Piano Practice – How To Build Better Habits
Today I want to teach you about a really useful piano practice technique that I’ve started using in my life.Β I’ve found a lot of benefit from it in both my music and in my personal life.
It’s easy and I think you’ll really enjoy it as well once you start using it too.
(We’re also going to talk about a special piano practice challengeΒ at the end of the article too that I think you’ll love.)
Why I DevelopedΒ This Piano Practice Habit
Earlier this year as Freejazzlessons.com kept on getting more friends and fans I found my life wasΒ getting more chaotic.
Perhaps you can relate if you feel pulled in lots of different directions in your life?
You see I’m a pretty simple guy. I know what brings peaceΒ in my life. I’m most happy when I can get to spend most of my time doing 2 simple things everyday.
1. Practicing piano daily so I can keep sharing all my jazz piano discoveries with the community here.
2. Creating helpful courses and training resourcesΒ for musicians who love jazz and want to learn how to play jazz on a high level. (I get a lot of joy out of giving.)
So, I try to structure my time accordingly so I can do both of these things everyday. But, when you’re hosting an ‘online jazz piano party’ forΒ 60,000 people per month it can pull you in lots of different directions when it comes to time.
I found myself in a new situation. I didn’t have hours a day to practice piano yet I knew I needed to practice more. (Can you relate?)
During this timeΒ was also getting over 200Β emails per day from the community here, constantly creating all theΒ in depth video training for Premium Membership Course, and also playing lots of gigs too.
I felt like a chicken with my head cut off.Β My focus was suffering and my personal piano practice routine was starting to drop off.
I knew I couldn’t let the little things that pop up in life get in my way.Β ConsistentΒ practice is 1 of the keys to musical success. I had to improve my focus and continue toΒ reshape my practice.
My happiness and musical growth was on the line. So, I started searching for answers.
How I Started Getting My Focus Back
One night after I had just spent 12 hours straightΒ filming new tutorials for myΒ Premium MembershipΒ students I decidedΒ to take a little breakΒ and watch some TV.
I was dog tired and needed to shut my brain off for an hour or so. So, as I’m flipping through channels trying to decide what to watch when I stumble on an old Seinfeld rerun. You know the one whereΒ GeorgeΒ has the Gore TexΒ coat? I had to watch it!
Of course the episodeΒ was funny…just like 99% of Seinfeld episodes were. It’s hard to find a Seinfeld episode that was bad.
In fact, IΒ got me thinking how consistent Seinfeld was at putting out funny episodes. Years of hilarious episodes. Β The consistency and quality of the showΒ wasΒ amazing.
I started wondering about what made Jerry Seinfeld so great. I mean how did Seinfeld get that good at comedy so consistently?Β There was no way this happened by luck right?
Everybody can tell a funny joke here and there but to create years and years of worth of classic comedy is special. His productivity was world class.
So, I started wondering howΒ SeinfeldΒ put out quality work so regularly?Β Was there some sort of special strategy? What was his secret to productivity?Β Could I learn to do it too?Β I had to find out.
What Was Seinfeld’s Trick?
I hopped out of bed and walked down to my office and jumped on google. I wasnt sure even what to search for. So, I did a variety of searches like…
- “Why is Seinfeld awesome?”
- “How do you do 9 years of good work?”
- “Seinfeld practice”
They also produced interesting results but not exactly what IΒ was looking for. When I finally googled the term “Seinfeld productivity” though that’s when the golden goose hit!
I was so excited by what I found.
I discovered that not only did Jerry actually use a special productivity trickΒ but he attributed it to a large part of his comedic success!
The Don’t Break The Chain Technique
According toΒ Brad Issac,Β Seinfeld used a special productivity trick called “Don’t Break The Chain”.
As a young comedian Brad ran into an already famous and successful Seinfeld at a comedy club and asked him for advice.
Hereβs how Isaac described the interaction with Seinfeldβ¦
He said the way to be a better comic was to create better jokes and the way to create better jokes was to write every day.
