Andy LaViolette

Andy LaViolette

Author: Dr. Bob Lawrence May 29, 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.

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There's a certain magic in hearing a great jazz pianist, a feeling that it's both complex and effortless. Jazz Piano Skills pulls back the curtain on that magic, transforming it into a clear, practical path forward. Hosted by Dr. Bob Lawrence, an educator and the President of The Dallas School of Music, this series feels less like a lecture and more like a series of private sessions. Each episode focuses on a tangible skill, breaking down the theory, harmony, and technique that define the jazz language. You'll hear Bob at the keyboard, demonstrating chord voicings, improvisational patterns, and rhythmic concepts, explaining the 'why' behind every note. Whether you're deciphering a standard or building a solo from scratch, the guidance is always rooted in practical application. This podcast is designed for those who want to move beyond simply playing notes on a page and start speaking through the instrument. It’s a deep, methodical exploration of the art form, offering structured lessons that build upon each other. Tune in and find your voice at the keys, learning directly from a professional whose teaching strips away the intimidation and fuels genuine musical growth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 332

Jazz Piano Skills
Podcast Episodes
Stars Fell on Alabama, Solo Piano [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:53
Podcast PacketsIllustrationsLead SheetsKeywordsJazz Piano, Solo Piano Techniques, Music Education, Jazz Standards, Improvisation, Harmonic Analysis, Melodic Analysis, Jazz Skills, Piano Practice, Music TheoryTakeawaysSol…
Stars Fell on Alabama, Improvisation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:53
Podcast PacketsIllustrationsLead SheetsPlay AlongsForumsJazz Piano Skills CommunitySummaryIn this episode of Jazz Piano Skills, Dr. Bob Lawrence dives deep into the art of improvisation, focusing on the classic tune "Sta…
Stars Fell on Alabama, Melodic Analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:40
Podcast PacketsIllustrationsLead SheetsPlay AlongsForumsJazz Piano Skills CommunityKeywordsJazz Piano, Melodic Analysis, Expressiveness, Music Education, Jazz Standards, Practice Strategies, Music Theory, Stars Fell on A…
Stars Fell on Alabama, Harmonic Analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:42
Podcast PacketsIllustrationsLead SheetsPlay AlongsForumsJazz Piano Skills CommunityKeywordsjazz piano, learning jazz, Stars Fell on Alabama, jazz voicings, harmonic analysis, jazz education, music theory, improvisation,…
Four Pillars of Jazz Piano [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:07
KeywordsJazz Piano, Growth, Harmony, Improvisation, Melodic Design, Solo Piano, Music Education, Jazz Community, 2026 VisionSummaryIn this final episode of 2025, Dr. Bob Lawrence reflects on a year of growth within the J…
A Jazz Piano Christmas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:20
KeywordsJazz Piano, Christmas Music, Solo Piano, Improvisation, Vince Guaraldi, Christmas Standards, Jazz Education, Music Theory, Piano Techniques, Holiday TunesSummaryIn this festive episode of Jazz Piano Skills, Dr. B…
Christmas Time is Here, Improvisation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:11
Podcast PacketsIllustrationsLead SheetsPlay AlongsForumsJazz Piano Skills CommunityKeywordsJazz Piano, Improvisation, Christmas Time Is Here, Music Education, Jazz Skills, Melodic Analysis, Harmonic Analysis, Music Pract…
Christmas Time is Here, Harmonic Analysis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:24
Podcast PacketsIllustrationsLead SheetsPlay AlongsForumsJazz Piano Skills CommunityKeywordsjazz piano, essential skills, Christmas time is here, Vince Guraldi, music theory, harmonic analysis, jazz improvisation, piano v…
How to Start Jazz Improvising [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:23
Podcast PacketsIllustrationsLead SheetsPlay AlongsForumsJazz Piano Skills CommunityKeywordsmusic theory, scales, arpeggios, harmonic vision, melody, motif developmentSummaryIn this conversation, Dr. Bob Lawrence discusse…