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
Aug 5, 2019 • 15min
Intros to Play on Jazz Standards (7 Options)
Welcome to episode 179 of the LJS Podcast where today I go over 7 different options for playing an intro on a jazz standard. While you can just count off a tune and start playing the head on beat one, it can be nice to set up a song with an intro. I walk you through some options and give you a call to action at the end.Important Links:LJS Inner Circle MembershipFree Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayView Show NotesLearn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
Jul 29, 2019 • 38min
Becoming Your Own Jazz Teacher by Recording Yourself (feat. Jens Larsen)
Welcome to episode 178 of the LJS Podcast where today I have on special guest jazz guitarist and Youtuber, Jens Larsen to talk about recording yourself. I frequently get comments from my course students that the power of recording themselves has become a game-changer. Jens goes into detail about overcoming fears, and what to look out for when you listen back to yourself.Important Links:LJS Inner Circle MembershipFree Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayView Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
Jul 22, 2019 • 17min
Composing a Jazz Solo Over a Minor Blues
Welcome to episode 177 of the LJS Podcast where today I demonstrate a solo I composed over a minor blues. Composing jazz solos is one of the best ways to solidify the jazz language you already know and get it to come out in your playing.Important Links:LJS Inner Circle MembershipFree Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayView Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
Jul 15, 2019 • 41min
Leveling Up Your Jazz Improvisation by Thinking Slow (feat. Nick Mainella)
Welcome to episode 176 of the LJS Podcast where today our special guest Nick Mainella from the 10 Minute Jazz Lesson Podcast discusses how we can improve our jazz improv by thinking slow. To be a great jazz improviser you need to think fast and effectively, and in order to do that, you need to start by doing the opposite. Important Links:LJS Inner Circle MembershipFree Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayView Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
Jul 8, 2019 • 18min
Using Pitch Collections to Create Jazz Lines Over Static Chords
Welcome to episode 175 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about using pitch collections to create jazz lines over static chords.I personally don't enjoy thinking about playing scales over chords. I think a better way to think about scales is as "pitch collections" which can be especially helpful when learning to improvise over different qualities of chords. I go over the concept and demonstrate some licks.Important Links:LJS Inner Circle MembershipFree Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayView Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
Jul 1, 2019 • 39min
How to Learn Chord Progressions By Ear (Step-by-Step)
Welcome to episode 174 of the LJS Podcast where today I walk you through a step-by-step process for learning chord progressions by ear. Learning chord progressions by ear is usually the more challenging aspect of learning jazz standards by ear, and the benefits of learning by ear are numerous. I show you how the power of ear training, a tiny bit of harmony knowledge, and some practice will have you unlocking chord progressions.Important Links:LJS Inner Circle MembershipFree Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayView Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
Jun 24, 2019 • 19min
Taking the Blues Through All 12 Keys (How and Why to Do It)
Welcome to episode 173 of the LJS Podcast where today I talk about the importance of blues, and why you should take it into all 12 keys.Jazz is a music that emerged from the blues and therefore jazz language is steeped in it. If you can play the blues in any key your jazz improv skills will be miles ahead. In this episode, I demonstrate myself taking the blues through all 12 keys and how you can too!Important Links:LJS Inner Circle MembershipFree Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayView Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
Jun 17, 2019 • 39min
5 Things I Did to Jump-Start My Jazz Playing
Welcome to episode 172 of the LJS Podcast where today I share my personal story of how I jump-started my jazz skills. When I first became interested in jazz I felt like I was way behind compared to my peers. I wanted to become a great jazz improviser and so I invested my time and energy into it. I go over 5 things that had a big impact on my jazz playing and will have a big impact on yours as well.mportant Links:LJS Inner Circle MembershipFree Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayView Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
Jun 10, 2019 • 31min
10 Jazz Standards That Will Expand Your Understanding of Jazz Harmony
Welcome to episode 171 of the LJS Podcast where today we talk about 10 jazz standards that will expand your knowledge of jazz harmony.My philosophy is that if we learn jazz repertoire all of the lessons we need to learn about improvising will fall into place. These particular 10 jazz standards start exploring jazz harmony past a basic level of understanding and will help you know hundreds more.Important Links:LJS Inner Circle MembershipFree Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayView Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
Jun 3, 2019 • 16min
Limiting Beliefs are Crushing Your Jazz Potential
Welcome to episode 170 of the LJS Podcast where today we talk about limiting beliefs and how they can dictate the success or failure of our jazz improvement. Often times musicians are their own worse enemy. We choose to diminish our true capabilities and believe that our potential is limited. This episode is about taking a look in the mirror and breaking free from the shackles of our musical limiting beliefs.Important Links:LJS Inner Circle MembershipFree Guide to learn standards by ear: Learn Jazz Standards the Smart WayView Show Notes Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle: Get 50% off your first month!
