Monthly Archives: March 2014

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Websites

Check out three of my websites:

JazzSkills for Piano

Check out the newly redesigned JazzSkills for Piano, my extensive online jazz piano course.

JAZZ MASTERCLASS:  Step-by-Step

This are Martan Mann’s individual online lessons.  All lessons are taught in a proven step-by-step method.  This works!

Quickie JazzThought

My new site is Quickie JazzThought.  This is a great discussion blog where you can ask me questions on jazz, music and improv.  You can also view free YouTube Video Lessons.

This site grew out of over 80 JazzThoughts that I have placed on Twitter and Facebook and many questions that friends and students have asked me over the years.. You can also view the  JazzThoughts there and ask questions about them.

I hope you will visit this site often and participate with your comments.  I’m looking forward to conversing with you.

Musicmann Website

You are currently on my Musicmann Website (It has lots of information about all my activities, products, JAZZ MASTERCLASS: Step-by-Step and blog posts) and JazzSkills for Piano (my extensive online jazz piano course).   You can request to receive Four Free Videos . . . or to receive my email updates.

Check out my Resources Page on this website.  I present links of some of my favorite people, companies and products.  You can order the products right from my website page.

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Private Teaching

My private teaching schedule is going ahead full-force at home in Boulder Creek and at West Valley Music  in Mt. View! Contact me for a free interview.  My personal students (who take at least two lessons a month) will receive free access to JazzSkills for Piano.

West Valley Music Store
262 Castro Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
(650) 961-1566
http://www.westvalleymusic.com

I’m also teaching lessons by Skype.  If you are interested, click here.

News

Courses by Martan Mann

Video

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JazzSkills for Piano is now here!!!

Check it out.  Receive FOUR FREE VIDEOS.

Here’s some exciting new news regarding my new online jazz piano improv course, “JazzSkills for Piano (Getting from Here to There)“.   This is an intensive, deep, serious course in developing the skills necessary to play jazz piano.  It’s the subconscious which does the playing . . . you have the FUN.  This is your time to get started!

JazzSkills for Piano:

  • Over 200 lesson videos
  • Downloadable PDFs
  • The Private Lesson Blog
  • JAZZ MASTERCLASS: Step-by-Step (stand alone lessons)
  • Zoom
  • Webinars
  • Lots of text and much more.

These lessons are from beginning to fairly advanced and assume that you already have basic pianistic skills.  This course will definitely take you “From Here to There”.  Visit JazzSkills for Piano to receive Four Free Videos.

Click the button to receive Four Free Videos.red_getaccessnow

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JAZZ MASTERCLASS: Step-by-Step

Martan Mann has created single stand-alone intensive lessons for the jazz pianist.  These lessons are available for separate sale for $30 (to view for three months).

These are my latest standalone lessons from JAZZ MASTERCLASS: Step-by-Step.

Current individual courses:

  1. “Learning Giant Steps for the Jazz Pianist”
  2. “Modal Improv for the Jazz Pianist”
  3. “Learning Stride Blues for the Jazz Pianist”
  4. “Pachelbel Improv”
  5. “Learning Boogie Woogie”
  6. “Preparing to Play in All Keys”
  7. “Preparing to Learn a Tune”
  8. “HymnSkills: Developing Hymn Improvisation”
  9. “Pentatonics for Pianists (Latest Release)

This series of lessons give step-by-step instruction in analyzing and developing specific tunes and styles.  This solves mysteries.  This gives answers Now!  You can choose your tune and/or style to develop it fully and creatively.  New Step-by-Step Lessons will be added often.  Visit his website:  Musicmann.com to join his mailing list to stay current on the release of new lessons.red_getaccessnow

News

Recording and Rehearsals for Vocalists

Audio

I want to remind vocalists that I can provide rehearsal and recording services. I have a beautiful Yamaha C7 and excellent recording equipment. It’s quick and easy to record a demo or complete CD. CD artwork is also available.

I can also create Band in a Box charts and recordings which sound like a real band. You’ll be amazed!!!  TURN OFF THE MUSIC AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE.

The above is an audio file, “You’d be so nice to come home to”. It has my live piano playing mixed with the BIAB file. The first and third chorus is a backup for the vocalist. The second chorus is a sax solo. BIAB can put the song into any key, style, soloing instrument, tempo, etc.

Call me at (408) 234-2364 for more information. Or, send an email to martan@musicmann.com.

“I love to back vocalists!”

Music

Music

Video

Waltz for Debby

Martan Mann plays a short, casual improvisation on Bill Evans’ fabulous tune, Waltz for Debby.   (TURN OFF THE MUSIC AT THE TOP OF THIS SITE.)

 

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JazzThought Blog

Visit JazzThought to read Martan’s latest blog posts.
(Also visit:  JazzThought.com for more blog posts and jazz quotes.)

 Improve Your Jazz Improv

It’s one thing to improvise. But, what happens when your improv gets boring, stale and repetitive? What are some ways to “restart the engine”? In my own personal playing, I’m always looking for ways to “renew the spark”. I realize that my best improv is when I literally

Read More . . . .

MartanBlog

Music Language

This is a blog post article by Martan Mann
Author of JazzSkills for Piano®
View other posts at MartanBlog.

We have often been told that “music is the universal language”. Another way to look at this is to consider music as a direct language of emotion. It is an instant access into the subconscious of the listener. It is powerful!

I’m not an expert on brain functions, but I’m fairly sure that the same center of the brain that allows to speak, converse, create and conceive is the same “language center” which allows us to improvise and compose music. If that is true, we can directly improve our ability to improvise by learning music the same as we learn other languages.

I have some exercises which will develop your music-language skills.

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MartanBlog

Time is not a click.

This is a blog post article by Martan Mann
Author of JazzSkills for Piano®
View other posts at MartanBlog.

Music is not about perfection.  It is about feeling.  Jazz, in particular is about groove.  It is groove which gives jazz it’s identity, it’s purpose, it’s joy.  You know groove when you hear it.  You know what it feels like.  The main issue is . . . how to develop a great groove in your playing?

I’m pretty sure that ALL great players practice to a metronome.  Practicing to a metronome develops an internal “click” in the player’s subconscious.  However the click is only a reference point.  If you have recorded your music, you, and all the players on the recording, have probably listened to a “click track” while recording.  All the players have the same reference point of time.

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