All Episodes

June 24, 2025 68 mins

Illustrations
Lead Sheets
Play Alongs

Jazz Piano Skills Community

Keywords
jazz piano, rhythm, improvisation, jazz standards, musical education, melodic vocabulary, jazz techniques, music theory, jazz practice, jazz skills

Summary
In this episode of Jazz Piano Skills, Dr. Bob Lawrence delves into the essential elements of jazz piano, focusing on the importance of rhythm in musical expression. He emphasizes that rhythm is foundational to melody and harmony, and neglecting it can lead to frustration in musical development. The episode features a comprehensive exploration of 50 must-know rhythms that serve as building blocks for creating melodic vocabulary in jazz. Dr. Lawrence encourages listeners to practice these rhythms artistically, highlighting their significance in improvisation and overall musicianship.

Takeaways
Rhythm is crucial for musical expression and development.
Melody and harmony need rhythm to be effective.
Neglecting rhythm can lead to musical frustration.
Rhythm should be a daily focus in practice routines.
Understanding foundational rhythms is essential for all musicians.
Practicing rhythms helps develop melodic vocabulary.
Artistic presentation of rhythms is more important than mathematical accuracy.
Jazz improvisation relies on applying rhythms to melodic ideas.
Take time to master foundational rhythms before advancing.
Enjoy the process of learning and practicing jazz piano.

Titles
Unlocking the Secrets of Jazz Piano
The Rhythm Revolution in Jazz

Sound bites
"50 must-know rhythms for jazz players."
"Good things come in small packages."
"Take your time and enjoy the process."

Find the next great song for your playlists.
Music news, reviews and interviews to bring you closer to your favourite artists.

Listen on: Apple Podcasts   Spotify

Support the show

Mark as Played

Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.