He told me to get a big wall calendar that has a whole year on one page and hang it on a prominent wall. The next step was to get a big red magic marker. He said for each day that I do my task of writing, I get to put a big red X over that day.
βAfter a few days youβll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. Youβll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job is to not break the chain.β
——-
Now, Notice how Seinfeld didn’t say a single thing about results, being motivated, or being great. All that mattered was that he didn’t break his chain.
He knew that the act of working on his craft regularly would pay off. Eureka! It was simple and easy to understand. Jerry turned the act of practicing into a game.
I figured I had nothing to lose so I’d give it a try too.
So, I set my goal,Β “No matter what happens I will set aside time to piano practice everyday and not break the chain.”
Notice for this particular goal I didn’t set a goal of practicing scales for 15 hours a day, practicing 20 new tunes in all 12 keys, learning a new Chick Corea solo, etc. etc.
Those things are important but I didn’t want to get bogged down with all the specifics just yet.
I knew I would address all the ‘what to practice’ on a day to day basis. But to simply build a long term habit of daily practiceΒ I knew I had to keep my approach simple.
“No matter what happens I will practice everyday. I will not break the chain. “
So, onΒ February 11 of this year I went out and bought myself a wall calendar and a red marker and I tried Seinfeld’s practice technique.
My Awesome Results So Far
It did feel a little weird on the first day but after stringing several days of X’s in a row together I found the X’s all right next to each other beautiful to look at. It also felt GREAT to add another X to that calendar.
After doing the exercise for months now I have to report back that Seinfeld’s strategy has been amazing.
I don’t even have to think about it now. I practice every day. Practicing has become almost a reflex.
My chops are better, my creativity is better, I’ve learned more tunes, and my joy from music is at an all time high. Everything just feels better musically speaking.
So, I would recommend this strategy to anybody that wants to carve out time in their life for piano practice. Β It’s been a game changer for me.
Your New 7 Day Piano Practice Challenge
Here’s the thing. I want you to become a better musician. And if you’re reading this article than I’m quite certain you want to get better too. Much better.
We both know you need to put some practice timeΒ in to get better. So, I’d like to offer you a simple challenge right now.
(I wouldn’t be a good teacher if I didn’t motivate you right?)
If you’re ready toΒ make an improvement in your music and in your life I’d like you to do 1 simple thing right now.Β
Join me for the next 7 days in ‘not breaking the chain’.Β
How The Piano Practice Challenge Works
So,Β here’s how it work. for the next 7 days you’ll practice daily. I’ll be doing it too. After each session you’ll just put an x in your calendar. The goal is to go 7 days without ‘breaking the chain’.
Simple. Easy. Fun. Rewarding.
Here’s your Next Step
If you’reΒ serious about becoming a better musicianΒ I’d like you toΒ to do 1 simple thing right now.
Leave a comment in the comments are and let me know you’re in. Just say, “I’m in.
I’ll be here with you and so will the other community members every step of the way. I look forward to hearing from you!
Let’s build some skills over then next week.
I look forward to reading yourΒ comment below. If you have any questions please leave a comment below as well.I’m happy to help.
To your musical success,
I was in the habit of practicing daily and need to get back into it. 15-20 minutes per day. I am up for the 7 day challenge and will start today.
I was in the habit of practicing daily and need to get back into it. 15-20 minutes per day. I am up for the 7 day challenge and will start today.
I’m in.
Welcome aboard!
I’m in.
Welcome aboard!
I’ll be going out of town the first week in July and I was thinking, I can’t start until I get back – But “I’m in” for the next 7 days and the until I leave to go to a music camp in Colorado.
Great to hear!
I’ll be going out of town the first week in July and I was thinking, I can’t start until I get back – But “I’m in” for the next 7 days and the until I leave to go to a music camp in Colorado.
Great to hear!
I’m in
I’m in
A simple but powerful formula! I am going to give it a shot!
Yes! Great Carl and welcome.
A simple but powerful formula! I am going to give it a shot!
Yes! Great Carl and welcome.
Yes, I’m ready to go!
Yes, I’m ready to go!
