Challenge! Play this line and post it. (This time it’s played quite fast so it’s a tough one this week) There are 4 levels to this, you can pick which one is most doable for you right now…. 1- Exactly the same as myself, in C Major 2- Try it in a few different keys 3- Start like I do and finish it off a little differently. 4- improvise over a backing track and use this line in your improv https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9PeqG9C5os&t=24s BTW the course I am developing on note enclosures is now available in the classroom. There are lots of bits missing right now but I thought I would let my paid members get a look in before I fully launch it. Go check it out!

Here are 3 practical ways you can work on this. 1. Bassline style chord tones. Play through the form using just chord tones, 4 notes to a bar. This helps you hear the harmony clearly and find small movements between chords. It also drills the sequence into your head while you’re still improvising. Start slow 2. Double stops. Work out simple two note voicings for each chord. Start with roots and thirds or 5ths, but don’t worry about the root being the lowest note. You’ll start to find shapes using thirds, 6ths and 5ths that sit really well on the violin. Comp through the changes and try to do it without charts. 3. Piano or guitar. If you play a bit of piano or guitar, use them to learn the chords. Even basic voicings help. These instruments are built for harmony, and it’s no coincidence that pianists and guitarists almost always know the chords. As violinists we need to aim for the same level of understanding. I’ve also covered the first two approaches in the 10 Tunes You Should Know course in the classroom, with written exercises for each of the tunes if you want something more structured to work through. If you’re working on this, let me know which of these you’ve tried (or are going to try this week). Also interested to hear how you currently approach learning chords, what’s been working for you?

I covered some Rhythm Exercises in today's Q&A. Had a few conversations on here about how to get more rhythmically diverse and free and this one way that I have found can help. The whole recording of the Q&A is available in the classroom for Premium and VIP members. Upgrade Here

I have started to create a new course for you all. It will be available on all paid plans once finished. A sample is in the Classroom and I wanted your feedback on how it seems so far. The plan is to have the chapters laid out as they but with video example attached too. Each different enclosure and approach note will have an explanation page with some playable examples and some lines built with the enclosures, followed by a set of exercises (in PDF form) that I've designed to help you drill them into your playing (plus some other ideas injected in there too). Its a little like my book "Enclosure Studies For Jazz Violin" but laid out a little more like I wanted and with more of an emphasis on the long exercises I like to use to practise them. (I had to change my book a lot to go with the format that the publishing company generally worked with) Please go check it out in the Classroom and either comment on here or message me directly with your thoughts. Matt

We all have that achilles heel. The thing that we hear in recording so fourself that we dont like. Mine is my intonation. I can be in tune, when I practice slowly and with intent. However I often hear videos of myself playing gigs and I cringe. I have improved a lot with it over the years, even in the last few months. It's always there in the back of my mind though and if I had a magic wand, that would perhaps be the first thing on my list. There is no magic wand, just practise, which thankfully I do often enjoy. I work on it in small ways all the time, annoyingly, the ear improves much quicker than your fingers so I'm always chasing the next milestone in my improvement. This is an issue that I think we can all relate to, regardless of our goals. Whats yours? Let us know in the comments. If you fancy a little help with your own goals, Im taking on a few more 1-1 students. You can get hold of my 1-1 coaching programme in the classroom. Its a package of lessons with me with details lesson reports and plans with the aim of helping you achieve what you want to in your own playing.