Lesson Library

Willie · Professional · 48 min

In this lesson we are going to continue where we left off in Rhythm Changes Vol 1. We will cover new ways of expanding rhythm changes, outside changes, back-cyc…

Willie · Professional · 71 min

In this lesson I will teach you all about the 16th-note triplet and how to use it to create some really slick Blues licks. I will also teach you my original pie…

Willie · Professional · 69 min

A question I get asked a lot is “How do you create an arrangement for a song?” Or, “How do I ‘modernize’ this song and give it new life?” In this lesson I am go…

Willie · Intermediate · 21 min

Using Johnny Rivers 1972 classic, “Rockin Pneumonia & the Boogie Woogie Flu”, you’ll learn 5 different breaks/fills, a simple and advanced chordal groove, how t…

Willie · Professional · 78 min

Learn my full arrangement of the beautiful standard When I Fall in Love. I’ll teach you the melody, chords and re-harmonizations note-for-note.

Willie · Intermediate · 70 min

Somos Novios is a beautiful ballad by Mexican composer Armando Manzanero. We will break down the chords, learn the analysis and talk about how to move this into…

Willie · Professional · 83 min

We will begin this lesson learning all of the parts of this funky tune. We will also dive into minor diatonic harmony, discuss quartal accompaniment techniques…

Willie · Beginner · 79 min

In this lesson I will break down the Rogers and Hart standard My romance into 5 easy steps. We are using the chords right out of the Real Book with limited re-h…

Willie · Professional · 66 min

In this lesson we build a solo (improvisation) over the song Wave. I will teach you all of the scales needed for improvisation. We will then begin building a so…

Willie · Professional · 83 min

In this song, His Eye is on the Sparrow, we will begin by analyzing this gorgeous piece and breaking down it’s form. Next, I will show you how to create a simpl…

Willie · Intermediate · 81 min

If you are new to improvising over the blues, or you want to do more than “hunt and peck” using the Blues scale, this lesson is for you. We will cover over a ha…

Willie · Professional · 93 min

A beautiful song by Hoagy Charmichael in which I teach you the arrangement while also reviewing arranging techniques that "spice up" the song. We will be coveri…

Willie · Professional · 61 min

Learn this classic bossa nova arrangement. We will cover arranging techniques like harmonizing diminished chords and incorporating some montunos at the end.

Willie · Professional · 79 min

This slow and soulful blues song teaches you how to create that slow, gospel-sounding blues feel. In addition to learning the song, we will cover many other con…

Willie · Intermediate · 53 min

In this classic spiritual, we will cover how to create a simple arrangement…perfect for beginners. We will also move into a more advanced “reharmed” version of…

Willie · Professional · 90 min

In this important lesson, I will teach you techniques for analyzing the structure of songs. Once you learn how to analyze a piece of music, it becomes much easi…

Willie · Intermediate · 6 min

Learn some really cool Otis Spann licks, chords and bass lines. I will also teach you how to put together the licks to create a ‘song’. Otis Spann (March 21, 19…

Willie · Intermediate · 69 min

In this original piece, I show you the essence of a ragtime feel. We will also cover many different left-hand chordal accompaniments and improvisation tips.

Willie · Professional · 70 min

In this lesson, I will show you how to arrange the classic standard Stella By Starlight in a Ballad style. We will also focus on how to comp and accompany. This…

Willie · Intermediate · 80 min

In this lesson you'll learn how to analyze this traditional hymn and play it with basic triads, perfect for beginners. I also created a more contemporary arrang…

Willie · Professional · 72 min

In this lesson you'll learn different improvisation and arranging techniques over Horace Silver's "Song For My Father." Techniques like delayed resolution and b…

Willie · Beginner · 61 min

Learn how to move beyond a basic chord groove by adding neighbor chords, chordal scales and more. Sus4 chords and slash chords are also covered. We will also di…

Willie · Professional · 59 min

Learn how to fill out those one-chord-per-measure sections. We will create an arrangement and you will learn how to add chords and reharm to make a richer arran…

Willie · Professional · 39 min

This “in the style of” lesson shows you how to play the chords for New Breed’s “Every Prayer”. We will also analyze the structure of the song and discuss improv…