Some say it’s pointless But here’s why I think it’s pretty much necessary It’s perfect source material for building jazz language. You can rip bits of people solos, learn them in the right context and use them when you solo. You can really get into the rhythm, swing and small intricacies that make up someone’s style and the greater style that is jazz music. You can get the feeling of playing a GREAT solo. When we first start playing jazz, chances are that we aren’t playing GREAT solos. We are just learning right now. By learning to play someone else’s genius improvisation we are getting the chance to play great music, as we do when we learn to play classical or folk music, we play GREAT pieces of work by master composers. Anyone disagree with me? I'm ready to have my mind changed, I promise!

Hi all, We’ve been working hard on the tune Avalon this last month in the practise club. Post a video of you improvising over the tune and get some feedback and encouragement from the group! Use the backing track here! https://youtu.be/97k8jD9Bgd4?si=OLDCdx8RubuKPyyg Here’s my version!

I’m opening up a small number of spots for my 1-1 coaching at a limited-edition price. If you’re feeling a bit stuck, or you want some proper guidance and accountability for a month, this will get you moving. What’s included: 🎯 1 month of 1-1 coaching Weekly lessons plus support throughout the month so you’re never left wondering what to do next. 📝 A detailed practice plan Built around your goals, clear and realistic, so you can actually follow it. 📆 3 monthly check-ins afterwards To make sure you keep heading in the right direction. 📚 6 months of access to everything in the Premium package on Skool Weekly études, exercises, and all the beginner-class courses. If you’re up for it, let me know. Limited spots and a limited price. When they’re gone, that’s it. Drop me a message or comment if you want in. 🎻

Everyone has got one. I'd love to hear yours. The time that you either felt fully out of your depth, someone acted in a way that ruined the vibe or you just didnt know the chords and had to play a solo. Here's mine... I was running a jam in an unnamed major city in the north. No one turned up to jam for the first set, but the room was packed. In the break, a huge dude came up to me and aggressively said, “I’m a singer. I don’t know any tunes and I don’t sing jazz, but this is meant to be a jam so I’m gonna get up and sing what I feel, OK?!” I said, “OK.” We started the first set and played a minor blues. Halfway through the tune the man stood up from his seat in the audience, slowly got up on stage, and started improvising some random stuff on top. I thought it would be a complete car crash, but it actually didn’t turn out too bad. He got a massive round of applause and looked happy. Then he just sat back down in the audience after his solo. It wasn’t great by any standards, but it wasn’t a total nightmare. I was relieved. Just as the next break was coming up, I spotted a local-ish singer known to be a total nightmare. Shouts at her musicians onstage, gets lost and blames the band, extremely difficult person. A great singer but such a difficult presence that she’d been given a nickname (which I obviously can’t share here). My heart sank again when I saw her. She asked to sing in the break and I of course said, “Yes.” She sang Summertime. It was ok, actually pretty good. But halfway through her first round of the melody, the guy stood up again. He crashed onstage this time and tried to find a mic that was on. The only spare mic wasn’t on, so he shouted at the sound engineer until he turned it on. What followed can only be described as a vocal battle. Two singers, with very different levels of skill, basically shouting at each other in A minor. Like two walruses fighting over a rock in the ocean. It was both amazing and terrible at the same time. And it’s both my best and worst jam session story, can you top it?

Welcome to Learning Jazz Violin. This is a place of support and community for people who are, well… learning jazz violin. Please introduce yourself to the rest of the group by posting in the community discussion board. I’m Matt Holborn, a jazz violinist based in London UK. A lot of what I do is within the Django and Stéphane style, but I’m also passionate about straight ahead, swinging jazz, and different forms of folk music. I also play in musical comedian Bill Bailey’s live band. In this community you will find: • A free discussion board for posting about anything jazz violin related • 2 free courses in the Classroom section (Bowing, and Learning Honeysuckle Rose) There are also lots of different paid courses (which you can currently access by signing up to a paid tier). Each of them is designed not only to give you information but to help you get into the mindset of a jazz violinist. I teach by ear with videos, technical exercises based on jazz language, and assignments based on opening up your violin playing with harmony and improvisation. I don’t have a one-size-fits-all method because that just isn’t how jazz works for me. My teaching is about showing you how many jazz musicians think, and how you can use that to shape your own musical voice in jazz. I hope you enjoy using this space with us! Matt