What I Remind Myself When I Feel Behind

What I Remind Myself When I Feel Behind

Author: Brenden Lowe : Professional Jazz Pianist and Jazz Piano Educator January 25, 2026 Duration: 19:15
Ever feel like you should be further along by now — in your playing, your work, or your life? I feel that way too. In this audio-only episode, I share one simple reminder I come back to whenever progress feels slower than I expected. It’s something I see constantly with jazz piano students — and something I have to practice myself just as much. I also share a few important updates about the current structure of Jazz Piano School and why I’ve simplified everything around one clear path forward. In this episode, I talk about: • Why we consistently underestimate how long meaningful progress takes • How rushing the process often creates more frustration, not better results • What real, sustainable growth actually looks like over time • The mindset shift that helps you stay patient and consistent • Why Proficient Jazz Pianist (PJP) is now the single starting point inside Jazz Piano School This is a reflective episode — less about tactics, more about perspective. If you’ve been feeling behind, stuck, or discouraged, this one’s meant to steady you and help you keep going. Proficient Jazz Pianist (PJP) The complete step-by-step system for building real jazz piano skills — comping, solo piano, and improvisation — without bouncing between random lessons or shortcuts. This is now the only program I sell, and it’s the foundation for everything inside Jazz Piano School: http://jazzpianoschool.com/pjp More ways to stay connected: Website: https://jazzpianoschool.com #JazzPiano #MusicPractice #CreativeProcess #FeelingBehind #LongTermGrowth #JazzPianoSchool #ProficientJazzPianist

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: English Episodes: 391

Jazz Piano School
Podcast Episodes
Why Your Jazz Piano Improvisation Isn’t Improving (8 Common Mistakes) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:44
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 — mist…
4 Things That Actually Build Confidence at Jazz Piano [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:28
Most jazz pianists think confidence comes after they get better. It doesn’t. Confidence is built intentionally — through depth, constraints, measurable progress, and exposure to the areas you tend to avoid. In this episo…
Why Practicing More Isn’t Making You Better (And What Actually Does) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:43
Most jazz pianists don’t struggle because they aren’t practicing — they struggle because their why, what, and how are misaligned. Most jazz pianists aren’t stuck because they’re lazy. They’re stuck because they’re workin…
Why Working Harder Isn't Fixing Your Jazz Piano Playing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:54
Most jazz pianists aren’t stuck because they’re lazy. They’re stuck because they’re working very hard on the wrong things. In this episode, I talk about why putting in more hours doesn’t always lead to better results — a…
Improvisation Paths: Blues, Bebop, Modern [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:54
What kind of improviser do you want to become? In this episode, I break down the three primary stylistic paths.
How to Know When You’re Ready to Move On in Jazz Piano [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 maste…