Recent articles

The Road to Launching Downbeat Academy
The road to launching Downbeat Academy
What was the result the last time you searched for something music education-related on the web? If you’re like me and my confidants, the results were...less than fruitful.
Jory Tindall
Greg Feingold
Skyler Floe

Jory Tindall Greg Feingold Skyler Floe

Published on April 13th, 2020

How To Listen To Jazz: Listening Webs
How to listen to jazz: Listening webs
If someone wants to excel at any activity, it is necessary for them to observe the greatest practitioners of the craft. This is especially true of jazz. By immersing themselves in ...
Thomas Graham

Thomas Graham

Published on August 3rd, 2020

Enclosures: The Genius and Simplicity of Clifford Brown
Enclosures: The genius and simplicity of Clifford Brown
Learn how to use a fundamental part of the jazz language, enclosures, by referencing how Clifford Brown uses them in his solos.
Jory Tindall

Jory Tindall

Published on May 1st, 2020

I Transcribed. Now What?
I transcribed. Now what?
If you’re like me, then there always seems to be a gap between the time you spend transcribing and your growth as an improviser.
Skyler Floe

Skyler Floe

Published on May 1st, 2020

How to shape your solos like Kurt Rosenwinkel
How to shape your solos like Kurt Rosenwinkel
"Chords" is from Kurt Rosenwinkel's album The Remedy recorded live at the Village Vanguard in New York City. This solo encompasses a variety of pentatonic scale applications paired...
Skyler Floe

Skyler Floe

Published on February 20th, 2020

Why Starting Improvisation in Beginning Band is a Necessity
Why starting improvisation in beginning band is a necessity
Improvisation is an essential skill in today’s musical landscape. Professional musicians of all kinds are often expected to improvise whether on a “classical”, “jazz”, or “commerci...
Thomas Graham

Thomas Graham

Published on April 29th, 2020

4 Tactics to Getting and Keeping the Gig
4 tactics to getting and keeping the gig
Getting and keeping a regular gig as a sideman is a skill that presents a myriad of challenges. "Learn the music and you'll be fine" only goes so far.
Greg Feingold

Greg Feingold

Published on April 21st, 2020