Lesson Library

Willie · Beginner · 25 min

In this lesson you'll learn how to think of playing standards in layers. Each layer adds sparkle to the arrangement and you'll learn how to use these layers for…

Willie · Intermediate · 67 min

In this lesson I’ll show you how to create a full arrangement of As Time Goes By using my step-by-step standards system. We will start with easy chord shells th…

Willie · Professional · 32 min

In this second part you'll learn the complete arrangement for "Moonlight in Vermont" and we will break it down step-by-step.

Willie · Professional · 36 min

In this lesson you'll learn Duke Jordan's "Jordu," a faster-tempo song that incorporates shells and stride-like playing.

Willie · Beginner · 35 min

Learn how to improvise in a slow, blues style. We will cover the use of the blues scale, minor pentatonic and "bluesy" pentatonic scales.

Willie · Intermediate · 42 min

Guide tones, chord approaches and enclosures are at the heart of bebop improvisation. Study this lesson a lot to really master how to create more complicated im…

Willie · Intermediate · 28 min

You'll learn how to create and use double-stops in your improvisation to get a funky sound. You'll also learn how to create a super funky bassline to improvise…

Willie · Intermediate · 22 min

Pentatonic scales are awesome for soloing over rock and pop tunes. Learn some different ways of using this scale in this lesson.

Willie · Beginner · 29 min

Now that you've learned different scales, licks and arpeggios, it is time to learn how to bring all of this together to create better improvisational (solo) lin…

Paul · Professional · 34 min

This course focuses on bringing the standard 12-bar blues form into a more advanced and diverse chord structure by demonstrating some specific places where alte…

Paul · Professional · 58 min

In this lesson you'll learn some of the specific elements of the blues song we created in the last lesson like descending harmony and a must have lick.

Paul · Professional · 77 min

This lesson is all about creating improvisation ideas. You'll learn several licks and also some advanced topics like displacing the beat.

Paul · Professional · 73 min

In this last lesson we are going to work on how to fill space along with some more advanced concepts like concerted comping and how to take the harmony "outside…

Paul · Professional · 50 min

In this lesson we will continue where we left off and break down the licks along with the bassline.

Paul · Professional · 42 min

We will finish up our advanced boogie song learning a couple more licks and endings.

Willie · Beginner · 24 min

Learn how to play a full 12-bar blues. You'll also learn about tags and how to transpose the blues into different keys. This prepares you for the next lesson on…

Willie · Beginner · 33 min

Learn how to create different types of triads and Root-5 accompaniments.

Willie · Beginner · 50 min

Learn the basics of Jazz by vocalizing rhythms, the eighth note rhythm, simple accompaniments and chord shells.

Willie · Beginner · 66 min

In this lesson you'll learn what solfege is, how to vocalize rhythms, use solfege to 'hear' melodies, solfege chords, conduct in 4/4 time and learn some exercis…

Willie · Professional · 58 min

Learn how to create a solo over a blues bassline and play rootless chords in the right hand. If this lesson is too difficult, try the Ben's Blues lesson first.

Willie · Professional · 60 min

In this lesson I'll review homework from students. We are no longer accepting new homework assignments but this is a FANTASTIC way to see what other students ha…

Willie · Professional · 80 min

We start this lesson reviewing student arrangements and homework. At about 34min in we start working on the song "There Is No Greater Love."

Willie · Professional · 47 min

Using the standard "My Ship" we will work on Upper Structure Triads. UST's (for short) are the life-blood of advanced reharmonizations and you want to work on t…

Willie · Professional · 50 min

Learn a full, rich and lush arrangement of "In The Wee Small Hours of The Morning" step-by-step.