Today's lesson is about keeping the form in a jazz tune.
As I explain in the video, it was almost an afterthought to me.
For years, I just ate dirt onstage and in class whenever somebody called a tune with a hard form...
...then, it just seemed to get better.
Like many who learned something in a crucible, I had assumed there was no other way.
Which explains my response to many of the comments, emails, and texts I'd get over the years: "meh - is that really a problem?"
But it turns out, yes.
In fact, keeping the form on a jazz standard is the lesson topic that, over the years, people have requested more than any other.
Recently, it occurred to me that my view on the topic wasn't congruent with my other views around drums, music, practice, and learning.
Since college, I've of course had a personal renaissance when it comes to getting better; realizing, among other things...
-That practice is at least as important as talent
-That good practice can accelerate a growth curve
-That bad practice can stunt it
Why, then, was I continuing to approach jazz forms as if...yea it's gonna suck for a lot of years then it's gonna get better.
(Especially when players of other instruments don't see it that way:P)
What's more, there were some low hanging fruit tools to make learning forms one of the easier things to practice.
Smash cut to this week's lesson.
Hope you enjoy.