Jazz Technique 'Pocket Practice Ideas' with Dave O’Higgins
Dave O’Higgins’ tenor and soprano sax sounds are highly personal and recognisable, with a clear sense of melodic development and adventure. A popular performer with the public, with an excellent sense of pacing and presentation, he has a wide palette from Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, John Coltrane, Joe Henderson through to Stanley Turrentine and Michael Brecker. He has relentlessly pursued artistic and sonic exploration and development with a deep respect for the tradition of the music.
daveohiggins.com
This series will aim to develop your jazz technique and make the most of the time you have to work on your playing. Dave likes to change up the routine he uses to practice, and often finds it highly productive and engaging to take a simple idea and run with it. Happy Practicing!
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Pocket Practice Idea No. 1 – The Serpent’s Tooth
We’ll start by taking the first two bars of the Miles Davis 1956 composition, The Serpent’s Tooth, and see what we can do with it!
Learning Document: Download
release date: 03/04/2023
Pocket Practice Idea No. 2 – Batman & Robin
In this video, Dave takes us through the relationship between the 2 & 5 Chords of a major cadence. Dave thinks of them as Batman and Robin - 'inseparable, and yet you only really have to think about the main man'.
Learning Document: DOWNLOAD
release date: 17/04/2023
Pocket Practice Idea No. 3 – Swing Feel
In this video, Dave addresses 'Swing Feel', practising Oliver Nelson's 'Butch & Butch' to a metronome. This Pocket Practice Idea aims to improve your facility, airflow, speed and in time, your articulation.
Learning Document: DOWNLOAD
release date: 01/05/2023
Pocket Practice Idea No. 4 – The Three Big Scales
In this video, Dave addresses 'The Three Big Scales' - we're talking Major, Melodic Minor & Harmonic Minor, the musical equivalent of safaris big game! This Pocket Practice Idea aims to improve your diatonic options as you practice through the keys.
Learning Document: DOWNLOAD
release date: 15/05/2023
Pocket Practice Idea No. 5 - 8 Basic Shapes in Patterns
In this video, Dave talks us through '8 Basic Shapes in Patterns' - This material is the foundation of your “Jazz Chops”. DON’T try & do it all at once. DO practice in all keys & with a metronome! This Pocket Practice Idea aims to develop a lucid facility by practising diatonic 3rds across the 8 different shapes.
Learning Document: DOWNLOAD
release date: 29/05/2023
Pocket Practice Idea No. 6 - Approach Patterns
This video uses simple target material to improve your rhythmic anticipation & the chromaticism to create an alluring sense of forward motion & resolution.
Learning Document: DOWNLOAD
release date: 12/06/2023
Pocket Practice Idea No. 7 - Articulation Basics
In this video, Dave talks us through his 'Articulation Basics' - for this lesson to make sense, you need to sing these lines and pay attention to your breathing and how your tongue moves in relation to your teeth.
Learning Document: DOWNLOAD
release date: 26/06/2023
Pocket Practice Idea No. 8 - Articulation Basics
This video is a continuation of the 'Articulation Basics' Dave taught in week 7, applying the articulation techniques to patterns, then 12 bars blues, and finally 'I Got Rhythm' changes.
Learning Document: DOWNLOAD
release date: 26/06/2023
Come back soon for more Pocket Practice Ideas!