Whether it’s a virtuosic guitar, a transcendent piano, or a funky breakdown on bass, a great solo can add power and personality to songs in any genre. Read more.
What if, hours before you play the gig of the year, your drummer ends up in the hospital with a stomach flu, or your bass player gets called out of town? Whether the issues are related to health or weather, business or family, life can sometimes interfere to prevent your key band mates from arriving where and when you need them. Read more.
As a member of multiple musical projects, I’ve discovered that even when you feel like you don’t have time, there are ways to move forward musically, steps you can take to put yourself in the best position to deliver a great performance once you step on stage or behind the glass. One of the most effective? Learn to listen. Read more.
Whether you’re turned on by Phish jamming through the night, Miles Davis conjuring wistful melodies in space, or Stevie Ray Vaughn wailing something nasty, you just can’t argue with the fact that skillful improvisation is a powerful thing. Read more.