In jazz, the phrase “makin’ the changes” refers to more than technical accuracy. It describes the ability to hear a harmonic progression unfolding in time—and to shape melodic ideas that move deliberately through it.
In this workshop, I introduce a clear, accessible approach to improvisation built around four-note seventh chords. Rather than treating harmony as a maze of symbols, we focus on hearing chord quality, function, and motion—using simple materials to clarify the larger form.
Alongside basic chord construction, this method cultivates rhythmic awareness and formal responsibility. Students learn to place ideas within a song’s structure, align their improvisation with harmonic sequence, and develop solos that reflect intention rather than reaction.
The emphasis is not on speed or density, but on continuity: understanding where you are, where you’re headed, and how each note participates in that movement.
