Discovering McCoy Tyner: My Favorite Things Transcription 

The dude was like 23 when he recorded this. I saw him at the Boulder Theatre in 2000 (I think). First row. Looking right up at his hands as he played. Absolutely transcendent. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen.

Thank you Aimee!! Love McCoy and your insights :) Great!

I found that Atlantic album "The Best of John Coltrane" when I was 15, and it moved all of the furniture around in my head. Every track is brilliant. My Favorite Things Naima Equinox Giant Steps Cousin Mary Central Park West All of the tracks were cut in 1959 and 1960, but Atlantic didn't release it until 1970. It was my first deep dive into jazz. I'd heard it all my life, my Dad and my Grandpa were avid enthusiasts, but this was the first one that went "all the way in" it resonates to this day. It's a masterpiece.

this solo is one of the most beautiful things ever played on a piano, thank you for the video!

Wow what a lesson ! Mc Coy in this case is a sort of Debussy or Satie lent to Jazz Music but with a huge blue note soul. An amazing solo. One of the best pages of Jazz ever. Classical Jazz ? Probably Yes ! Thank You very much

Walking through this door of sorrow is hard. Listening to this analysis of Tyner's magnificent playing magnifies his loss even more. "It came right from McCoy Tyner's heart . . . "

Just fantastic. I have loved McCoy Tyner instinctively for decades. So happy to hear the musical analysis of his greatness

Wow. What a treat to find. I've listened to this track a thousand and three times, and never tire of it. The bit where you sing along makes it so beautifully haunting!

I like the way you patiently explain the layered mechanics of the piece so that it all makes sense, both musically and structurally in terms of craftsmanship.

You're the only musical educator who brings me to tears every now and again on one of these videos. It's gift.

I'M really glad that there are others who think this Solo is beautiful and Magical!

I'm crying to have landed on that. Thank you so, so much

I first heard John Coltrains version of My Favorite Things in the late 60`s. Its been my favorite jazz record ever since. The McCoy Tyner solo has been my favorite piece of piano music ever since also. Thank you very much for this. Maybe I can attempt it now.

This is the best piano lesson on youtube! Coltrane/Tyner are my all times favorites.. I think that this is the most iconic piece of music they ever played. I love this lesson and this music! Aimee you are the best! Thanks!

I love how you teach! I learn from your mind; you help me THINK! 💡And from your smooth playing. You are a really cool and fun teacher!

At 11' you talk about this mistake, :) the melody is referencing Gymnopedie, I think. It's all Satie. That's how sophisticated those musicians, McCoy, Trane, Shorter and Hancock where. Every bit as sophisticated as the swing guys in the thirties and the beboppers in the fourties, but on a higher level. The things you said about his pacing, the space he creates while listening to the rhythm section, the warm glow of the melody, his Debussy-like flurries of notes... it is SO true. The astonishing intelligence of these musicians, the otherworldly depth of their understanding of the music... it doesn't stop to amaze me. Thanks for sharing your deep love and admiration for this music.

Thankyou Aimee. Your attention to detail and explanation makes Tyner's classic work suddenly accessible. Dig this so hard.

One of my all time favorite recordings

This is an amazing breakdown of one of my favorite tunes. I listen repeatedly. Thank you so much!!

One of my favorite piano pieces! Thanks for breaking down the rhythms. They always throws me off.

Wonderful presentation! Love the way you decompose the piece. You're very deliberate and pedagogic in your exposition. Thank you.

Couldn't understand a word of this, but I was still rivetted for the whole 28 minutes. So great to hear/see elements of McCoy's playing I'd never fully seen/heard before. Thanks for sharing.

I'm not a pianist (I'm a drummer), but McCoy might be my favorite musician of all time... along with Elvin jones and coltrane (hell the whole classic quartet).. the live rendition of chim chimeree on "john coltrane quartet plays" is probably the heaviest stuff I've ever heard. Yes, heavy. Rad video!!

I am not a pianist, but I love this tune. I watched the whole video and could have watched another 20 minutes, this was awesome. Loved hearing of your joy at meeting Tyner. That was lovely.

First of all, this is probably my favorite McCoy Tyner solo ever! His solo is like something that John Adams would do in a orchestral setting....takes you on a dreamy ride. He keeps the theme throughout. Love your detail info and analysis. Side note: I purchased this album (yes, album), back in the 70's and to this day, it still sounds fresh. I also heard that "F" natural and it has never bothered me! Great video! I will email you to purchase a copy of this transcription!

