#Chromatically

Did you know that you could form pentatonic voicings using notes of the pentatonic scale? They're beautiful, lush, and part of the jazz language. They're also quite challenging to get into your fingers - moving around 5 notes is no joke! So, with more advanced concepts like this, you need clever strategies that'll allow you to gradually download the shapes into your fingers. But it doesn't end there, because the most important thing is learning how to apply it to music - making it work over the chord changes of a tune. If you liked the exercise and it's something you're serious about getting better at so that you can seamlessly pull off these pentatonic voicings.. then you're gonna need to know the exact strategies on how to not only learn the many voicings, but how to practice applying it in a musical context so that it doesn't just remain an exercise. And if you're wanting my guidance in helping you navigate this next step, then comment "LAUNCH" and we'll chat.

Ear-first practice: sing the notes, then find them on your instrument. Repeat until it feels natural. #musictheory #scale #modes #eartraining #musicpractice

Do you want to really know all the keys? Grab my workbook for sight-singing in all keys, with a 30-day plan to help you become a pro sight-reader. Made for classical musicians. All fragments are taken from real music. Comment SOLFA and check your DM.

Common theory misconceptions based on my own experience: 1. The existence of “harmonic and melodic minor keys.” This is NOT true - there is a single unified minor key, like how there is one major key. A scale is simply an ordered set of notes, while a key is a harmonic context. Harmonic and melodic minor scales are used as tools to explain common patterns of alteration used in minor contexts. 2. Key signatures can help clue a key, but they absolutely do not determine the key of a passage. Rather, harmonic analysis is required to determine the true key. Key signatures are just a notation tool. 3. Double accidentals and proper note spelling are crucial to making sheet music readable. Misspelt chords cause performers to second guess themselves, whereas correct spelling provides valuable harmonic context which makes reading much easier. 4. Music is an auditory art, and not something that can simply be taught on paper. Audiation is an extremely valuable skill that isn’t talked about enough imo—being able to hear music in your head just by reading sheet music. It deeply strengthens your understanding and familiarity with harmony. #musictheory #musiceducation #musicacademy #harmony #music

Just the phrase “12-Tone Music” provokes a negative response in many musicians. Whether you actually like it or not, here is why it’s beneficial to compose at least once in this style, even if it’s just as an exercise that nobody else will hear, and even if you never plan to incorporate it in your actual compositions. #musician #musiccomposition #musictheory

Eighth Note Rhythm Practice! #rhythm #sightreading #sheetmusic #beat #musicnotes

Stop avoiding the “hard” keys 😉 They only feel hard because you don’t meet them often. If you want better sight-reading, stronger ear training, and real confidence with music theory, practice reading in all 30 keys! A little daily practice across every key changes everything.

Harmony ain't just fifths! 😜 Discover the 'pentamerous dimension' Harmony! #musictheory #harmony #overtones #musicnerd #composerslife #musiceducation

This is an excellent voicing for E13b9#11. The 5 6 b7 cluster adds homonance, warmth, and character to the voicing. The nine-monad texture of this voicing resonates with depth. You can impose this lush dominant voicing as a reharmonization. Paticularly since it is a dominant diminished voicing, it works well as a sub for the dominants in the brother dominant family (V7 bVII7, bII7, III7) due to the fact that the brother family forms a diminished tetrad itself. It can otherwise be used as a non-functional dominant, albeit lydian dominant or whole tone voicings are typically favored over dominant diminished voicings in non-functional contexts.

full video up on my youtube

example

5️⃣s & 7️⃣s. They are usually the most challenging ones. Have you ever played them on your instrument? #SightReading #RhythmPractice 🎶