Whalen Jazz Lessons

Whalen Jazz Lessons LEARN | PRACTICE | GROW

04/25/2026

Ever wonder what scale to play on a V7 chord going to a minor chord? Harmonic Minor to the rescue! You can play the 5th mode of the harmonic minor scale. It works so nicely in a minor tonality because the scale contains the b9 and b13. Check it out!

04/23/2026

Use this Kenny Barron line to get more comfortable with bars 5-8 of the A section of Rhythm Changes.

04/21/2026

Struggling with what to practice? Try this: focus solely on these three lines for 2-3 weeks. Transpose them, find places to use them in tunes, and truly live with this vocabulary. I guarantee your playing will improve, no matter your level.

04/18/2026

Check out this concise and beautiful II-V-I line from the Jazz Poet himself, Mr. Tommy Flanagan! Slow it down. Memorize it. Transpose it. Pick it apart. Make it your own.

04/11/2026

Mix and match concepts (rootless voicings, block chords, etc) to create a unique, cohesive sound. Great players blend these ideas into a rich musical soup.

04/09/2026

Melodic Invention + Harmonic Movement = Better Jazz Piano

04/07/2026

I first heard Bill Evans on the radio in 1990. It was his block chord solo on "Green Dolphin Street" on the Miles Davis album "58 Sessions." Soon after, I heard his 'genre-defying trio albums "Portrait in Jazz" and "Explorations," and my musical life was changed forever, especially his version of "Beautiful Love" from "Explorations." I'll explore his treatment of this melody and show what we can learn from it.

03/25/2026

Keep track of your musical goals, progress, and challenges with a simple practice journal. Write down what worked, what didn't, and identify exactly what needs more attention. Become your own best teacher and grow!

03/05/2026

Stan Getz = Melodic Mastery!

Check out his masterful interpretation of the melody of "Like Someone in Love." This is taken from his legendary duo album with Kenny Barron, "People Time."

03/02/2026

Having a physical manuscript notebook can truly deepen your learning and help you keep a log of all your musical ideas. The more you put in here, the more you can refer back to for practice ideas!

02/27/2026

I can't recommend Drum Genius enough! If you haven't checked out this powerful practice tool, run (not walk) and grab it. It's one of my favorite tools in my practice arsenal.

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