Master piece lyrics/ muzik. May his soul live in peace. Al-Fatihah.

Wow, AMAZING analysis! I'm a guitarist, just discovered you and this was great. I love your "use the metronome", "slow it down" comments with your encouraging tone. The guitar picks that I had made to give to my students have "The metronome is your friend" printed on them. Great teacher you are!

This is incredible, and what a tribute to McCoy Tyner.

Absolutely perfect understanding of this musical genius

What a great teacher you are. I found you and Rick Beato a few days ago, what a goldmine. Lovely people.

By the way, you also have patience. One of the things I appreciate about your approach is your delving into the details of the music and showing us what makes each artist unique. That is special. Thank you.

Maybe favourite piece of Jazz. To get the level of detail in there explanation here where even a junior like me can appreciate every single piece of information is just out of this world. Thank you!

Thank you Aimee! McCoy Tyner is an amazing pianist, and so are you. Your videos have been most helpful for me. Thank you for spreading music and educating music enthusiasts all over the globe in the art of jazz and blues. The tutorials are very insightful and beneficial. :)

Heard him at Blues Alley 1985, trio. Astounding - RIP McCoy Tyner, Grazie Amy keeping the fire and keepin it beautiful

If time could be rewound, and that one bum note fixed, would anyone want it to be? I doubt it. Not only is it a passing moment of haunting beauty, but a reminder of how deeply human the performance of music is.

I absolutely love McCoy's solo in this song, it so understated and innocent, I get instant nostalgia every time I hear it. I don't play the piano, but I really enjoyed this video - especially the explanation about the 'mistake'. thanks!

i don’t even play the piano but i keep coming to this beautifull video. Thank you for giving the world this delicate and respectful microscope view to this amazing moment of the song.

Awesome vid! I am NOT a musician, but I LOVE McCoy Tyner. I've seen him live 4 times, most recently at the Blue Note with Stanley Clarke and Billy Cobham. My absolute favorite musician.

It sounds so natural and calm and simple, but below the surface there is a huge calculated tension and so much complexity in this execution! I'm really happy to have a glimpse into the mind of this amazing artist with your help. Thanks for this class.

Thank you for this lesson, Aimee. I've been working through your transcription for a few months along with my teacher and we finally got to the point where I can comp behind him,not at full tempo yet. This lesson really helped my playing and reading and connecting the dots. Thank you sharing for this video lesson which encompasses both theory and technique!

Aimee - I cannot tell you how thankful I am for this amazing video. I've resolved to finally learn jazz and improve on the piano after 20 years as a prog/metal guitarist - and your videos have been some of the most illuminating, engaging, and helpful resources I've found. This video in particular has laid out the incredible beauty and intricacy of McCoy Tyner's playing so clearly and in such an insightful way. Thank you - so, so much! Also - I love that little moment @27:16 when you crack yourself up over saying "... everybody goes slow at first"... hahaha... don't think we didn't notice :)

So much fun listening to you teach Aimee 👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Someone from the Polyphonic channel sent me over her, and I am so glad they did! I am not a musician but have been wondering what Tyner is doing on this song ever since I first heard it 30 years ago. Those bars where he is repeating his phrases have mesmerized me. They are magic, and even now when you play them they practically bring tears to my eyes. If he had never composed anything else in his life, this still would have been more than enough. Thank you for breaking it down!

IT'S AMAZINGLY HYPNOTIC. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SHARING THIS JOURNEY.

You have a wonderful voice for teaching-- it's so soothing.

Absolutely magical - both the song and you breaking it down. I actually had this one as my ring tone for a long time.

Thx Aimee I can see yr passion. I'm a trumpet player who listens 2 a lot of pianists n tenor sax players. Yeah I agree there's magic in McCoy Tyner's piano playing on My Favorite things. I couldn't take it apart like u but I'm glad u did it cus I do it a lot with trumpeters n sax players. Thnx again.

Beautifully done. Really, really excellent. I enjoyed this so much.

Hypnotic music and great lesson!! Thank you very much Aimee! Rip McCoy. I will study on this.

Great video - an homage to a classic solo through analysis. Thank you. One of the alluring and mesmerizing aspects of this solo, to me, is that it is a calm oasis between Coltrane's two furious storms. It just floats... I wonder if he thought, "This needs the adagio movement in the middle..."

