Christopher Woitach

Christopher Woitach shows you how to move past fixed chord-melody arrangements and play a standard freely — making choices in the moment while staying true to the melody and harmony. Working with All the Things You Are , the course walks through every step needed to truly internalize a tune. Playing arrangements and transcriptions by greats like Joe Pass, George Van Eps, Barney Kessel and Ted Greene teaches us voicings, substitutions and common practice. But on the bandstand, jazz asks for flexibility — the ability to play a tune however the moment (or your bandmates) suggests. That takes knowing the melody and harmony deeply enough to improvise your own treatment. What's covered Taking the melody from a lead sheet and phrasing it like a jazz musician, with several Soundslice examples to try Examining the harmony in a way that makes it easy to internalize Several approaches to accompanying the melody, including an "off the cuff" Soundslice version demonstrating different textures The common-practice introduction often called for on a gig Two complete "off the cuff" performances — one swing , one Latin — showing the principles in action For basic to intermediate players who want the freedom to play standards their own way, every time. Duration: 40+ minutes .

Christopher Woitach teaches one of the most useful skills a guitarist can acquire: accompanying a single-line instrument — a horn, a voice, a violin — in a duo setting, where the guitar has to "be the band." The course covers the skills needed to set up a tune with an introduction and accompany a melody instrument effectively. What's covered How to construct intros, with examples and discussion 4 intros in Soundslice you can use as springboards for your own ideas Accompanying the melody and supporting a soloist Endings, including "Take the A Train" -style, Count Basie-style, and blues endings A full duo performance example with trombonist John Moak By the end you'll have a solid foundation for "being the band" behind a singer, horn player, or any single-line instrument — skills that transfer easily to other settings. A useful companion piece is Christopher Woitach's "Environments" , also on Mike's Master Classes. Duration: 60 minutes.

Jazz guitarist and educator Christopher Woitach, from Portland, Oregon, explores ways to orchestrate your improvisations and arrangements using techniques you already have. He calls these orchestrations environments — the musical settings in which an improvisation or arrangement lives — and shows how changing the environment changes the way you play. What's covered Using techniques you already possess in new ways The guitar's many roles: rhythm instrument in jazz, pop, and funk; lead instrument in blues and bluegrass Self-accompanied guitar concepts for solo playing and small ensembles Emulating sounds and styles outside typical jazz guitar — big band shout choruses, Latin rhythms, folk-style picking Changing the feel: stride, shuffle, and other grooves Putting it all together over Autumn Leaves , a familiar tune with a mix of major and minor harmony The overarching theme is imagination: drawing on a wide range of influences to enrich your playing and discover new ways to express ideas. For intermediate to advanced players who want their arrangements and solos to sound fuller and more varied. The class includes a download. Full video is 1 hour and 5 minutes.