This is the best introduction to improvisation I’ve come across.

My instrument is violin. I was classically trained to play what’s printed on the sheet music and follow the orchestra conductor. There was nothing about music theory or chord construction. I started playing in grade school and quit when I got to college. Then I picked it up again after retiring.

I wanted to start improvising to jazz standards but didn’t understand how or know where to begin. Other courses and videos I found assumed more chord and music theory than I had. They left me frustrated.

Then I found this course.

Jeremy Platt does a great job using a keyboard to explain the concepts. His videos led me to those “ah-ha” moments that helped me understand what I had been missing. I especially appreciated his “Toolbox” series on chord construction. They gave me a foundation to begin learning rather than struggling.

I only wish there were additional videos in this series to help apply the concepts to other songs. But at least I now have a path to follow rather than stumbling blindly.

Much as I've "dabbled" in jazz for 15 years (without formal instruction), I indeed found the videos informative and grounding what I've picked up here and there. In particular, the introductory videos, while very basic, did clue me into ideas about chords I hadn't grasped and the one on Song Structure filled a gap I didn't appreciate (folks who did know what they were doing would refer to "going back to the head" and I'd have to guess).

Clearly the Autumn Leaves videos offered a great perspective on this piece. Thanks so much.

This package is perfect for a beginner like me who know very little about music theory. The videos are really useful and easy to understand. The backing track, as always, is brilliant. So nice to 'play along' with real musicians and not digital sounds. Great job Larry, thank you!

This is perfect for the beginning improviser, helps you understand the basics how to improvise and truly understand the song, so you don't have to struggle so much I do wish one thing that you could put it in bass clef with tabs if so I would purchase this again and again.

WHAT A GREAT IDEA to include further learning tools within a backing track purchase. Whilst the experienced artists using backing tracks may find the price of the total package a little too much, the less experienced will be able to learn the piece and at the same time the training aids available within the purchase will ultimately lead to improved performance and increased jazz knowledge.