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Improvisation Episodes

Jazz Piano: Common Questions Answered
305
Sept. 30, 2025

Jazz Piano: Common Questions Answered

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode provides answers to some of the most common questions about the study of jazz. Questions submitted to Dr. Lawrence throughout the year are presented and answered clearly and succinctly.
Improvisation, The Mastery of Harmony
304
Sept. 23, 2025

Improvisation, The Mastery of Harmony

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode, "How to Start Jazz Improvising" focuses on Improvisation, The Mastery of Harmony. Discover Harmonic Structures for the development of YOUR Melodic Ideas
Blue Bossa, Improvisation
303
Sept. 16, 2025

Blue Bossa, Improvisation

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode explores the jazz standard "Blue Bossa." Part three of this study focuses on Improvisation development, using harmonic shapes to generate melodic ideas.
Celebrating 300 Episodes!
300
Aug. 26, 2025

Celebrating 300 Episodes!

Celebrating 300 Episodes of Jazz Piano Skills with Dr. Bob Lawrence! Dr. Lawrence reflects on his personal journey and discusses insights into the favorite episodes, as determined by Jazz Piano Skills Listeners.
That's All, Improvisation
299
Aug. 19, 2025

That's All, Improvisation

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode explores the jazz standard "That's All." Part three of this study focuses on Improvisation development, doing an analysis of a solo over the entire form of the tune.
Congrats, You're Improvising!
296
July 29, 2025

Congrats, You're Improvising!

Congrats, You're Improvising! This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode focuses on playing Improvising using Inverted Arpeggios. Harmonic Pairs are used to construct one melodic line that reflects the chords being played. It's time to Discover, Learn, and Play Jazz Piano!
Inverted Major Arpeggios
295
July 22, 2025

Inverted Major Arpeggios

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode focuses on playing Inverted Major Arpeggios. Melody Blocks are used to construct motifs using arpeggio motion from the Root, 3rd, 5th, and 7th of the sound. It's time to Discover, Learn, and Play Jazz Piano!
Lady Be Good, Improvisation
294
July 15, 2025

Lady Be Good, Improvisation

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode explores the jazz standard "Lady Be Good." Part three of this study focuses on Improvisation development using Inverted Arpeggios to create Melodic Motifs.
50 "Must Know" Rhythms!
291
June 24, 2025

50 "Must Know" Rhythms!

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode "50 "Must Know" Rhythms!" focuses on playing foundational rhythms necessary for developing jazz melodic vocabulary. It's time to Discover, Learn, and Play Jazz Piano!
Misty, Improvisation
290
June 17, 2025

Misty, Improvisation

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode explores the jazz standard "Misty." Part three of this study focuses on Improvisation development using composed Melodic Lines to intuitively modify rhythmically.
Rhythmic Major Arpeggios
287
May 27, 2025

Rhythmic Major Arpeggios

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode "Rhythmic Major Arpeggios" focuses on playing a variety of rhythmic motifs melodically using arpeggio motion. It's time to Discover, Learn, and Play Jazz Piano!
Georgia on My Mind, Improvisation
286
May 20, 2025

Georgia on My Mind, Improvisation

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode explores the jazz standard "Georgia on My Mind." Part three of this study focuses on Improvisation development using Rhythmic Motifs applied to Harmonic Shapes to create Melody.
Improvisation, a Rhythmic Command of Time
283
April 29, 2025

Improvisation, a Rhythmic Command of Time

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode "Improvisation, a Rhythmic Command of Time" focuses on playing a variety of rhythms using Harmonic & Melodic Shapes. It's time to Discover, Learn, and Play Jazz!
Diatonic Improvisation Patterns
282
April 22, 2025

Diatonic Improvisation Patterns

Podcast Packets Illustrations Lead Sheets Play Alongs Jazz Piano Skills Community Keywords Jazz Piano, Diatonicism, Improvisation, Harmonic Analysis, Melodic Analysis, Jazz Vocabulary, Arpeggios, Jazz Education, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Wave Summary In this episode of Jazz Piano Skills, Dr. Bob Lawrence explores the intricacies of jazz piano through the lens of diatonicism, harmonic and melodic analysis, and practical exercises. The discussion begins with a review of the jazz standard 'Wave' by Ant...
Wave, Improvisation
281
April 15, 2025

Wave, Improvisation

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode explores the jazz standard "Wave." Part Three of this study focuses on Improvisation development using Harmonic and Melodic Shapes found in the Chord/Scale Relationships.
Cyclical Quadruplets
278
March 25, 2025

Cyclical Quadruplets

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode explores and explains "Cyclical Quadruplets". Discover how to use Cyclical Quadruplets for developing idiomatic jazz language used while improvising.
What a Difference a Day Makes, Improvisation
277
March 18, 2025

What a Difference a Day Makes, Improvisation

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode explores the jazz standard "What a Difference a Day Makes." Part Three of this study focuses on Improvisation development using Cyclical Quadruplets.
Improvisation's Little Secret
274
Feb. 25, 2025

Improvisation's Little Secret

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode explores and explains "Improvisation's Little Secret". Discover how to re-think your approach to developing your improvisation skills
I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face, Improvisation
273
Feb. 18, 2025

I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face, Improvisation

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode explores the jazz standard "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face." Part Three of this study focuses on Improvisation development using sequential and essential steps.
Fly Me to the Moon, Improvisation
269
Jan. 21, 2025

Fly Me to the Moon, Improvisation

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode explores the jazz standard "Fly Me to the Moon." Part Three of this study focuses on Improvisation development using sequential and essential steps.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Improvisation
265
Dec. 24, 2024

Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Improvisation

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode explores the jazz standard "Santa Claus is Coming to Town." Part Three of this study focuses on Improvisation development using six sequential and essential steps.
Good Grief Vince Guaraldi, O Tannenbaum
264
Dec. 18, 2024

Good Grief Vince Guaraldi, O Tannenbaum

Good Grief Vince Guaraldi, O Tannenbaum is an exploration of a Christmas Classic enjoyed by jazz lovers around the world. Dr. Bob Lawrence and Josh Walsh illuminate various improvisation techniques used by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi..
Guest: Josh Walsh
September in the Rain, Improvisation
260
Nov. 20, 2024

September in the Rain, Improvisation

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode explores the jazz standard "September in the Rain." Part Three of this study focuses on Improvisation development using five sequential and essential steps.
Hybrid Scales
257
Oct. 30, 2024

Hybrid Scales

This Jazz Piano Skills Podcast Episode uses "Hybrid Scales" formulated from Harmonic Pairs to develop improvisation skills.