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You are here: Home / Jazz Lessons / Practice Habits / New Approach to Learning Tunes Lesson
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New Approach to Learning Tunes Lesson

New Approach to Learning Tunes Lesson

Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 1 customer rating
(1 customer review)

$9.99

Category: Practice Habits Tags: chord progressions, ear training, learning songs, memorizing standards, practice habits, video lesson
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  • Reviews (1)

Description

In this lesson, I talk about a new approach I have to learning the changes to tunes. I will be 50 years old in the fall and you would think that I would have all the tools I need mastered by now but a couple months ago I tried a new approach to learning a jazz standard that really surprised me. It surprised me because I had the changes to the tune memorized before ever picking up my sax!

Now, three months later, I still remember the changes to this tune even though I haven’t played it in over a month. The old method of learning a tune would be for me to play it over and over again on the sax until it was memorized. This was effective in getting it into my short term memory for a gig but many times I would lose this memory after a short time of not playing the tune.

In this lesson I talk about learning the melody of each song so that you can sing it but then also learning the root movement of the chords and being able to sing those also. By treating the roots as if they were a melody and singing them even when away from the sax or a piano I was able practice this standard for hours while away from the sax. I’m a bit excited in this video as this method seems to be working for me. I just wish I had discovered it back in high school. In this video lesson I talk about the process and all the things I am learning along the way. I apply the process to three jazz standards. My Shining Hour, Someday My Prince Will Come and But Not For me.(35 Minute Video Lesson)

1 review for New Approach to Learning Tunes Lesson

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    Rated 5 out of 5

    Chris Cole – February 23, 2018

    5 Stars! Steve’s four lessons on tune memorization are awesome. Very few players in this era are in the fortunate space where they’re blowing jazz gigs nightly. This makes learning and retaining jazz repertoire a real challenge. Steve’s well thought out approach in each of these lessons and his taking the time in those lessons to explain his thought process is pure gold. It’s rare to get a player of Steve’s calibre is actually slow down and take you through the actual steps he takes. I highly recommend all four of these lessons.

    chis cole

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Thanks so much for putting all this great learning material out there. I don’t often have the time to take a lesson with a teacher, so the ability to download lessons is really invaluable. My playing has improved enormously (I think :)) – and the lessons are so varied there’s always something to be inspired by. Incredible value too!
Roger

After reading your story I will never feel quite right about complaining about any of my MINOR health issues!!    God bless Steve and I really hope that your health doesn’t stop you from fulfilling your calling.    These books have been such a help to open up my jazz vocabulary…   Thanks so much for sharing your story and for providing these great teaching tools…   John Leclerc   Saxophonist / composer/ EWI player and professional working musician of 35 years….

John Leclerc

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’ve been downloading your lessons for 4 months now (20 lesson) and I have noticed tremendous growth in my playing thus far! I’m so happy that I stumbled upon your site!
Bob

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!

Julia
I am a music book junkie and I have to say that your books are the most clear, user friendly, and helpful books I own.  They are my absolute favorites and I only wish I had them years ago.  I wouldn’t change a thing about the experience I had in acquiring my degree at Berklee, but my playing has perhaps grown more in the time I’ve spent buried in your books and lessons.  Keep up the great work!!! Thanks, John
John
I want to let you know that your instructional material is transforming my playing.  It is an immense pleasure to learn and play now, and I can’t tell you how grateful I am. The instructional material I got from you is by far the best of any I own (and I have over 100 books, DVDs, and what not). I literally can’t thank you enough! Deric
Deric

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
Your lessons on playing the blues is so clear . I have been through many books on blues playing and not one of them explains as clear as your lessons . Most of them say “Play the same blues scale over all three chords of a 12 bar blues ” Its very misleading .     Thanks
Martin
First, I’m really excited about your materials! This site is a vast resource for any aspiring (and maybe already inspired) jazz musicians. I’m not a sax player, I play mandolin and fiddle, but have been learning jazz and playing weekly with a quintet for the past 6 months and have been struggling with all of the issues you get into in your lessons. I bought several books and lessons and plan to continue with some others as soon as I organize my practice routine. Thanks again for a great site … Read more
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