How to Know When You’re Ready to Move On in Jazz Piano

How to Know When You’re Ready to Move On in Jazz Piano

Author: Brenden Lowe : Professional Jazz Pianist and Jazz Piano Educator November 6, 2025 Duration: 0:00
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.

Finding your way into the rich world of jazz piano can feel overwhelming, like you're missing the map everyone else seems to have. That's where Jazz Piano School comes in, hosted by professional jazz pianist and educator Brenden Lowe. This isn't about quick tricks; it's about building a real foundation. Brenden structures each episode around a clear, practical system, breaking down the journey into core pillars: developing your Technique, understanding the underlying Theory, building a solid Repertoire of tunes, and finding your own voice through Improvisation. You'll get focused lessons that translate complex ideas into actionable steps, all from a teacher who understands the common sticking points. To add depth and inspiration, the podcast regularly features conversations with well-known jazz pianists, offering a rare glimpse into their personal approaches and experiences. Tune in for a guided path that replaces frustration with clarity, turning the intricate language of jazz into something you can not only play, but truly feel and make your own. This podcast is designed to be the consistent, reliable resource you need at the bench, whether you're just starting out or looking to break through to the next level in your playing.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Jazz Piano School
Podcast Episodes
Medium & Fast Swing Solo Piano [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:48
Time to tackle some uptempo solo piano strategies! These strategies are a little bit difficult but they absolutely work and will have you sounding great if you practice them. Want the solo piano system course at jazz pia…
Slow Swing Jazz Piano: Do This! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:58
We are on to part 2 of my 3 part Solo piano Framework. If you missed part 1, go back and watch it when you get some time. But today, we'll be tackling slow swing. My live programs are starting back up in September! My 3-…
Learn Solo Jazz Piano: My 3 Easy Methods [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:42
It's time to teach you my Solo Piano Framework. This is a 3 part live stream I series that I recently did so you'll be listening to me teach live and answer questions live. Some students said this was the BEST solo piano…
Jazz Piano Improvisation: Skip Patterns [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:42
Bebop is made up of 3 components. Skips, steps and bebop approaches. Let's learn about the skips! My live programs are starting back up in September! My 3-month Accelerator program and 9-month Innercircle Mastermind. For…
Jazz Piano Improvisation: The 16th Note Ornament [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:56
When I discovered this little rhythmic trick it was an absolute game changer for my improvisation! Let's learn it! My live programs are starting back up in September! My 3-month Accelerator program and 9-month Innercircl…
I Surrender All Hymn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:58
Let's integrate the easy church/gospel movements I taught you from last week's podcast into the beautiful hymn, "I Surrender All". My live programs are starting back up in September! My 3-month Accelerator program and 9-…
4 Easy Gospel Tips [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:57
I use these four, easy, church movements everytime I play on Sunday. If you want to get a church/gospel sound fast, learn these today! My live programs are starting back up in September! My 3-month Accelerator program an…
Effective Scale Practice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:23
Learning tools and theory is one thing, but knowing how to effectively practice them is a different skill set entirely. Let's look at how to efficiently practice and use scales. Want my full Improvisation Mastery course?…
Find Your Own Voice With This Simple Composition Exercise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:33
Finding your own voice in music can seem like a daunting task. We look up to so many great jazz composers, but how did they discover their own sound as composers? The best thing to do is to start writing your own music.…
Jazz Piano Scales: 3 Must Know! (Practice Bonus) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
We're on to part 2 of my chord scales lesson. In this lesson I'm going to teach you 3 easy chord scales you have to know to make your improvisation sound great, and you'll get to practice them with me through the tune "T…