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You are here: Home / Jazz Lessons / Approach Notes / Approach Note Velocity Overview Lesson
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Approach Note Velocity Overview Lesson

Approach Note Velocity Overview Lesson

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 2 customer ratings
(2 customer reviews)

$9.99

SKU: 004 Category: Approach Notes Tags: approach notes, audio lesson, jazz improvisation, jazz lines, jazz patterns
  • Description
  • Reviews (2)

Description

Approach notes are notes that are headed towards a particular target note.  Usually, the target note is a chord tone that you are aiming for that will give resolution to the line you are playing.  As you are playing these “approach note lines”, quite often there is dissonance in the line but when  you resolve it by achieving the target note it sounds great!  Many intermediate jazz improviser’s never get the knack of the dissonance resolution battle that goes on while they improvise  because they never work on nor master their approach notes.  Learning all your approach note patterns and lines is a great way to master the elements of tension and resolution.  It is also a fabulous way to  improve your ears, play faster more fluid jazz lines, understand how all 12 notes fit against a tonality  and finally, play some really fast cool jazz patterns that weave in and out of the changes in a hip and modern way.

In this 30 minute audio lesson, I give a general overview of my Approach Note Velocity books and concept.  This is not a step by step lesson series like the “Approach Note Freedom” series of lessons but rather an overview lesson  to get you started and up and running with the concepts.  I teach you how to best use the Approach Note Velocity books for the maximum benefit.   I take you step by step through the process that I myself went through years ago as I practiced all my approach note lines and patterns.  I demonstrate how to play the exercises and practice in the Approach Note Velocity books as well as the best way to practice these against Jamey Aebersold’s play alongs.   I  give you  tips and hints on how to apply the approaches to real life playing situations.  This is a great lesson for those of you who have my book and want further insights on how to get the most from it.  If you don’t have my “Approach Note Velocity” books then I would strongly suggest you get it in order to learn the most from this lesson.   (30 Minute Audio Lesson)

2 reviews for Approach Note Velocity Overview Lesson

  1. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    Donato Soviero – March 11, 2010

    Thanks Steve! Your insights have really opened up a whole new area of study for me. These approaches are something I used to stumble on as isolated licks. You’ve really explored and organized the whole concept beautifully!
    Thank you, thank you!

  2. Avatar
    Rated 5 out of 5

    John Tattersall – July 24, 2013

    I just thought I would let you know how I’m getting on with the book. I totally get it now and am delighted with it. I’ve been working on C major only with the Aebersold Major backing track. Having memorized the patterns up to about No 4 and then combining them with existing jazz language which I already use I have found it is really opening another door to my improvisation improvement. I intend to make working on the patterns a priority over the next year.

    Many Thanks

    John

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Hi Steve, I can’t express just how much I appreciate your teaching. My playing has improved so much over the past year since I have been studying and practicing with your lessons. It is possible to teach an old dog new tricks, these lessons are proof! Thanks, Michael Byington
Michael Byington

Love your lessons!  I have been using your lesson packages for many months now, and am learning a lot.  It is so perfect for me with a very busy adult schedule and difficulty in taking jazz/improv music lessons from reputable instructors who live and hour or more away from me.

Lenore

Steve,

I have played for many years and have enjoyed going “back to the basics” in some of your lessons!  You have such a gift for explaining concepts.  As I have gotten older, some of the basic things have gotten muddled because I just play, not knowing why.  As I refresh myself with “why”, it increases my confidence and expands my playing.  Thank you so much for using your gift!  You are a blessing!

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I am enjoying your style of teaching, and you’ve done a great job with the videos….good sound quality and well constructed lessons.  Balances the more guitaristic material found on the majority of guitar based programs.  Jazz vocab is what I’m all about at this point in the journey.  I especially dig the fact that you’ve studied with Bergonzi…helps me see his voluminous output in a more bite sized way.

Milton
Thank you for all the educational information you provide.  I am a classically trained musician.  Professionally, I am a 4th and 5th grade band teacher.  I have played piano and sax for many years, but now I am starting to gig out more. I have always improvised by ear in the past. I have gotten by with my strong sense of pitch, rhythm and melodic contour. However, I want to go deeper. I want to play with a greater variety of melodic and rhythmic ideas to pull from.  I have studied to gain a … Read more
Ray
I just started looking at my lessons and I have to say, dude you are awesome.  I ABSOLUTELY will learn from you!  I started the tenor about 1 ½ yrs ago and have since picked up an alto, and more recently a soprano.  I spend most of the time on the tenor, followed by soprano, and have only gotten to the alto a few times.  I think I’ll be sticking with tenor.  I’m having a great time and hope one day to play well enough to get regular gigs.  I’ve been playing keys for about 35 years (… Read more
Wil

I want to thank you again, because, not only are you an inspiration to listen to, you are a fine teacher!

I have been teaching sax and other winds for over 20 years, and you give me that “push” to give my students more!

Mark Peotter

Mark Peotter
I would like to say that in the last year my sax playing has progressed loads from your lessons. I have had a sax for about 20 years and dabbled with lessons from a few teachers and have learnt very little from them. As you have said in your lessons many teachers tell you to use the blues scale and leave it there, not even showing you the resolution points!!. I am now believing I can in time become a good improviser.
Thanks again,
Shane
Shane

Hello Steve,

I just want to say thank you so much for your unbelievable work, it is just mind opening, thanks for sharing it.

Wolfgang from Berlin

Wolfgang from Berlin
Hey Steve! I hope you and your family are well.  I’m just writing to say thank you so much for all the resources you have made available to the saxophone community. I have been using your material for many years and I always come back to it… in fact I just took a break from practicing to write this…( reviewing “CreatingModern II-V-I Lines with simple pentatonics”.) I am, and continue to be, one of your raving fans! Blessings to you and your family this holiday season! Wishing… Read more
Gerry Aylward

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