How To Learn Jazz Piano

If you want to truly learn how to play jazz piano, it's crucial to have a nurturing environment that will keep you inspired and motivated. In other words, a musical "scene" that will help you persevere and thrive as a musician. In How To Learn Jazz Piano, Season 1, Episode 5, I give examples of musical scenes that created successful jazz musicians, and give you specific, practical suggestions on how to create this type of environment for yourself. This will give you have the support you need to succeed in becoming the jazz pianist you have the potential to become!

Have you ever taken one look at all the jazz piano books on your shelf and simply walked away because you didn't know what to start with? Do you ever feel overwhelmed at the sheer amount of jazz techniques and theory that you feel you need to practice? If so, you may have "Practice Paralysis!" But don't worry, because I'm going to tell you exactly what "Practice Paralysis" is, why you may have it, and how to "cure" it. Because once you get beyond it, you'll be back on track and on your way to learning to play jazz piano the way you've always dreamed: with joy, fluency and confidence. In the first part of this podcast, I help you understand what it is, and then I play some musical examples and show you specific techniques you can use to get beyond it.

I've come up with a new term to describe what is perhaps the best way to learn piano: "Minimum Viable Piano." It means to learn just what you need to get to a certain level of ability, and then to do a LOT of that! How To Learn Jazz Piano: Season 1, Episode 2 will help you learn more about this and what it means for you. One of the big ways you can begin having more fun at the piano and improving at the same time is by understanding and applying my idea of "Minimum Viable Piano" to your own playing. So much about successfully learning jazz depends on having the right mindset, and you'll find that if you apply this concept of Minimum Viable Piano to your own playing, you'll have more fun at your current stage of development and you'll make more progress towards playing at the advanced levels.

In this episode of the How To Learn Jazz Piano podcast, I show you how to practice in the most effective manner possible. Season 1, Episode 2 is all about "aiming for fluency." This is where the magic starts to happen for you as a jazz musician. Having fluency as the goal will completely change the way you practice jazz, and this in turn will completely change the way you play. By aiming for fluency, you'll start playing with an ease and confidence that's truly amazing! I had a lot of fun demonstrating this concept for you in a very practical manner which you'll be able to apply to your own practicing right away. Good luck, and remember to have fun with your practicing at every step of the way!

If you want to learn jazz piano, it helps to get the "big picture" and see what's possible for you as far as what styles you can learn and what's the best starting point for you individually. A lot of jazz is taught generically these days, but that's not the way that any of the greats learned to play so well. In this podcast, How To Learn Jazz Piano: Season 1, Episode 1, I show you how to choose a jazz style to begin with. We'll start by looking at what exactly IS jazz piano, and then I'll play a bunch of jazz styles so you can find which one you like best and want to start learning. I hope you enjoy this and the other podcasts in How To Learn Jazz Piano, Season 1. Have fun!

How To Learn Jazz Piano will help you take your jazz piano playing to the next level by learning in the same way that all the jazz greats learn to play. This first episode is an Intro to Season 1, which shows you The Mindset You Need in order to successfully learn to play great jazz piano. My goal is to help you get started in the right way and to stay inspired and motivated and inspired for years to come! The episodes in Season 1 are: 1. Choose A Jazz Style To Begin With 2. Aim For Fluency 3. Your First Big Step Is "Minimum Viable Piano" 4. The Cure For "Practice Paralysis" 5. Creating Your Own "Musical Scene" Enjoy this overview of Season 1, and I hope you enjoy the whole series. Good luck with your jazz playing!