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
How To Captivate Audiences With Your Improvisation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Why is it that you're clinging to every note some jazz artists play, and others, you're kind of bored? I've heard monster players that technically sounded great! And played no "wrong" notes, but didn't inspire me or move…
Modern Jazz Basics in 7 Steps [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:06
As with everything in life, a couple small changes can produce big results. The same holds true for creating a modern jazz piano sound. With a couple of small but mighty elements, you can begin to easily produce a modern…
The ONLY Modern Jazz Chord You'll Ever Need - Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:30
There is a chord that has become ubiquitous in the modern jazz idiom. This harmony can be used in a variety of settings, and has many implications for composition and improvisation in a modern jazz style. In this podcast…
The ONLY Modern Jazz Chord You'll Ever Need - Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:21
There is a chord that has become ubiquitous in the modern jazz idiom. This harmony can be used in a variety of settings, and has many implications for composition and improvisation in a modern jazz style. Sterling Cozza…
Jazz Piano School Reflections for 2023 and 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
Once a year, usually in January, I sit down and record an audio only podcast. It's theraputic for me to reflect back on the year and think about what's coming up. If you're just into learning jazz piano and don't care ab…
What to Practice For Jazz Piano: 2024 Goal Planning Part 2 & 3 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:08
I gave out the planning aspect in my last podcast episode. How to organize your goals. How to rank them and prioritize them. How to make a plan, and how to revise your plan. If you haven't listened to that episode, you'l…
2024 Planning for Success: How To Organize Your Goals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:09
The information is out there. There is no doubt about that. You can find anything you want on the internet. But how do we make a plan for our goals. How do we know what information we need to sprint towards our goal? Wel…
Slow Motion Bebop Solo: The 3 Things You Need [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:29
It's hard to understand what makes improvisation sounds good. But wait...is it actually hard? Not really. In this lesson I'll demonstrate in super slow motion how to construct bebop lines using just 3 things. When you us…
How to Sidestep Like Herbie Hancock! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:24
When Herbie Hancock joined Miles Davis 2nd Quintet, he revolutionized chromatic improvising with Tony Williams and Ron Carter. Even before this period, Herbie used a technique he invented known as "sidestepping." This se…