Brent Vaartstra: Jazz Musician, Author, and Entrepreneur
The LJS Podcast is the podcast where you get weekly jazz tips, interviews, stories and advice for becoming a better jazz musician! Hosting the show is the jazz ...
In this episode, Brent wraps up season two of the podcast with a special finale episode, reflecting on the journey and the changes implemented over the years. Originally starting in 2016, the podcast evolved from informal episodes to a structured season-based format in 2024, aiming to engage with listeners' questions. Throughout season two, Brent has provided invaluable insights and advice on various jazz topics. He encourages listeners to revisit past episodes to extract actionable knowledge and reflect on their learning journey.In celebration of the season, Brent shares his top 26 tips for playing jazz, highlighting essential practices such as active listening, learning solos by ear, and focusing on instrument-specific techniques. He emphasizes the importance of listening deeply to jazz music to truly understand its language and the benefits of transcribing solos to enhance ear training and muscle memory. Brent also stresses the significance of practicing techniques tailored to individual instruments, ensuring that technical limitations do not hinder one's ability to express musical ideas.Concluding the episode, Brent underscores the critical role of rhythm in jazz, the necessity of developing a strong ear, and the value of frequent improvisation. He advises listeners to study jazz harmony to gain a comprehensive understanding of chord progressions and to establish a strategic practice routine to avoid aimless noodling. Brent's tips provide a roadmap for continuous improvement, encouraging jazz enthusiasts to engage deeply with the music and cultivate their skills methodically. Important Links:Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLJS Inner Circle MembershipListen to the Learn Jazz Standards PodcastLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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46:20
Should Non-Bass Players Learn Bass Lines?
In this episode, Brent answers a question from Kevin Pritchett about the importance of bass lines for non-bass players. Kevin, a piano player, wonders if learning bass lines can benefit his playing and improvisation. Brent explains that understanding bass lines is valuable for all musicians, not just bass players because it helps in grasping chord tones, time feel, and melodic resolutions. He emphasizes that playing bass lines can enhance one's overall musicality and time-keeping skills.Brent shares his personal experience of learning bass lines and how it helped him during his early gigs with a piano player. He discusses the importance of practicing quarter notes, which are foundational in jazz, and how bass players' focus on chord tones and rhythmic patterns can benefit other instrumentalists. Brent also highlights that learning bass lines can improve a musician's sense of pulse and time, essential for any jazz player, whether they are accompanying or soloing.In addition to learning bass lines, Brent encourages musicians to explore solos and techniques from other instruments, broadening their musical perspective. He concludes by urging listeners to try learning a bass line, regardless of their primary instrument, to gain new insights and improve their jazz playing. Important Links:Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLJS Inner Circle MembershipListen to the Learn Jazz Standards PodcastLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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11:31
How Do I Perform Solo?
Welcome to another episode where Brent answers your jazz and music questions five days a week. Today, we have an intriguing question from Ken Bryan from York, Pennsylvania, about resources and advice for a jazz guitarist aiming to perform solo at venues like bars, restaurants, and parties. Brent discusses this topic, sharing his personal experience and offering valuable tips for anyone looking to enhance their solo performance skills.Brent emphasizes the importance of finding a solo guitar style that resonates with you. He recalls his college days and the profound influence of Peter Bernstein’s solo guitar performances at Smalls in New York. He suggests building a repertoire of songs with basic solo arrangements and practicing improvisation, focusing on telling an interesting musical story through single-note lines before integrating chords.Additionally, Brent encourages solo performers to embrace their unique approach, even if it means using technology like loop pedals to enhance their sound. He also highlights the resources available in the Inner Circle membership, such as the jazz guitar and piano accelerator courses, which offer valuable tools for mastering solo performance. With consistent practice, learning jazz standards, and perhaps booking a performance to set a tangible goal, anyone can improve their solo playing skills.Important Links:Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLJS Inner Circle MembershipListen to the Learn Jazz Standards PodcastLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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15:23
How Do I Know What To Practice?
In this episode, Michael, a piano player, asks how to efficiently allocate practice time to various topics like scales, voicings, improvisation, and more. Brent emphasizes the importance of focusing on the 20% of practice that yields 80% of the results, advising musicians to prioritize practicing what ails them the most or where they have the most potential.Brent shares practical tips to identify strengths and weaknesses. He also introduces the concept of the three pillars of jazz improvisation. By focusing on these pillars, musicians can streamline their practice routine and ensure they're working on the most impactful areas.Discover how to create a focused practice plan, avoid the myth of the perfect practice routine, and benefit from feedback loops and coaching. Brent's insights will help you practice smarter and achieve your musical goals faster. Don't miss out on this episode and enhance your jazz practice today!Important Links:Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLJS Inner Circle MembershipListen to the Learn Jazz Standards PodcastLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
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13:16
How Should Horn Players Play Together In a Jazz Band?
In this episode, Brent responds to a question from Louis Thompson about the lead instrument in a small jazz ensemble with a trumpet, saxophone, trombone, and rhythm section. Brent discusses the dynamics of horn players working together, exploring various approaches for melody and improvisation. He explains how horn players usually play in a jam session. Brent emphasizes the importance of listening and adapting to each other’s playing to create a cohesive sound. Whether it’s harmonizing, creating counterpoint lines, or trading off the lead, there are numerous ways for horn players to collaborate and make the music shine. Tune in to discover how multiple horn players can harmonize, create counterpoint lines, and share the spotlight in jazz performances. Brent's insights will help you better understand ensemble playing and enhance your jazz skills. Don't miss this episode and make sure to subscribe on Spotify or Apple Podcasts for more valuable tips and advice.Important Links:Free Guide to learning standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayLJS Inner Circle MembershipListen to the Learn Jazz Standards PodcastLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
The LJS Podcast is the podcast where you get weekly jazz tips, interviews, stories and advice for becoming a better jazz musician! Hosting the show is the jazz musician behind learnjazzstandards.com, author, and entrepreneur Brent Vaartstra, who’s one goal is to answer any question about playing jazz music you may have. Jazz can be a challenging music to learn and play, but it doesn’t have to be so hard. Each episode features a specific musical challenge that jazz students may come across, where it is discussed and answered. Special jazz guests frequent the show, sharing their expertise on an array of different musical subject matter. Listeners are invited to call in with their jazz questions to the podcast hotline, where it could get answered on a future LJS Podcast episode. Join thousands of other listeners getting free jazz education every week!
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