Andy LaViolette

Andy LaViolette

Author: Jazz Piano Skills May 28, 2024 Duration: 1:18:22

It's time to discover, learn, and play jazz piano with Andy LaViolette.

Andy LaViolette is a musician and filmmaker who has co-owned his company, Mr. Magic Carpet Ride Productions (MMCRP), with his wife, Christi, since 2006. 

His studies in jazz guitar started in 1994 when he studied with Dr. Bob Lawrence at The Dallas School of Music up until his time at the University of North Texas (UNT) in 1998. After three years of study in the Jazz Performance program at UNT, Andy played professionally as a guitarist in an original, progressive-rock band called “Bagg” and other local Denton, Texas musicians. In 2006, Andy returned to UNT and completed his Jazz Guitar Performance degree in 2010 while he played professionally with numerous musicians including Dave Alexander’s Western Swing Big Band, Willie Dees, and other local jazz musicians.

It was during that time that Mr. Magic Carpet Ride Productions became a larger part of his professional life and the company evolved into specializing in multi-camera, live music recordings. After working on numerous projects with a band called, “Snarky Puppy”, the partnership culminated several hundred million views of live music films on the web and earned three Grammy awards with Andy as the Director of Photography. Mr. Magic Carpet Ride Productions has since made countless films with other notable musicians such as Charlie Hunter, David Crosby, Bokanté, Banda Magda, Forq, The Quebe Sisters, Shaun Martin, Mark Lettieri, and many others.

Since 2017, Andy has worked as a Senior Video Editor, Senior Manager of Content Solutions, and Senior Manager of Content Acquisition at Shutterstock, where he works with some of the largest brands in the world through a library of commercial music, photos, footage, 3D objects, and more. He continues to create new films and
other creative projects through Mr. Magic Carpet Ride Productions and through a creative series of “How To” videos on his original show called, “Life at the House.”

More importantly than any professional accomplishment, Andy is a proud husband and father and enjoys a quiet life at home being creative and spending time with his family.

It is my honor to introduce you to Andy LaViolette.


For anyone who has ever sat at the piano, felt the keys under their fingers, and wondered how to move beyond the written notes into the realm of spontaneous, expressive music, Jazz Piano Skills Premium offers a direct path. Created by Jazz Piano Skills, this series is a deep, practical immersion into the language of jazz, designed for players who are serious about developing their craft. Each episode functions as a focused lesson, breaking down the harmonic concepts, rhythmic approaches, and melodic improvisation techniques that define the genre. You'll hear clear, step-by-step explanations paired with immediate musical demonstrations, making complex ideas accessible and, more importantly, playable. This isn't about passive listening; it's an active workshop where every topic, from walking bass lines and chord voicings to reharmonization and blues phrasing, is meant to be applied at your instrument. The podcast provides a structured yet creative curriculum that builds week by week, transforming theoretical knowledge into tangible keyboard skills. Whether you're working on standard tunes, developing your swing feel, or seeking to understand the theory behind the masters, this resource delivers substantive content that encourages real growth. Tune in, sit down at the piano, and get ready to play.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 119

Jazz Piano Skills Premium
Podcast Episodes
I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face, Melodic Analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:29
Podcast PacketsIllustrationsLead SheetsPlay AlongsJazz Piano Skills CommunityKeywordsjazz piano, melodic analysis, I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face, jazz skills, practice strategies, voicings, improvisation, rhythm, mus…
I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face, Harmonic Analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:47
Podcast PacketsIllustrationsLead SheetsPlay AlongsJazz Piano Skills CommunityKeywordsJazz Piano, Essential Skills, Practice Techniques, Harmonic Analysis, Improvisation, Melody, Rhythm, Jazz Standards, Jazz Piano, Harmon…
The Jazz Language [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:15
Keywordsjazz piano, jazz language, music education, improvisation, harmony, melody, jazz skills, music theory, practice techniques, jazz progressionsSummaryIn this episode of Jazz Piano Skills, Dr. Bob Lawrence introduce…
Fly Me to the Moon, Improvisation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:56
Podcast PacketsIllustrationsLead SheetsPlay AlongsJazz Piano Skills CommunityKeywordsjazz piano, improvisation, transposition, music theory, jazz skills, Fly Me to the Moon, rhythmic challenges, melodic analysis, harmoni…
Fly Me to the Moon, Melodic Analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:25
Podcast PacketsIllustrationsLead SheetsPlay AlongsJazz Piano Skills CommunityKeywordsJazz Piano, Fly Me to the Moon, Melodic Analysis, Jazz Skills, Rhythm Challenge, Music Education, Improvisation, Jazz Treatments, Music…
Fly Me to the Moon, Harmonic Analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:01
Podcast PacketsIllustrationsLead SheetsPlay AlongsJazz Piano Skills CommunityKeywordsjazz piano, music education, teaching music, learning music, jazz standards, Fly Me to the Moon, musical facts, harmonic analysis, rhyt…
Goodbye 2024, Hello 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:46
KeywordsJazz Piano, 2024 Reflection, 2025 Vision, Music Education, Jazz Skills, Improvisation, Harmonic Analysis, Melodic Analysis, Rhythm in JazzSummaryIn this episode, Dr. Bob Lawrence reflects on the accomplishments o…
Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Improvisation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:14
It's time to Discover, Learn, and Play Jazz Piano!KeywordsJazz Piano, Improvisation, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Christmas Jazz, Jazz Skills, Music Education, Piano Techniques, Jazz Harmony, Melody Analysis, Jazz Stan…
Good Grief Vince Guaraldi, O Tannenbaum [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:04
It's time to Discover, Learn, and Play Jazz Piano!Jazz Piano Skills welcomes back Josh Walsh (Jazz-Library.com). It's that time of year when jazzers from around the world anticipate the arrival of Vince Guaraldi's Charli…
Santa Claus is Coming to Town, Melodic Analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:50
Welcome to Jazz Piano Skills; it's time to discover, learn, and play Jazz Piano!Every Jazz Piano Skills weekly podcast episode introduces aspiring jazz pianists to essential Jazz Piano Skills. Each Podcast episode explor…