Improvisation Savvy
Longer-form video lessons on improvisation for any instrument
Improvisation Savvy is a course for musicians who are ready to listen more deeply—first to themselves, then to the music.
Improvisation is not made better by playing faster or knowing more theory. It’s about removing the noise between your imagination and your instrument. Through thoughtful, intentional practice, you’ll build the habits, awareness, and confidence that lead to real growth.
Improvisation Savvy cuts through the confusion and complexity around improvisation, empowering you with clarity, confidence, and the freedom to truly express yourself through your instrument.
Enjoy your journey through this collection of videos, audios, eBooks, and other goodies!
Foundation: Module 1
The basics to get things started
Introduction to Improvisation Savvy
Welcome to Improvisation Savvy—a course built to connect your ear to your instrument. Watch this short introductory video to get started.
Skills Assessment
Progress starts with a clear picture of where you are. This lesson gives you practical tools to assess your skills and plan your path forward.
Playing Songs by Ear
Stop overthinking—start listening. This lesson helps you connect theory to instinct, so your playing becomes a true reflection of your inner ear.
Find Your Voice
Stop chasing legends—start sounding like you. This lesson helps you uncover your true musical voice and make it the heart of your improvisation.
Good Bye
A mellow track in four flats with subtle harmonic and rhythmic motion. Repeating lines take on new color as the rhythm shifts beneath them—listen closely and let your creativity shape the rest.
Jazz Theory: Module 2
Some technical fundamentals
Introduction to Jazz Theory
Is theory helping or holding you back? This introduction invites you to rethink theory as a creative tool—not a crutch—for deeper, more instinctive playing.
Playing Over One Key
Master improvisation in a single key. Using “Happy Birthday,” this lesson connects scales, chords, and soloing through deep harmonic listening.
Basic Solo Analysis
Improvisation starts with simple building blocks. This lesson breaks down a solo on “Happy Birthday” to show how phrasing brings personality to your playing.
Playing Over the Blues
Learn to play the blues. This lesson explores the 12-bar form as a musical conversation—full of nuance, history, and emotional depth.
Blues Solo Analysis
Turn a solo into a story. This lesson breaks down how phrasing, repetition, and timing transform a blues solo into emotional expression.
Playing Over Complex Changes part 1
Navigate complex changes by ear. “Safe Haven,” inspired by All the Things You Are, challenges you to follow key shifts with instinct, not theory.
Playing Over Complex changes part 2
Handle complex modulations with ease. Using “All the Things You Are,” this lesson helps you simplify key changes and build melodic flow through anticipation.
Playing Over Complex Changes part 3
Turn harmonic awareness into action. This lesson uses the bridge of “All The Things You Are” to connect melody, ear training, and improvisation.
Hearing the Circle of Fifths
Hear the Circle of Fifths in action. This lesson shows how key relationships shape harmonic movement, improvisation, and musical storytelling.
Advanced Circle of Fifths
Explore the Circle of Fifths in depth with Anton Schwartz. This lesson uses the Scalemate app to reveal how scales, harmony, and intervals connect.
Hear the Music: Module 3
Ear Training For Improvisation
Introduction to Hearing the Music
Let your ear lead the way. This lesson reframes “ears before eyes” as a path to expressive, intuitive playing—without relying on charts or patterns.
Connecting Your Ear to Your Instrument
Silence the mental noise that blocks your flow. This lesson helps you quiet left-brain chatter and play with clearer, more instinctive expression.
Listening to the Sounds Around You
Develop instinctive pitch and phrasing through call-and-response. This lesson strengthens your ear using practical, intuitive daily exercises.
Note Discovery for Ear
Train your ear to react in real time. The “Note Discovery” exercise helps you listen deeper and respond more instinctively to sound.
Harmonic Anticipation
Sharpen your instinct to anticipate. This lesson trains you to hear what’s coming next—using storytelling, driving, and deep listening as your guide.
Learning a Tune
Learn tunes by truly hearing them. This lesson helps you internalize changes and melody on a deeper, more musical level.
