2 Hour Lesson

hink of (the Benson technique, a stint at Troy Grady’s “Cracking the Code” website and even bought The Magnet and paid for a Technique Critique, and of course a smattering of YouTube videos by people who had real chops.) All of these approaches have helped many, and were of some benefit to me, but none of them got me where I needed to go. Then I had two lessons with Robert Conti (via Zoom) and now I’m on the way forward on two fronts. First, my picking is much better. Conti does not teach a specific method for picking; he saw what I was doing, made a few suggestions, and after a couple of weeks, I’m miles down the road in that respect. Thank God and Robert Conti! Second, the light is coming on in understanding how to APPLY the things I’ve learned. In one way, it’s easier than I thought, though in another, it’s demanding because it requires a more intense and disciplined focus than I’m used to having while improvising. Learning is necessary, and that includes learning how to use what you have learned! Robert Conti is giving me more help with this than any other teacher I have consulted (and there have been a bunch of ’em!) He might do as much for you.Update: Phew! I’m working hard (playing the lines, over and over) and learning how to use them. It’s great to get feedback (-even if it’s that I gaffed something up) and a pro’s assessment of where I am and what I need to work on. Also, getting a link to download the video of the lesson is a tremendous value: I can go over and over the lesson, making sure I’m playing something right or understanding a concept fully.Update: Lesson #4 was the best so far. The work assigned in the first two lessons is paying dividends. I’m getting better and am inspired to get better still. When I get really good, I’ll buy a Conti guitar to celebrate my arrival at “Good.” (Not great but good.)
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ncerting. However those issues appear to have been at my end so no fault of Robert or his technical team. While I was playing, Robert very quickly spotted that I was not sticking strictly to the fingering protocol having slipped into the bad habit of not using my pinky. He advised me to rectify this and explained his reasoning. We then moved onto my question which had been how learning Robert’s solos would enhance my ability to improvise. Robert clearly and efficiently demonstrated how a simple 4 note riff could be used over different chords and why they worked. The lesson far exceeded the allotted time and throughout Robert was patient when I made mistakes and offered so much advice from his own 60 years of experience. He is a great guitarist and also a wonderful teacher whose enthusiasm is infectious and I found the lesson to be an inspiration to me. Robert squeezed more into an hour than I learned in the last 5 years. I am extremely grateful to Robert for his time and for making the lesson so rewarding and enjoyable. I now can’t wait to get stuck into Ticket to Improv Vol 2.
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to review my personal history, music experience, and to assess my technical skills. He came well prepared for my lesson (3 handout documents) with a focus on improvisation, as requested. He “tuned” this first lesson to my level of interest and playing ability.His approach to improvisation is direct, different, and perhaps unique. He presents a down-to-earth focus on fingering the fretboard rather than using a theoretical approach of pairing various scales/modes to each chord in a progression, one at a time.Robert demonstrated the wide application of major scale riffs to a surprisingly wide range of chords built from the major scale. This simplification avoid overthinking (my bad habit) which creates lock-up, anxiety, and lag when suddenly called upon to solo on the jazz bandstand. He played these riffs over backing tracks “live” that he called out to Mike who played the audio files on-demand. Both Robert and Mike were attentive to my music lesson. Robert concluded the lesson with additional tips and a clear assignment and challenge to be completed before a future lesson.To conclude, the “hands-on” Conti method avoids over-complicating the improvisation process and it will re-energize my daily practice routine.
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ractice in the woodshed. It was particularly enlightening to hear how he approaches improvisation over certain chord changes and this is something I look forward to picking his brains about in future sessions too on other standards. Roberts teaching approach is something that stands out - he has a way of making you feel comfortable and engaged whilst also being very to the point. I particularly appreciated that he didn’t waste precious time just having me play things over and over as from experience a lot of ‘teachers’ seem to do that instead using the time to impart as much advise and information they can on the student - often a means to get more money out of students and not give too much away in terms of valuable information. As Robert said - he’s not here to teach someone how to play, he’s there to show you what to play and why etc. this is exactly what I need. He had me play the lines to get them under my fingers and ensure I understood the concepts and knew that I am to take them away to practice in my own time. This allowed Robert to use all the time available to feed me more and more ideas and pearls of wisdom.I will most certainly be booking another lesson after I’ve got some more practice in as there are many more things I’d like to ask Robert and certainly a lot for me to learn!
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of his teaching my gig schedule has increased and I am getting calls to sub. The poster attached is from a past gig. I have more coming but you get the idea.Also attached is a recent video. I no longer worry about my improvisation skills when they point and tell me to play. Do yourself a favor and book it. Have fun playing...
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rst 4 licks together and then started applying them immediately into the chart he sent. He talked about what to think about when applying these licks over the chords and theoretically why they work over the chords. Also, how to use these phrases over more chords and why they work over those chords. He talked about my technique, the equipment I used (strings, picks, etc...) to get a great sound from my instrument, and lots about the music. Robert teaches in a studio with an assistant that plays chords and backing tracks as Robert demonstrates playing the stuff we're working on. This really helped save time and our workflow was quick and efficient in the lesson. About an hour after my lesson was over, he sent me the video of my entire lesson. This is invaluable! I, like most people, cannot remember everything that was said in a 2 hour lesson a week later. Now I have a great reference video to go back and watch Robert play and talk about what I'm working on. Robert has the online teaching game down! With great content, fast workflow, great knowledge and all the extras like the video file and handouts, this was one of the most professional online lessons I've ever taken.
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st three progressions down. I only wish I’d started with Robert two years ago instead of wading through all sorts of online videos and lessons that did not have a structure and did not make the connections Robert does. To use a sports analogy, if I were a quarterback, it’s as if Tom Brady were now my personal coach. I am grateful that the internet allows me to have access to Robert. Did I say wow? Please pass on my thanks to Robert.
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d jazz lines straight away.I was extremely happy with been able to have the opportunity of a one to one session with Robert Conti. It was just like being in a bar chatting about aspects of playing. Robert is very approachable and is open to discuss all aspects pf playing. I studied the material and had questions. The ideas demonstrated and discussed just connected effortlessly.The discussion was very fruitful with new ideas was also given by Robert which was very appreciated. It was such a great session that Robert and I agreed to connect again with specific questions about the DVD called Big City Blues Vol 1.
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them. I’ve never been so optimistic about my jazz-guitar-playing future!Looking forward to the next lesson!
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Bob’s amazing solo’s, I dived into his many learning materials, really fun stuff. However, it is when I decided to up my commitment to learning bebop and I started taking private online lessons with Bob that things started to click. After just three lessons now I have a new way to approach soloing, and how to tie together great lines throughout the tune.I am very confident that Bob’s effective and supportive teaching style has enough push and challenge to get me to those next levels. As Bob told me, “The journey is even more fun than the destination.” He’s right, and I am jazzed about that journey.
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tweaks” necessary to make the lines work. My first attempt at learning jazz was when I was 71. Prior to that, I could not read music, knew only some basic triad chords, never studied theory, and knew only a few scales. In other words, when I began my journey with Robert’s learning products, I was a beginner. I wish that I could have started having one on one lessons regularly right from the beginning. The time spent with Robert was beneficial, and I plan to schedule other sessions.
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