I’ll give it a go
Very cool Tom. Welcome.
I’ll give it a go
Very cool Tom. Welcome.
I’m in! Let’s do this
Yes!
I’m in! Let’s do this
Yes!
I’m In!
I’m In!
I’m in.
-dlj.
I’m in.
-dlj.
Iβm tired like a dog but Iβm in.
Iβm tired like a dog but Iβm in.
I’m definitely in!
Great to hear Donna!
I’m definitely in!
Great to hear Donna!
Airline pilot here. Gonna be very tough, as I have to travel with my instrument, but I’m in! I have a 49-key Roland MIDI controller. I’ll hook it up to my laptop so I can practice in my hotel rooms. 49 keys is a bit limiting, but I’ve found it’s a great size for 2-octave scales/arps, without being too bulky to lug around daily! When you see me walking through the airport with a keyboard strapped to my usual assortment of luggage, please don’t laugh! It’ll be worth it in the end if I can pull it off π
Great to hear you’re on board here Philip. If it makes you feel better I fly with keyboards all the time. I’ve gone the carry on route too with the small keyboards. Way to show commitment on your part. I love to hear it!
P.S. Maybe I’ll be on your flight one day π
Airline pilot here. Gonna be very tough, as I have to travel with my instrument, but I’m in! I have a 49-key Roland MIDI controller. I’ll hook it up to my laptop so I can practice in my hotel rooms. 49 keys is a bit limiting, but I’ve found it’s a great size for 2-octave scales/arps, without being too bulky to lug around daily! When you see me walking through the airport with a keyboard strapped to my usual assortment of luggage, please don’t laugh! It’ll be worth it in the end if I can pull it off π
Great to hear you’re on board here Philip. If it makes you feel better I fly with keyboards all the time. I’ve gone the carry on route too with the small keyboards. Way to show commitment on your part. I love to hear it!
P.S. Maybe I’ll be on your flight one day π
Hi Steve,
Practicing everyday is not a problem for me. I know jazz is a never ending battle to be better and better but the nature of the beast is the more you learn in jazz idiom the more time needs to be applied Your Premium Chord ,Improv Drills,Licks, and Songs libraries are definitely in my daily practice along with 6 practice scales of Ionian ,melodic minor,mixolydian,Lydian augmented major,Harmoic Minor,Lydian Dom.7th and 6 what I call jazz scales in major and minor pentatonic scales,blues scales,Whole tone, and the HW and WH diminished scales. Then there are the chord and arpeggio voicings not to mention the Bach Inventions ,Classical Selection, Charley Parker’s Omnus transcriptions ,Quartal voicingsin both hands, Red Garland’s voicings of octaves with a 5th wedge in between diatonically and chromatically up and down at least 2 octaves along with some needed technically training books such as Pischna and Tausig exercises and the scales ,chords, and arpeggios are only done in one key a practice session I can really understand why the Masters such as Miles Davis, Charley Parker and Oscar Peterson practice 13 hours a day. I’m lucky to get all this in in just 4 hours a practice session. In just your lessons alone give me even more ideas to practice and free style with . To really take your jazz playing to the next level you have to do the time. You never can learn enough in jazz and you’re absolutely correct ,when you mentioned your chops ,they definitely can fall of the wagon. I can honestly say I am beginning to see the improvement in my jazz playing . Oh I forgot to threw in ear training when away from the piano but there has been great advancement in my improvisation and thanks to your studies have even created more material to practice and boy it has really boosted me to next level and I’m lucky if I can get to and in a standard tune to reharnonize and improvise in free styling ideas and rhythms which I try to do to keep up my improv and my own styling . Let’s face jazz straight on and that is you have to practice and be rewarded with the time you put in on it. To add to days I’m on chemo and feel like crap but yet I force myself to crawl to the piano and hit the bed at 6:00 in the evening. Be persistent and press on to take and acquired level to the next level and the level after that and after that. You got it be ever persistent. That’s jazz you can never be complacent that’s the nature of the beast. Sorry to have taken up your valuable time and thanks for lending a ear for my verbosity but I had to explained about my way of what I want to get in my say about the reaching the next level of learning jazz.