Using Ears Instead of Eyes
Trust your ears first. This lesson shows how intuitive, expressive playing emerges when you stop relying on watching chord symbols and start following your ear.
Playing the Music Within You
Make your instrument an extension of your imagination. This lesson helps you connect inner hearing to outer playing—through singing, transcription, and imitation.
The Power of Habit
One key to better improvisation is better habits. This lesson shows how to build sustainable practice routines that support long-term musical growth.
Time & Rhythm: Module 4
Sharpen Your Internal Musical Clock
Introduction to Time and Rhythm
Rhythm is more than a beat—it’s your phrasing, your feel, your story. This module introduces three pillars that will reshape how you play.
Metronomic Rhythm part 1
How steady is your internal pulse? This lesson uses silence, movement, and listening to calibrate your time feel from the inside out.
Metronomic Rhythm part 2
Challenge your sense of time with unexpected tools. This second lesson sharpens your rhythmic precision by disrupting your instincts—on purpose.
Groove Rhythm
Groove rhythm is about feel, not mechanics. Learn to shape your rhythmic identity through listening, modeling, and transcription.
Phrase Rhythm part 1
Phrase rhythm gives your solos shape and character. It’s not theory—it’s how your improvisation feels from beginning to end.
Phrase Rhythm part 2
Turn phrase rhythm into action. This lesson builds your ability to shape musical ideas through focused, playable rhythmic challenges.
Better Swing from Beats 2 and 4
Unlock the power of beats 2 and 4. This subtle shift in your internal pulse can transform your time feel, swing, and overall groove.
Tips, Tools, & Tactics:
Module 5
Miscellaneous Valuable Knowledge for Peak Performance
Introduction to Tips, Tools, and Tactics
Start building your improvisation toolbox. This module introduces tips, tactics, and mindset shifts to sharpen your creative approach.
Most Important Parts of Your Solo
Great solos begin, peak, and end with intention. Learn how to shape your improvisation like a story that captures, moves, and stays with your audience.
Anchor Notes
This tool helps you navigate complex changes with clarity and confidence. Learn how to use them to reset, regroup, and spark more cohesive solos.
The Power of Constraint
Strengthen your playing by stripping it down. Learn how Constraint Exercises reveal and more easily improve the weaker spots in your improvisation.
Transcribing
Transcription isn’t a task—it’s a tool. Learn how to use it to sharpen your instincts and transform how you hear and improvise.
The Power of Self-Talk
Shift the self-talk shaping your playing. Learn how to recognize and reframe your inner dialogue to support growth instead of holding you back.
More Energy For Playing
Great playing takes energy. Discover how small shifts in physical and mental fuel can lead to major breakthroughs in your musicianship.
Playing Better over These Standards
The video encourages you to go beyond muscle memory when improvising over familiar jazz standards like "Autumn Leaves" or "All the Things You Are," emphasizing the importance of deeper musical understanding and ear training.
Practicing Well: Module 6
Making the Most of Your Practice Time & Effort
Introduction to Practicing Well
Getting good takes time—but smart, joyful practice makes it count. This lesson kicks off the Practicing Module with a mindset shift toward purposeful growth.
Making Time to Practice
Build a routine that sticks. Learn how to overcome time, motivation, and inertia with a clear, practical plan for consistent, productive practice.
Warming Up Your Ear
Get more from your practice by engaging your brain, not just the clock. Discover how variety and challenge lead to faster, more rewarding growth.
Finding More Help From Your Brain
Get more from your practice by engaging your brain, not just the clock. Discover how variety and challenge lead to faster, more rewarding growth.
Finding the Root Cause of a Playing Problem
Learn to spot what’s really holding you back. This lesson shows how to trace problems to their root cause and become your own best teacher.
Cool Rhythm Tracks for Practicing
Use simple grooves to unlock your creativity. These play-alongs help you close the gap between your imagination and your instrument—no need to focus on speed or flash.
30-Minute Practice Outline
Practice for real progress—not perfection. Richie Beirach shares how to structure your technical routine so it leads to tangible, musical results.
