Blog

The ii-V-I chord progression is an ever-pervasive sequence found throughout much of music history, though it came to true prominence with the rise of jazz. Since then, these chords have been improvised over by countless instrumental soloists, establishing the progression as an essential building block for anyone learning to perform within the genre.

In this post, we'll dive into the inner workings of the ii-V-I chord progression and its origins. Plus, an extended excerpt from David Detweiler’s fantastic, recently released book, The II-V-I Progression: 80 Patterns from the Masters of the Saxophone, is featured, exploring a number of improvised solos over the sequence from renowned icons of jazz!

For over 30 years, Chris Haigh has ventured deep into the fiddle scene, exploring its rich traditions and unique and obscure niches. From discovering folk music through a 1970s hit, to mastering an astonishing range of styles such as traditional folk and bluegrass, Indian jazz fusion, and Scandinavian avant garde, Chris's journey has been anything but ordinary.

In this interview, Chris shares stories of unexpected gigs, offers insights into improvisation, and touches on his latest book, "Beginning Folk Fiddle", a comprehensive method that introduces a beginner-friendly introduction to the world of folk fiddle. Dive in to learn more about Chris's fascinating career and the musical moments that have shaped him!

In celebration of one of our best-selling popular music artists, this week, we include a selection of sheet music songbooks by Taylor Swift.  Beloved by so many fans for her personal, narrative songwriting, thoughtful artistry and hr generosity of spirit, is it any wonder that she is so admired and revered.

Bärenreiter Promotion

In other news, we are offering you the chance to purchase all Bärenreiter publications with 20% discount throughout the months of July and August. 

Highlights within this offer include scores and parts, study and full scores, piano repertoire, string repertoire, organ collections, choral vocal and opera vocal scores.

For Jazz Appreciation Month we have talked to our best-selling author Tim Richards about jazz education and learning jazz music. Here we have an interview style blog with his responses to questions discussing jazz music, why you should learn jazz and how to get started learning more.

In celebration of International Women's Day, we have an interview style blog from Melanie Spanswick. Within this blog Melanie covers how she began composing, where she starts with a new composition, and takes us through her processes when working on a project.