Play music like it’s your job. If you’re like most jazz musicians, you could sound better right away simply by adjusting your attitude and your “work� ethic. Now, I know you already have a great work ethic. You practice hard everyday for hours and hours. You listen to music every free minute you have and would rather rehearse with your band then eat or sleep. I’m not talking about that kind of work. I’m talking about the kind of work you get paid for. I’m talking about your ‘job’ ethic. If someone is serious about their job and intends to succeed and advance to a more fulfilling and higher paying position they are going to focus on fulfilling their responsibilities to their boss and once that’s done then they may decide to do a little more to get ahead faster. But they must take care of their basic job first.

It’s the same for musicians. First you must do your job. Play the tune, swing your butt off, play the changes and lock up with the band. Once you can do that then you can think about taking it “out�, playing some fancy substitutions or cross rhythms. But first things first.

This brings us back to the last lesson about trust. Musicians who are not happy where they are play things that are beyond them. I play in the house band for a jam session at a club here in Boston from time to time. I see less musically mature players making this mistake all the time. They come in trying to impress their peers and the audience playing their latest Tony Williams lick or George Garzone pattern and they end up dropping beats, turning the beat around, stepping all over their fellow band mates and causing musical train wrecks. They come in with the intention of looking cool, and they succeed at looking like a fool. And sounding terrible. What’s worse is that they don’t even know it.

The more you focus on the fundamentals and your core responsibilities the better you will sound. Your responsibility is to the band and the music first. Play as if you were an audience member. What would you want to hear? A swinging player with clear ideas locked in with the rest of the band. Or a self-indulgent jerk stepping on everyone’s toes?

So don’t over complicate things. Keep it simple. You’ll sound better immediately. People will respect your musical maturity and your professionalism. They will want to call you for gigs because you help them sound good. Soon music will be your job.

Action Step: Write a list of your top five musical responsibilities. These will vary depending on your instrument. Record yourself at rehearsals, sessions, and gigs and ask your self “am I fulfilling those responsibilities?� If not adjust your playing, simplify and repeat the process.


Chris Punis is an active jazz musician in the northeast. He is founding member of the critically acclaimed group Gypsy Schaeffer and a member of renowned saxophonist Charlie Kohlhase’s group The Explorer’s Club. Chris is also an accomplished jazz educator and author of “The Monster Jazz Formula�. For more information about his teaching methods and to receive your free lessons, “21 Great Ways To Become a Monster Jazz Musician�, visit www.learnjazzfaster.com