Memorizing music // VLOG #136

This was inspired by a question from a student: “What percentage of your improvisation is harmonically conscious?” Also, if you're a classical player trying to transition into jazz, pay close attention to this one.

the articles I mentioned:

(lessons, courses, community)

FOLLOW ON

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Bob Reynolds is a Grammy Award-winning tenor saxophonist known for his work with Snarky Puppy, John Mayer, and 8 solo albums. He is a D'Addario Woodwinds artist.

LONGER BIO

Saxophonist Bob Reynolds is an in-demand jazz performer, educator, and sideman, as well as a regular member of the Grammy Award-winning band Snarky Puppy. Born in Morristown, New Jersey in 1977, Reynolds grew up in Jacksonville, Florida, where he first started playing saxophone at age 13. Although he listened to a range of music as a kid, by his late teens he was a dedicated jazz student. After high school he honed his skills at Boston's Berklee College of Music, where he mentored with George Garzone, Hal Crook, and others. As a leader, he debuted with 2000's The Bob Reynolds Quartet, followed by 2006's Can't Wait for Perfect. That same year, he joined fellow Berklee alum John Mayer's band and spent the next five years with the pop star, touring and appearing on such albums as 2008's Where the Light Is and 2009's Battle Studies.

In 2013, he returned to his solo work with Somewhere in Between, which reached number one on digital jazz charts. He then made his Snarky Puppy debut appearing on the genre-bending group's 2014 effort, We Like It Here. Two years later he was back with Snarky Puppy for the Grammy Award-winning Culcha Vulcha. In 2017, Reynolds delivered the EP Guitar Band, which featured appearances from Kneebody bassist Kaveh Rastegar as well as fellow Snarky Puppy members Robert "Sput" Searight (drums) and Mark Lettieri (guitar). ~ Matt Collar

[DineshBhadwal]

"The idea is to make music with your ears and not your eyes." What a useful thing to say. Playing using your ears can be excruciating. But, once you know the tune and play it with your eyes closed is when the fun starts. Also, articulation is mostly an ear job. You can't articulate of the page. You need to hear the sound only then is it possible to articulate. Thanks for another useful video.

[Digm]

Outlier is THE OG Bob Reynold's solo for me. Love the original solo

[quinnrehkemper]

"Stretching hamstrings while memorizing Snarky Puppy" Literally the definition of these vlogs! Love it!

[music_works]

Oh man look at your son, he's taking it all in!

[Mikeshawtoday]

Yes. I'm making this transition to playing by ear. It does work. Also using Amazing Slow Downer. Super helpful. Two different parts of the brain, I think - reading is like being a player piano using one part of your brain, and doing it by ear is a completely different section of the brain. The paper helps me identify the notes I'm missing in my head, then I re-play from memory. Thanks for supporting this concept for me! Thanks Bob!

[debzfiedler]

Thank you, Bob -- I grabbed several great nuggets from this VLOG. Every little tidbit helps!

[jermaineholland]

Heading to the Blue Whale to see you tonight and I already have tickets for tomorrow at the Potato!

[loue]

Dude your drive is amazing. I'm having a hard time finishing 3 songs. Granted I have a full time job but still.
#inspired

[NickFinzer]

so so so true! learning it by ear - right with ya on this!

[kennethwilliams]

Thank Bob! Love your stuff. It would be great to see you in Sacramento someday. I would be there for sure.

[jonah]

Had no idea you knew Shai! I had the chance to learn from and play with him a little this summer. He's so killing haha

[scottguthre]

Thank you for your insight on memorizing music. I have the same blockage to memorizing written music. If I learn a tune by ear I know it. If I've played a tune 20 or 30 times reading a chart I still need to put the notation away before I can memorize it.

[Diegoralvar]

Hi Bob, greetings from Mexico City, I hope I’ll see you performing here soon.

[randygeorge]

Super inspiring Vlog Ep, Bob. Also, your video editing chops are getting to be ninja level. Is there a vlog editing award we can nominate you for?

[matosjorgemiguel]

Thanks for this video. As a self taught musician I've always relied on my ears to learn. Lately, I've tried to do the reverse and improve my reading skills because I feel like cheating by relying too much on my ears. As a self taught musician I always thought that one is supposed to read and instantly play the tune. But with this video I realize now that relying on my ear is not a bad thing. 😃

[abhinavcheedella]

WHITE CAP GOD I LOVE THAT SONG. IM TRYING TO TRANSCRIBE IT ON TENOR SAX TOO

[Nestor_Fernandez]

Bob, it would be great to see you in Munich, Germany any time soon!!

[mp]

If you're trying to learn a piece of music with paper you're trying to memorize it  and it really won"t stick... BUT If you use your ear to learn a piece of music you will internalize it and it will stick with you... by ear much much better if you really want to KNOW the tune...

[luizsalles]

Man, im from brazil, we have a lot of great musicians here, but as a saxophonist like i want to be, i take you like my inspiration, your sound, your smooth and "coffee" sound its exactly what i want for me in music. Thanks for your videos. And sorry for my bad english hahah, love you bro! keep inspiring me

[shanedsouza]

How do I go about learning music theory? I play the guitar but your vlogs really help me understand music better. I know my major scales and how it works in music so I guess my main question is, how do i practice theory?