Supercharge your practice sessions!

A 'silver lining' to the current pandemic is the ability for increased practice time, but how to spend it?

ACWE is hosting a Masterclass on Zoom with Austin area performing musician and teacher, Michael Melinger, on Tuesday, March 9 at 7:30PM. Please join us!

Click here to watch the video

This session will provide practice tools for both new and experienced players, jazz-focused or not, to help you maximize your progress on your instrument.  The first section will focus on the Cycle of 5ths and why it should be the cornerstone of your foundational studies, as well as a list of 35 exercises you can incorporate now.

The second section focuses more specifically on jazz improvisation, starting with Seven Concepts for Successful Improvisation and progressing to a Guide Tone Analysis on three Blues Progression Types: Standard, Charlie Parker, and John Coltrane.  
The third section will be Q&A, and everyone is encouraged to join in!

Materials used during the clinic:

• 7 concepts for improvisation (PDF)
• Circle of fifths (PNG)
• Guide Tone Analysis, Three Blues (PDF)
• Cycle of fifths foundational exercises (PDF)

Michael Melinger has performed with the Austin Jazz Workshop since 1994 and with the High Island Hepcats since 1989. He received a Master in Jazz Studies/Saxophone Performance Degree from the University of North Texas in 1992. He earned a Bachelor in Music Performance/ Saxophone from the University of Oregon in 1987. Melinger’s discography includes Take to the Sky (2000), Basin Street Stomp (2002), Anything Goes (Fall 2003), Big Boss Tenor (Fall 2005), Mystery Note (September 2009), Epistrophy (April 2017), all with the Austin Jazz Workshop, and Too Hep to Hop (Spring 2003) with the High Island Hepcats.

Read more about Michael Melinger

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