I'm not a musician just a guy whose been listening to Coltrane and McCoy since "My Favorite Things" was released. I have gained so much insight and if possible a deeper appreciation of McCoy's genius. Thank you so much!

Love your interpretation and walk us through measure by measure!

OMG I love this kind of analysis,especially with that sweet voice of yours, please keep them coming~ much love

Dear Aimee Thanks so much for your brilliant analysis of one of the most beautiful piano solos of music history. Thank you so much for the clear insight. Greetings from Germany.

Thank you so much I'm a Tenor saxophonist and I've always wanted to play this and have it sound right on piano and this video is perfect I'm having alot of fun !!!

I accidentally ran into your video. Wow, you are such a great teacher! Patient, calm, welcoming, even loving/motherly. Anyway, you've got be following your work!

very cool.. Thx Aimee!! I love love love mccoy tyner!! Great transcription

Love your patience and depth in explaining this!

Aimee! This was absolutely awesome! Great instruction...can't wait to give this one a go! Thanks again!

Tyners piano on Favourite Things is one of my all-time most loved songs; from the moment I heard it I knew it was something very special and now maybe I understand a bit more about why. The simplicity and singability coupled with the beauty of the deviations... subliminally designed to speak directly to our souls.

More...more..more...lol. I love it. I love how you break it down. Mccoy is one of my heros too. I have been lucky enough to see him perform as well. Super cool!!Thank you for sharing your thoughts, time, and talent....and beauty. :) Cheers!

Wonderful job on this classic Aimee. The solo is itself is sheer perfection - an existential "singularity." Never tire of this. We think of improvised solos as momentary inspiration. For professionals playing and recording regularly, you can see the solo evolve over time. I was fortunate to catch McCoy (dragged my son along) about a year b4 he passed in NY @ Dizzy's.

Aimee thank you!! One of my favorite solos!!

Oh my God I loved this! I've tried for a couple years to figure McCoy's approach to this song and honestly was a bit over my head, especially the part with the 16th notes (although I still hear that part as triplets). So thank you Aimee for sharing your knowledge!

Thank you so much for this labour of love!! You have uncovered the intricate, beautiful details of this fantastic solo. Great job!! Just last night I was listening to a live performance of the piece in Copenhagen with Eric Dolphy and Reggie Workman in the quintet.

This might be my favorite video on youtube

Amazing as always Aimee! I love having my coffee in the morning and listening to your insight!

!WoW! and one more once....!!WoW!!. Always thought Mr.Tyner's playing was totally unreachable, no way to analyze it!! But You did it!! A Big Bravo, tip of the hat, a kneel plus a yellow rose... Being a drummer, had the chance to meet Elvin Jones and Aaron Scott, who by are two of my favorite drummers. Thanks again! Met Mr. Scott when My.Tyner had the big band.... AWESOME!! Aaron pushed that band Beyond the limits. Must add Billy Cobham(the album "Fly With Wind"- another fav!!

Glad. You took the time to transcribe MT ! A beautiful job well done! You are an amazing piano teacher btw. Hope you make more vids like this

I imagine McCoy Tyner voicings and punctuating rhythms as the nomenclature of the joyful noise unto our spiritual surround..., thanks for bringing to light his contributions. Long be heard minor elevens, #9,5ths and 13s.🙏👍

I must comment and I've noticed this on several (other) instructional videos, how much jazz sounds like classical when it is slowed down and straightened out. I need to do some homework to validate this but it def takes me there... Thanks for a great lesson on a great piece! 😎

You've got a great voice. Very relaxed and well explain.

This video is lovely! I am trying to get more into jazz guitar and it's been a little difficult, but the walkthrough of your video and the insights you give have been immensely helpful! Thank you =)

I'm not a piano player, but this is marvellous. Cheers 🍺

Thank you for putting the time and effort into this. I'm primarily a guitarist but also tinker with piano and back in high school this song was the first that made me pay attention to and fall in love with jazz piano. I love that you've taken something beyond my level/skillset and put it right where I can understand and play it. I don't know if it's normal but Tyner's left hand stuff sometimes seems like sorcery to me even though I've read about it being simple, so I appreciate the detailed analysis as well as the close-ups!

This is unique! Thank you very much for this insight. I think many beginning musicians can learn a lot from this style of teaching.

