Jazz School News, Thoughts and Events.

Quick Overview: Moving beyond the intermediate level takes more than learning new scales or harder exercises. This blog looks at the skills that can help jazz musicians grow, including improvisation, ear training, phrasing, performance, and developing a personal sound. It also explains how professional guidance and real playing experience can help musicians turn technical progress into stronger musical expression.

Quick Overview: Guide tones are two of the most useful notes in jazz harmony: the 3rd and 7th. They help musicians hear chord movement, create smooth voice leading, and build stronger improvised lines. This blog explains how guide tones work, why they matter, and how musicians can practice them to develop better phrasing, harmonic awareness, and a more personal approach to jazz.

Quick Overview: Advanced jazz musicians often reach a stage where more practice alone is not enough. One-on-one mentorship offers a more personal way to refine technique, strengthen improvisation, and develop a distinct musical voice. With thoughtful feedback and real-world guidance, musicians can work on phrasing, storytelling, listening, performance, and creative expression while gaining a clearer understanding of what they want to say through their music.

Quick Overview: A day at Bloom School of Jazz is more than learning notes and techniques. Students build musical understanding through listening, harmony, improvisation, and creative practice. From beginners to experienced musicians, each lesson focuses on personal growth and meaningful progress. This blog shares how Bloom School helps students develop stronger skills, deeper musical awareness, and confidence as jazz musicians.

Quick Overview: This blog explains 7th chords in jazz piano in a simple way. It shows how these chords are built, why they matter, and how they shape jazz harmony. With easy examples and practice ideas, learners understand chord movement and sound. It also highlights how structured learning helps build control and confidence in jazz piano playing.

Quick Overview:This blog explains how ride cymbal and hi-hat work together to create jazz groove. It breaks down their roles in simple terms with examples and practice tips. Readers learn how ride gives flow while hi-hat adds structure. It also shows how beginners can improve timing and control through steady practice and listening.

There is a magic building in Chicago located at 232 East Ohio Street. For years and years musical magicians have had their souls captured on tape there.

Fifty years ago on October 28, 1973, my first band "Focus" played a gig in Hyde Park at the Quadrangle Club. I used to have lunch there with my father where he would point out two or three Nobel Prize laureates (not intimidating at all). This place was a home-away-from-home for some very serious world-class brain power professors (including my dad Benjamin Bloom) from the University of Chicago.