Improvisation Paths: Blues, Bebop, Modern
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Once you understand the fundamentals of improvisation, you get to choose your sound. In this lesson, I break down the 3 major improvisation paths: Blues — soulful, emotional, vocalBebop — classic, harmonic, flowingModern — open, colorful, cinematic You’ll hear how each approach transforms the same 2-5-1 progression, and why the musicality stays […]
The Real Path To Jazz Piano Improvisation
Download: MP3 Audio47 MB Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Most jazz piano students start improvisation in the wrong place. They begin with scales, lists of modes, or random licks — then wonder why nothing feels natural, connected, or musical. In this episode, I walk you through the real developmental path of jazz improvisation — the way players […]
4 Secrets to Slow Swing Piano
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn BLACK FRIDAY OPENS 11/28 — Lifetime Access to Jazz Piano School👉 https://jazzpianoschool.com/black-friday-2025/ Slow swing is one of the most beautiful — and most misunderstood — styles in jazz piano. Most players rush, overplay, or fill too much space, and the groove disappears. In this lesson, I break down the four secrets that […]
Why You Shouldn’t Start Jazz Improv With Scales
Download: MP3 Audio38 MB Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Most jazz piano students make the same mistake when they begin improvising — they start with notes instead of music. In this episode, I break down why starting with scales, modes, or “what notes to play” actually slows your progress… and why the real foundation of great improvisation begins with textures, not […]
Why Jazz Piano Students Never Find Gold
Download: MP3 Audio26 MB Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Most jazz pianists never find “gold” — not because they lack talent, but because they stop digging too soon. In this episode, I share the story of a gold miner who spent years searching, gave up, and walked away just inches from the gold vein. The same thing […]
How to Add Bebop Language to Your Jazz Improv (Next Step After Levels 1 & 2)
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn If you’ve been practicing rhythm and chord tone improvisation from Levels 1 and 2, it’s time for your next breakthrough — adding bebop language. In this jazz piano lesson, I’ll show you how to connect your chord tones with bebop approach notes and enclosures so your lines sound more authentic, fluid, and […]
How to Know When You’re Ready to Move On in Jazz Piano
If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I ready to move on?” — this episode is for you.
One of the biggest reasons jazz piano players get stuck is because they don’t have clear benchmarks to tell them when a skill is actually mastered — or when they’re just getting by.
In this episode, I break down how to measure your progress the right way so you stop bouncing between random exercises and finally start building a solid foundation.
You’ll learn:
Why moving on too early kills your progress (and how to avoid it)
The 3 benchmarks I use with every student before we advance to the next concept
How my new Improvisation Goal inside Jazz Piano School helps you see and feel your progress clearly — so you know exactly when it’s time to level up
Whether you’re working on comping, solo piano, or improvisation, this episode will help you stop guessing and start growing with purpose.
Next Steps
The full Improvisation Goal and a complete platform upgrade are launching this Black Friday inside Jazz Piano School.
Get on the VIP Black Friday List now to get early access, lifetime membership discounts, and the brand-new learning experience:
https://jazzpianoschool.com/blackfriday2025
Join the Conversation
Do you use personal benchmarks when you practice?
Share your thoughts and progress inside the Improvisation Goal Space in the new Jazz Piano School community — I’d love to hear what you’re working on.
Why I Rebuilt Jazz Piano School (And What’s Coming Next)
Download: MP3 Audio55 MB Facebook Twitter LinkedIn After more than a decade of running Jazz Piano School, I hit a wall.Hundreds of courses, thousands of lessons… and still, something felt off. Students were overwhelmed. I was, too.Somewhere along the way, the heart of it — the simplicity, the joy, the clarity — got buried under […]
Haunting Jazz Piano Progressions: 5 Minor Chord Sequences That Send Chills
Download: MP3 Audio22 MB Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Looking to give your jazz piano playing a dark, cinematic edge this Halloween? In this episode, I’ll show you 5 haunting minor progressions that completely transform the mood of your playing — from eerie to elegant, from ghostly to film-score beautiful. You’ll learn how to: Create the smoky […]
Haunted Jazz Piano Improvisation: 3 Scales That Give You a Spooky Sound
Download: MP3 Audio21 MB Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Ready to add a little mystery to your solos this Halloween? In this episode, I’ll show you 3 scales that instantly create dark, haunting colors in your improvisation — perfect for October or anytime you want your playing to sound cinematic and edgy. You’ll learn how to: Create floating, […]
