If I had to start over today, with everything I know now, I wouldn’t chase more information.
I’d chase clarity.
Years of teaching and performing have shown me that progress doesn’t come from doing more things. It comes from doing the right things long enough for them to show up in your sound.
Here’s what I’d do differently.
I’d Practice Less, Not More
I’d drastically reduce the amount of material I worked on.
Depth matters more than variety. A small number of ideas, practiced musically and consistently, will outperform a library of half-learned concepts every time.
I’d Put Time Feel First
Before worrying about advanced harmony, I’d focus on:
Internal pulse
Subdivision
Playing simply, in time
Time feel is the foundation. Without it, complexity doesn’t help.
I’d Make Harmony Clear to the Listener
Instead of thinking abstractly, I’d ask one question constantly:
“Can the listener hear where the harmony is going?”
Clear resolutions and intentional note choices matter more than clever ideas.
I’d Build Everything Around II–V–I
If I were rebuilding from scratch, II–V–I progressions would be my main laboratory.
They contain the core mechanics of jazz harmony:
Functional movement
Voice leading
Tension and release
When II–V–I is solid, everything else has somewhere to land.
I’d Trust My Ears Much Earlier
I relied on theory longer than I needed to.
If I could start again, I’d let my ears lead sooner, using theory to clarify what I was already hearing instead of replacing it.
Final Thought
This isn’t about shortcuts.
It’s about building a foundation that actually holds up when you play.
That’s the philosophy behind the II–V–I Mastery Pack: focused material, real musical application, and concepts that translate directly into sound.
You can learn more here:
👉 https://evantatemusic.com/product/1166594-ii-v-i-mastery-pack
Build slowly.
Build clearly.
Evan Tate