IFR blog > Analysis of jazz standards
Demo of exercise from Understanding Begins with Listening

This is a demonstration of the singing activity from the chapter ‘Understanding Begins with Listening’ from Improvise for Real. It's the first step to learning to recognize both chords and melodies by ear.

There is always time to practice!

Even with just a few minutes per day you can still have a deep and meaningful connection with music. Your pleasure and satisfaction aren't necessarily about “how long you practice” but about how completely you allow yourself to get lost in the experience.

IFR improvisation exercise Seven Worlds Expanded on alto sax

For IFR students practicing Exercise 3: Pure Harmony, this is a demonstration of the exercise Seven Worlds Expanded on the alto saxophone. Ivan Edwards demonstrates the exercise exploring the 5 chord in the unlimited range.

Piano for Non-Pianists 8

In this lesson I'll help you get started using IFR Jam Tracks Level 1: Seven Worlds using what you've already learned on the piano.

Free sample lesson from Chord Melody Guitar 1

In this free sample lesson from Chord Melody Guitar 1, we build the tonal map on the fretboard and we begin working with the chord notes of the 1 chord and the 4 chord separately, learning to make our own creative choices about when to use the bass note.

IFR Playalong: 2-5-1 chord progression

Grab your instrument and practice improvising over the 2-5-1 chord progression with me!

Chord progression to 'Autumn Leaves'

In this video I analyze the harmony of the A section of ‘Autumn Leaves’ using the IFR Tonal Map. You will learn to see the chord functions, the flow of tension and release, the circle of fifths and the beautiful melodic paths that you can use in your improvising.

Piano for Non-Pianists 9: Tonal five finger drills, part 1

Today we begin a whole series of lessons that will teach you how to play chords effortlessly on the piano. The first step is our “tonal five finger drills”.

Be yourself and discover your own music!

In IFR, we believe that the musicians who follow their own imagination are the ones who change the world. And we want to help you discover your musical voice and to share it with the world.

Animation Video - How Music Works, part 1

This animated video for beginners teaches you the single most important key to understanding how all songs work. Whether your passion is improvising, composing or just playing the songs you love, this insight will help you see songs and chord progressions in a much simpler way.