Juste un grand merci pour votre analyse fine et émouvante de ce chef-d’œuvre d'improvisation pianistique que nous aimons tellement. Vous révélez quelque chose de la magie de ce solo rêveur et magnétique et pourtant la magie persiste ! Je me suis abonné et vais maintenant écouter vos vidéos sur Bill Evans, un autre de mes pianistes préférés. Just few words to thank you for your fine and emotionnal insight of this pianistic master piece (or master peace, maybe !) : you reveal something of the magic beauty of this dreamy and magentic solo yet magic is still here and even improved... Now that I have subscribed, I will listen and watch to your other videos, starting with another genius on piano : Bill Evans. I think that something about the influence of Debussy should be done one time... Thanks again for this enlightning insight. Au revoir !

Loved that! That was one of the first jazz albums I listened to over and over…probably because I'd just learned to drive and I took the CD with me in the car :-) I saw him play in the Jazz Cafe in London with my sister around the same time you saw him…early 00s. Looking forward to watching more of your videos :-)

Just doing it for 5 string fretless bass, quite a challenge ufff.. Loving it thanks helps a lot.

This is so great. Thank you!

Oh wow Aimee. This is incredible. Thank you so much.

You're very, very good both as a player and instructor because you really understand the music

This might be my favorite video on youtube... maybe second to rhcp slane castle. Anyway, thank you so much for this. It's my favorite solo and you gave it the respect & excitement it deserves. Great job!

Thank you fantastic job can’t wait to give it a try one of my favorites

Aimee, you are a Great Teacher. Thank You for making your lessons interestingly fulfilling with making me feel your love of music and having the patience a Great Teacher is Born With. From 1 Educator to Another. I Love Your Style.

Aimee, this is just so very pleasant. I learned the solo years ago from a now-deceased friend who had a fellowship at Cal Arts, but I've since forgotten it -- and can't get back. I wish you'd lead us through the intro and one verse -- I do understand why you probably won't, but I can dream, can't I? Anyway, I very much enjoy checking in with you and your channel.

Absolutely fantastic!

great video! thanks for all that work. seeing it plotted out makes me really amazed at Tyner's economy and how he allows ideas to naturally grow. he makes some beautiful new ideas out of that old ionian mode. i never noticed the mistake F natural in the recording until you mentioned it here. I always thought he was channeling T. Monk for a moment.

Thank you, Aimee!

thanks for this analysis. I love McCoy's playing on this tune, "bum note" and all, lol.

the quality of my transcription into guitar of Mccoy Tyner's lines has improved thank to you...mostly through copying what notes you were playing and writing them down :0 Still' its a great lesson. Thank you. One of the best ways to learn a track, or any musician's playing, is by transcribing what they are playing.

I am only recently discovering the things on your channel. I cannot thank you enough for all this!

Okay...Aimee, I have to say it again, chica...Iam soooooo ABSOLUTELY super stoked I found your channel...My metronome and I will be binge watching your videos this weekend 😁...Let's gooooooo

Wow, just found your site. Your analysis is just spectacular!

Thanks so much Mrs. ! I tried to learn this things so much times, but didn't succed :) So helpfhul, thank you ! My favorite song of Coltrane and McCoy, include that misteake giving life to the whole solo. Your analyse is so profond and sensitive. Great job, really.

I just LOVE this Video. The interesting thing to me is that you don't even mention fourths, which I thought was a big McCoy Tyner thing. But he does so much more! Also, I've seen him many times, starting in 1977. Every time, it's an amazing eye opening religious experience just to hear him tune up. i ask him once as he walked by if he was a lefty. He said yes, to which I replied, I can tell. (based on his later playing)

I am a guitar player but this has always been my favorite piano solo. To me there is nothing more lovingly crafted, spacious, emotionally intelligent, rhythmically rich, thematically coherent and well-developed, and YES, patient and just plain beautiful than what McCoy does on the iconic recording of this song.

Thank you! Now I'm a fan! I will work with this and follow you. I love your transcription and methodology. McCoy's accompaniment to Coltrane's My Favorite Things is one of my favorite things. I've been fascinated by this piece since my girlfriend revealed the recording to me in college. Later, while working in Japan as a broadcast journalist I had the honour of interviewing McCoy, then joining him and his son for dinner between sets he performed in Yokohama. I saw him again in La Jolla a few years ago. He will remain a giant of the Pantheon. I'd love to see you do a tutorial of another favorite, Herbie's Dolphin Dance.

So good analysis!

Thx so much Aimee you’re funny and impressing you’ve already helped so much even though I’ve seen like 2sec