My Step-by-Step Jazz Piano Practice System
If you’re trying to learn your voicings by playing through lead sheets over and over again, you may be making jazz piano much harder than it needs to be.
In this episode, I break down the practice system I use to move a jazz piano skill from completely controlled practice to spontaneous application.
We’ll move from learning an individual chord, to ii–V–I progressions, isolated chord qualities, organized movements, major scales, completely random chords, and finally applying everything to actual tunes.
I also explain the two variables I use to control the difficulty of almost any exercise, predictability and tempo, including my progression of:
No tempo → 60 → 90 → 120 → 150 → 180 BPM
The goal isn’t to become great at exercises. The goal is to practice the mechanics so thoroughly that when you’re comping with a group or playing solo piano, you no longer have to consciously think about them.
The chart should test your skills—not teach them to you from scratch.
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10 Lessons I’ve Learned From Teaching 1,000+ Jazz Piano Students
After teaching more than 1,000 jazz piano students, you start to see patterns—what actually helps students improve, what slows them down, and what many players misunderstand about learning jazz.
In this episode, I share 10 of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from years of teaching, including why consistency beats practice volume, why students move on from exercises too quickly, why fundamentals matter more than advanced concepts, and why improvisation is far more systematic than most people think.
I also dig into ear training vs. listening, learning voicings through memorization, developing an authentic swing feel, practicing more efficiently, and why the never-ending nature of learning jazz is something to enjoy rather than fight.
Whether you’re just getting started or have been playing jazz for years, these lessons can help you rethink how you approach your practice and progress.
Mindset for Jazz Piano: What To Do When You’re Frustrated, Doubting Yourself, or Discouraged
Download: MP3 Audio33 MB Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Learning jazz piano isn’t just about scales, voicings, and improvisation. It’s just as much about mindset. Every jazz pianist, from beginners to professionals, experiences moments of frustration, self-doubt, and discouragement. The difference isn’t talent—it’s learning how to navigate those moments and continue moving forward. In this episode, I […]
The 3 Goals Every Jazz Pianist Has (And Why Most People Never Reach Them)
Download: MP3 Audio49 MB Facebook Twitter LinkedIn What are you actually trying to accomplish as a jazz pianist?After teaching thousands of students over the years, I’ve found that almost every player shares the same three goals: • Learn to comp with confidence • Play beautiful solo piano arrangements • Improvise freely and naturally The challenge […]
The Hard Truth About Learning Jazz Piano
Download: MP3 Audio44 MB Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Why do so many jazz pianists learn more and more, yet still struggle to actually play? In this episode, I explore the difference between reproducing jazz and creating jazz, why instant gratification can slow your progress, and why mastering simple tools is what ultimately leads to freedom at […]
How Do Jazz Pianists Know Which Voicings To Use?
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Jazz pianists don’t randomly choose voicings — they use context. In this lesson, you’ll learn how to decide between shell voicings, rootless voicings, drop 2 voicings, quartal voicings, and other common jazz piano chord shapes so you know what to play and when to use it. https://youtu.be/2lj0PgwNDRY JOIN THE JPS LAUNCH WAITING […]
How Do Jazz Pianists Know Which Voicings To Use?
Download: MP3 Audio45 MB Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Should you use shell voicings, rootless voicings, spread voicings, quartal voicings, or upper structures? In this episode, I break down the purpose behind each of these voicing types and explain one of the biggest mindset shifts that separates students from professional jazz pianists. Great jazz pianists don’t ask: […]
The Future of Jazz Piano School (And Why Everything Is Changing)
After months of work behind the scenes, I’m finally ready to share what I’ve been building.
In this special podcast episode, I give you a full update on the future of Jazz Piano School, including our brand-new platform, our simplified student journey, and the vision behind everything moving forward.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
✅ Why I decided to completely redesign the Jazz Piano School experience
✅ The new 3-step learning path:
1. Proficient Jazz Pianist (PJP)
Build the core skills of jazz piano through a structured, step-by-step curriculum.
2. JPS Academy
Continue your growth with courses, coaching, community, live events, and ongoing support.
3. Accelerator
My elite coaching program for serious students who want personalized guidance, accountability, and faster results.
✅ How the new Proficient Jazz Pianist system creates a clear roadmap for comping, solo piano, and improvisation
✅ Why structure—not information—is the key to making faster progress in jazz
✅ What I’ve been working on for the past several months and what’s coming next
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by too many courses, too many practice options, or too much conflicting advice, this episode will show you how I’m simplifying everything into one clear path forward.
This isn’t just a platform update.
It’s a complete reimagining of how jazz piano should be learned online.
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Explore the New Jazz Piano School Website
https://jazzpianoschool.com
Take a look at the new student journey, learn more about PJP, and see how everything now fits together into a clear, streamlined path.
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Join the JPS Academy Waitlist
The Academy relaunch is coming soon.
Join the waitlist to receive launch announcements, early access opportunities, and important updates:
https://jazzpianoschool.com/membership-launch-waiting-list/
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Subscribe for weekly jazz piano lessons, practice strategies, improvisation training, and behind-the-scenes updates from Jazz Piano School.
Stop Adding Fills — This Is Why Your Ballads Sound Thin
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn If your cocktail ballads sound thin, empty, or amateur no matter how many fills you add, you’re probably solving the wrong problem. Most pianists try to create fullness by adding more movement — runs, broken chords, and constant activity. But professional solo piano sound doesn’t come from playing more notes. It comes […]
Why Your Jazz Piano Improvisation Isn’t Improving (8 Common Mistakes)
Struggling to make your improvisation sound natural, confident, or truly “jazzy”? You’re not alone.
In this episode, I break down the most common mistakes I see students make when learning jazz piano improvisation — mistakes that quietly stall progress even when you’re practicing regularly.
If your solos feel random, stiff, overly complex, or stuck at the same level, one or more of these issues is probably at play.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
– Why improvising without clear tools leads to guessing instead of music
– How rhythm (not notes) is the real foundation of great solos
– Why playing two hands together too early can slow your development
– The crucial difference between group improvisation and solo piano improvisation
– Why mastering fundamentals matters more than learning advanced tricks
– How trying to sound “fancy” often backfires
– Why practicing only on full tunes limits growth
– The importance of understanding the three core improvisation languages: blues, bebop, and modern
This episode is about clarity — helping you identify what may be holding you back and giving you a more direct path forward.
If you’re serious about improving your jazz piano skills, these insights can save you months or even years of frustration.
Ready to Commit?
If you’re ready for a complete step-by-step system for mastering improvisation, comping, and solo piano, check out Proficient Jazz Pianist (PJP). It’s the foundation program I use to help students build real skills without guessing what to practice:
Learn more here:
http://jazzpianoschool.com/pjp
Not quite ready yet? Start with the FREE Jazz Piano Roadmap. It breaks down the three core goals of jazz piano and exactly what tools you need to develop each one:
https://jazzpianoschool.com/roadmap
Stay connected:
Website: https://jazzpianoschool.com
