Swing Articulation Big Book (Chop Building Series)

Erik Veldkamp’s Swing Articulation Big Book is a substantial expansion and stylistic extension of the original Chop Building Big Book, applying the same core philosophy of balanced, musical chop development to the language of swing. Where the original method establishes strength through airflow, coordination, and consistency, this volume focuses those principles through authentic swing articulation, time feel, and phrasing. It is designed for players who want their articulation work to sound like real music, not isolated drills, while still delivering meaningful gains in endurance, clarity, and control. This book offers a deep and varied collection of swing-based material, moving well beyond simple exercises. You begin with swing starters that establish a relaxed, grounded eighth-note feel and reinforce the coordination of tongue, air, and embouchure. From there, the material expands into scale studies, arpeggios, and interval patterns written entirely in a swinging context, allowing players to internalize style while building technical reliability. Throughout the book, the studies are intentionally musical, encouraging phrasing, direction, and groove rather than mechanical repetition. A defining feature of this volume is the inclusion of a large set of fully realized swing etudes and tunes. These pieces synthesize the technical work into complete musical statements, giving players the opportunity to apply articulation concepts in lines that feel idiomatic, expressive, and stylistically convincing. This balance of studies and true musical material reflects the guiding principle of the Chop Building Series: chops should be built through playing music, not in spite of it. Selected studies are accompanied by recordings to provide stylistic reference and help players understand how the articulation sits naturally within the swing feel. Used alongside The Chop Building Big Book or as a dedicated swing-focused track within the same system, the Swing Articulation Big Book helps players develop cleaner articulation, stronger time feel, greater endurance, and a more relaxed, confident swing style. The result is articulation that feels effortless, time that locks in, and chops that support jazz playing with clarity, flexibility, and authenticity. Listen to Erik perform from the book below, and click the cover to read the full forward and sample pages include. When you are ready click above for an immediate digital download.   “Get Ready!” https://qpress.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Get-Ready.mp3 “All Bets Are Off” https://qpress.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/All-Bets-Are-Of.mp3 “Happy Monday” https://qpress.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Happy-Monday.mp3 “The Bluezzz” https://qpress.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/The-Bluezzz.mp3 “Swing Starters no 11” https://qpress.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/1.-Swing-Starters-no-11.mp3 “Scales Studies in Swing 1c” https://qpress.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/2.-Scales-Studies-in-Swing-1c.mp3 “Swinging Arpeggios 1” https://qpress.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/3.-Swinging-Arpeggios-1.mp3 “Swinging Intervals 4” https://qpress.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/4.-Swinging-Intervals-4.mp3