Learn Jazz Standards Podcast
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 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!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 12, 2024 • 9min
The One Jazz Standard Strategy for Jazz
Learn the philosophy and benefits of the 'one jazz standard strategy for jazz' which emphasizes the importance of learning songs, harmonic concepts, chord progressions, and jazz language. Focus on one specific area to deepen understanding and improve skills.
Jan 11, 2024 • 10min
How Do I Retain the Songs I've Learned?
The podcast discusses strategies for learning and retaining jazz songs, emphasizing the importance of regularly playing and being excited about them. It suggests incorporating periodic review sessions into practice routines to refresh and maintain the songs already learned, while also learning new songs for improvisation purposes.
Jan 10, 2024 • 11min
Which Metronomes Are Good For Jazz?
This podcast discusses the role of metronomes in jazz practice and emphasizes developing internal time and a steady time feel. It explores exercises with a metronome to enhance time feel and flexibility and highlights the value of practicing with recordings to develop adaptability when playing with other musicians.
Jan 9, 2024 • 9min
Should I Be Counting When I Solo?
In this podcast episode, Brent addresses a question from Cliff Dunn about counting while soloing. Brent advises against counting while soloing, emphasizing the challenge of trying to coordinate two different tasks simultaneously. Instead, he recommends practicing feeling the time and provides various strategies, such as listening to recordings, working with a metronome, and breaking down the feeling of a measure. Brent encourages musicians to focus on feeling the music in their bodies and offers practical tips to improve time perception during solos.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!
Jan 8, 2024 • 9min
What Size of Jazz Band is Best?
The podcast explores the preference between a jazz trio or a quartet, highlighting the value of playing with other musicians and the challenges that come with different band settings. The speaker shares personal insights and encourages musicians to explore various settings to grow as jazz players. The episode also discusses navigating challenging gigs and emphasizes personal growth as a musician.
Jan 5, 2024 • 10min
The Batch Practice Method for Jazz
In this podcast episode, Brent talks about adopting the Batch Practice Method to improve jazz skills. and outlines a simple but focused approach to achieve measurable progress by breaking learning goals into small, manageable batches to master over multiple practice sessions before moving on incrementally.Key steps include defining a concrete overall project like learning a new standard monthly, then batching subsets like intervals of melody, chords, or solos to deeply ingrain before adding more. 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!
Jan 4, 2024 • 10min
Should I Think When I Improvise?
In this episode, Brent answers a question from an inner circle member of the Learn Jazz Standards community, on whether musicians should think while improvising or just play what they feel. Brent explains that the best improvisers utilize both conscious thinking to guide their playing and subconscious reactions to melodies and emotions. He advises practicing 'playing free' without goals to enter a relaxed mental state, as well as deeply studying theory, chords, and licks in the practice room so this knowledge becomes instinctive during performances.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!
Jan 3, 2024 • 11min
How to Use the Melodic Minor In Jazz
In this episode, Brent answers a listener's question asking how to use melodic minor scales over dominant seventh chords in jazz improvisation. Brent explains music theory provides tools to conceptualize improvisation, though the goal is applying scales flexibly to add textures and flavors. He demonstrates three uses of melodic minor scales: over half-diminished II chords in minor key progressions, a half-step up from the root of dominant V chords, and the root of minor I chords. Key takeaways are understanding scale applications as devices for tension and resolution rather than playing rigid patterns. 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!
Jan 2, 2024 • 8min
Who's the First Ever Jazz Musician?
In this episode, Brent answers a listener's question on who was the first jazz musician in history. He explains there is no definitive single originator but rather an evolution in New Orleans reflecting diverse musical and cultural influences. Key musicians mentioned are Buddy Bolden, Jelly Roll Morton, and Louis Armstrong, among others. Brent emphasizes understanding jazz history and listening to key recordings to appreciate how the music developed and continues evolving. 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!
Jan 1, 2024 • 10min
The Best Songs for Jazz Beginners
The podcast discusses the best songs for jazz beginners, including modal tunes like 'So What' and 'Impressions', simple melodies, 12-bar blues, and beginner jazz standards like 'Freddie Freeloader' and 'Autumn Leaves'. It covers improvisation techniques using scales and chord/melody relationships.
