Vol. 2 – Ticket To Improv

This is great stuff! I have been playing for a long time but I always felt a little stuck in the Jazz genre. These lessons are what I was looking for because they only imply earing and playing typical jazz sounds and making them your's so they can pop into your improvisations later on. There is no bettr way to learn and Robert Conti is a real champion teacher.

I have just been thinking I need to get back to my "Ticket to Improv" DVDs by the wonderful Mr. Robert Conti. I have to say, I love them to bits. I have to be more disciplined and make more time for them, because they are fantastic. And furthermore, when people ask who MY teacher is, I always tell them about you. On top of which, watching you teach and your whole philosophy of teaching REALLY pushes me to examine what I am doing as a teacher - what is useful and what is necessary. At the end of the day, 90% of our learning comes from learning, practicing and playing actual music. It's mainly a physical activity, so our focus has to be on physical mastery. You taught me that.

I absolutely love all the previous DVDs--a lifetime of work for sure--however extremely enjoyable! I really appreciate the promptness that you guys demonstrate with the shipping of your merchandise. I will always be a repeat customer :)

Dear Mr. Conti, I just wanted to tell you how "cool" and helpful your "ticket to improv" DVDs have been to me. I ordered awhile ago and kind of just stuck them in the corner and life got in the way and really didn't get a chance to dig into them. Now that I have, I can't believe I'm actually playing stuff that is "jazz guitar." Your words regarding just jumping in and playing really hit a nerve with me. I'm the classic "rock/blues" player that you referred to. I never thought I could play it because of my "lack of theory." Sure, I know some theory and scales but I wouldn't have been able to play this style without your help. I'm finally getting it! The fact that you are such a world class and quality player only adds to the impact of your words. Thanks so much for offering your teachings to all of us. Rock on! or should I Jazz on! Great stuff.

...bop sound on my axe. My knowledge of scales/modes/theory has helped me integrate Robert's teaching fairly quickly; however, I completely agree with Robert that I've been approaching my guitar backwards for the past four years. I ran through the Ticket To Improv Volume 1 just days before a gig and I'm telling you I swung hard at the gig. My bandmates and the audience were totally digging my playing. It's not that I played all the lines with perfection, but my playing had that bop sound and feel. I laid down a hard groove and laid down several Conti licks (along with some harmonic generalization stuff) and BAM! I was tearing up the joint. What is most clear to me is that The Source Code series, along with several prepared solos/arrangements, is taking my playing where I want it to go quickly. And that's good because I'm 46 years old and need to hurry up and play! My plan is to purchase The entire Source Code series. I'm finishing the Chord Melody Assembly Line and own the Intros Endings and Turnarounds. P.S. Having Robert teach from the DVDs is what brings the books to life. He forces me to step through the material with patience which is critical to internalizing this stuff...it's like "a walk in the park"!!

Until I came across Robert Conti's courses, I spent a lot of time in theory/scales/mode books and a few stints with teachers who really weren't providing good value. For the most part I'm going it alone, lifting licks off records for the most part to get my sound. This, for me, has been a slow process that seems difficult to work into our shows. I've discovered Robert's approach and style to be a perfect fit (I'm originally from Allentown, PA so Robert's south Philly ways are like a slice of home to me). I'm on the seventh solo from the Ticket to Improv series and am going to start Danny Boy today. Last night I created a chord melody to "There Will Never Be Another You". It is very apparent that I need "The Formula" next. My plan is to run through the rest of the DVD and then create several chord melody arrangements of some of my favorite songs before moving on to the Formula. My goal is to be able to play solo gigs around town within the next year. Along with that, I will master the eight solos form Ticket to Improv. I also purchased "Wave" which looks challenging, but I love the song and think I'm up to it as I already took some Ticket to Improve lines to 16th note runs. I do best when I understand what I'm creating on the guitar so I think the Source Code will be the key to advancing my playing to the next level. Ironically, that's why I thought theory was so important all these years. Robert's approach has opened my eyes, (and ears!), to bringing out the...

I'm thrilled to see that Robert Conti's DVDs are now available for streaming. Just got Ticket to Improv Vol 2. and it's everything I was hoping for. The 4 projects will keep me busy for quite a while.