POSTunderground Online Jazz Institute

Jazz Theory for Pragmatists offers adult jazz players a common sense approach to jazz theory, providing an alternative to entrenched orthodoxy. In practice, this online class is wide-ranging discussion about the system of music itself, with the ultimate goal of thinking less and playing more. Every aspect of the jazz quest is up for consideration. Every jazz musician can benefit from new thought processes. All concepts have been reverse-engineered from the works of Louis Armstrong, Lester Young, and Charlie Parker.

Order of Melodic/Harmonic Concepts:

The Duality of Major and Minor

The Universe of Harmonic Minor

Building from the 5th

Thinking Past the 9th

The Secret Life of #11

Pentatonics for Pragmatists

The Remarkable II-V Cluster

Unlocking Melodic Minor

Fusing Major and Minor

The Universe of Harmonic Major

The Neglected Diminished Scale

The Importance of Being Augmented 

Order of Rhythmic Concepts:

Time Time Time Time Time

Mind vs Fingers

Taking Swing Literally

One and Three Revisited

Syncopating Against One and Three

The Pursuit of Bliss