Mic Gillette, Tower of Power, trumpet
“This is the best tool I have ever seen for jazz improvisation.
Ten to fifteen years from now people are going to be asked, ‘How did you come up with all this stuff?’ And they are going to say... ‘When I was a kid I had this thing called JazzDeck.’
I tell every group I work with about JazzDeck. I say, ‘You guys need this–they didn’t have this when I was a kid. And now it’s finally here.’”
Andrew Klingsick, Barton Middle School, Buda, Texas
“These things changed the game for us. I picked up JazzDeck for my kids to try and it worked great. It’s faster than teaching scales and makes them independent so quickly. Now they all raise their hand when it’s time to solo!”
Roland Sandoval, Past Director Texas Jazz Educators Association
“The color codes for each respective chord help the students see the changes in a different way. As a result, they have started outlining the progressions at a much more professional level. JazzDeck is such a cool way to become a stronger soloist. As a teacher of the art form it certainly has helped me too!”
Raeann Jones, Director at Saginaw Area Youth Jazz Ensemble, Michigan
“The kids absolutely flipped over JazzDeck. Had one girl sounding like a freaking pro after 15 minutes once she understood how to use the cards. She was nervous at first, but once she got it, she was ripping some awesome licks!””
Aaron Lington, Coordinator of Jazz Studies San Jose State University, Director of the San Jose Jazz High School All-Stars, faculty member of the Texas Musical Festival Jazz Institute
“A great and accessible way to connect basic theory to improvisation for the beginning improvisor. Highly recommended!”
Phillip Maldonado,Port Niches-Groves High School Indian Band, Texas
“You got everything right. Met you at the Texas Bandmasters Association conference in San Antonio and was so impressed. My students have all ready been using the deck for hours at a time!”
Tre' Moreland, Woodwinds Specialist at Redlands Unified School District, Oregon
“I got a JazzDeck and it improved my soloing overnight! I play lead tenor in the studio jazz band at the University of Redlands and have been playing jazz for over a decade. I’ve recommended it to friends and they sound a great deal more hip now too. Thanks!”
Kevin Gallagher, Director of Bands at Hillsdale High School, California
“First of all amazing!!! If you want to break down all and any barriers of: Jazz Theory, soloing techniques and low confidence then JazzDeck is the tool to use. The JazzDeck gives students a clear understanding of what to do when soloing and how to do it. I have never seen confidence soar so quickly while understanding the concepts that are being taught to them using the JazzDeck. The JazzDeck is the quickest and most efficient way to teach Jazz soloing.”
Jeffrey Stephan, Director of Bands at La Mesa Junior High School in La Mesa, California
“As a junior high educator for 14 years I can attest that these cards are great! Used them with the kids this past spring and the loved it. Not too schocking considering the age group’s affinity to cards: Magic, Pokeman, etc. Great stuff!”
Chris Caldwell, Director of Bands at Lord Botetourt High School in Roanoke, Virginia
“After teaching for years, I can say one of the hardest things to do is to get kids comfortable with improv. JazzDeck gives them a chance to be successful fast. That success turns into confidence which leads to questions about chord modulations and extensions. Some students get scared away by theory if you start with that.”
Thomas Ajack, Choral Director at Waukesha West High School, Wisconsin
“JazzDeck has done wonders for my jazz guitar/piano playing and teaching scat singing.”
Scott Bell, Lead Trumpet SFJAZZ High School All-Stars, Berklee College of Music on Full Tuition Scholarship Fall 2014
“JazzDeck really organizes things and has already helped me make sense of a lot of things I didn’t quite get before. It’s awesome. I love it.”
