Choosing Your Next Step With PianoGroove
Congratulations on reaching the last day of PianoGroove’s 7-Day Jazz Piano Jumpstart.
Over the past week, you’ve explored lead sheets, 7th chords, two-handed voicings, smooth chord transitions, melodic embellishment, and creative chord choices.
The next step is to choose the learning path that best matches your level and musical goals.
This lesson introduced the following 3 learning paths:
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Lead Sheet Fundamentals
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Essential Jazz Harmony
- Elegant Solo Jazz Piano
We dive a little deeper into each of these learning paths, the courses they contain, and who these learning paths have been designed for.
Path 1: Lead Sheet Fundamentals
Choose this path if you are new to jazz piano and want to build confidence with lead sheets, chords, and jazz standards.
You’ll continue using the same step-by-step approach introduced in this Jumpstart: learning theory through real songs and gradually developing your own arrangements.
This is the best starting point for most beginners.
Path 2: Essential Jazz Harmony
Choose this path if you enjoy theory-focused learning and want to explore jazz harmony in more depth.
You’ll study topics such as:
- Chord Extensions
- Rootless Voicings
- Stride Piano
- Altered Harmony
- Chord Substitution
- 2-5-1 Progressions In All 12 Keys
This path moves at a faster pace and is ideal if your main goal is to develop a deeper understanding of jazz harmony.
Path 3: Elegant Solo Jazz Piano
Choose this path if you want to play jazz standards with more spontaneity, creativity, fills, and improvisation.
These courses explore individual jazz standards in more depth and gradually introduce more advanced arranging techniques. We explore the following jazz standards:
- Misty
- The Nearness Of You
- Georgia On My Mind
- Body & Soul
- In A Sentimental Mood
The goal is to move away from memorizing one fixed arrangement and develop the freedom to play the same tune differently each time.
Which Path Should You Choose?
Choose Lead Sheet Fundamentals If…
- You are new to jazz piano
- You want to read lead sheets confidently
- You want to build a repertoire of jazz standards
- You enjoyed the pace of this Jumpstart
Choose Essential Jazz Harmony If…
- You enjoy music theory
- You want richer chord voicings
- You want to understand harmony in greater depth
- You are comfortable with a faster learning pace
Choose Elegant Solo Jazz Piano If…
- You want to play more spontaneously and creatively
- You want to learn fills, runs, and improvisation
- You enjoy exploring individual standards in depth
- You are ready for more advanced material
Congratulations On Completing The Jumpstart
You’ve now completed the 7-Day Jazz Piano Jumpstart.
Most importantly, you now have a framework for turning a simple lead sheet into a musical jazz piano arrangement.
Choose the learning path that best matches your goals and continue building from the foundations you’ve developed this week.
Lesson Downloads
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Lead Sheet Fundamentals Path File Type: pdf -
Essential Jazz Harmony Path File Type: pdf
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Elegant Solo Jazz Piano Path File Type: pdf
Practice Tips
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Choose one clear path. Avoid jumping between too many courses at once.
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Balance songs and theory. Spend time applying what you learn directly to jazz standards.
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Don’t wait for perfection. Become comfortable with a concept, then keep moving forward.
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Listen regularly. As your playing develops, spend more time listening to and learning from jazz recordings and pianists that you admire.
- Apply new ideas immediately. Whenever you learn a new chord, voicing, or technique, apply it to a jazz standard to reinforce the practical application.
