Instrumental Music

Jazz band? No jazz band? No problem. If you want to explore jazz with your beginning, middle, high school or collegiate instrumental ensembles, our lessons will help you along the way.

Teaching Jazz to Any Student or Ensemble

Learn How to Improvise

• Use the Melody!

• Riff-Based Blues Songs

• Riff-Based Backgrounds

• Beyond the Blues Scale

• Blues Soloing: From Concrete to Creative (with Pete Mills)

  • Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Demo

Rhythm Section 101

General Rhythm Section Tips

• Building a Swing Feel

• 2-Feel vs. 4-Feel

Jazz Piano 101

• Basic Piano Voicings

• Adding Rhythm to Piano Voicings

• Accompanying Your Group on the Blues

Jazz Bass 101

How to Build a Bass Line

• Part 1: Roots

• Part 2: Roots and Fifths

• Part 3: Leading Tones

• Part 4: 1-2-3-5 Progressions

Jazz Drum Set 101

• Building a Swing Feel

• Building a Swing Feel Part 2 - Snare Drum Ideas

• Building a Swing Feel Part 3 - The 2-Feel

Big Band Techniques