,
George you are a superstar. That is a huge list of topics. I’m impressed that you can fit all that in your regular schedule. When I was in college I used to practice of 6-10 hours a day. Nowadays, it’s less but I go very very deep into just a few topics. Keep up the great work and I hope your health continues to get better. Thanks as always for your great comments.
Hi Steve,
Practicing everyday is not a problem for me. I know jazz is a never ending battle to be better and better but the nature of the beast is the more you learn in jazz idiom the more time needs to be applied Your Premium Chord ,Improv Drills,Licks, and Songs libraries are definitely in my daily practice along with 6 practice scales of Ionian ,melodic minor,mixolydian,Lydian augmented major,Harmoic Minor,Lydian Dom.7th and 6 what I call jazz scales in major and minor pentatonic scales,blues scales,Whole tone, and the HW and WH diminished scales. Then there are the chord and arpeggio voicings not to mention the Bach Inventions ,Classical Selection, Charley Parker’s Omnus transcriptions ,Quartal voicingsin both hands, Red Garland’s voicings of octaves with a 5th wedge in between diatonically and chromatically up and down at least 2 octaves along with some needed technically training books such as Pischna and Tausig exercises and the scales ,chords, and arpeggios are only done in one key a practice session I can really understand why the Masters such as Miles Davis, Charley Parker and Oscar Peterson practice 13 hours a day. I’m lucky to get all this in in just 4 hours a practice session. In just your lessons alone give me even more ideas to practice and free style with . To really take your jazz playing to the next level you have to do the time. You never can learn enough in jazz and you’re absolutely correct ,when you mentioned your chops ,they definitely can fall of the wagon. I can honestly say I am beginning to see the improvement in my jazz playing . Oh I forgot to threw in ear training when away from the piano but there has been great advancement in my improvisation and thanks to your studies have even created more material to practice and boy it has really boosted me to next level and I’m lucky if I can get to and in a standard tune to reharnonize and improvise in free styling ideas and rhythms which I try to do to keep up my improv and my own styling . Let’s face jazz straight on and that is you have to practice and be rewarded with the time you put in on it. To add to days I’m on chemo and feel like crap but yet I force myself to crawl to the piano and hit the bed at 6:00 in the evening. Be persistent and press on to take and acquired level to the next level and the level after that and after that. You got it be ever persistent. That’s jazz you can never be complacent that’s the nature of the beast. Sorry to have taken up your valuable time and thanks for lending a ear for my verbosity but I had to explained about my way of what I want to get in my say about the reaching the next level of learning jazz.
,
George you are a superstar. That is a huge list of topics. I’m impressed that you can fit all that in your regular schedule. When I was in college I used to practice of 6-10 hours a day. Nowadays, it’s less but I go very very deep into just a few topics. Keep up the great work and I hope your health continues to get better. Thanks as always for your great comments.
Great Mamie!
Great Mamie!
I’m in.
I’m in.
I’m in
I’m in
Steve. I’m in. Fortunately, daily practice at the piano is one of the best parts of my day or night. Thanks
Yeah Terry!
Steve. I’m in. Fortunately, daily practice at the piano is one of the best parts of my day or night. Thanks
Yeah Terry!
As a mom of 3, I’m in!!! Let’s do this!!
Awesome Anedra. Way to get focused!
As a mom of 3, I’m in!!! Let’s do this!!
Awesome Anedra. Way to get focused!
I’m in! But if i do wind up with a blank on one of the days, I’ll fill it in with a big hug (0) ’cause it’ll be for a darn good reason. Thanks so much for this practice tip. The wall over my keyboard is covered with all the good tips from Premium & love the practice log book idea.
Great to hear Jude and thanks for your kind words about Premium Membership. Glad to hear you’re enjoying the course and Premium’s practice log.
I’m in! But if i do wind up with a blank on one of the days, I’ll fill it in with a big hug (0) ’cause it’ll be for a darn good reason. Thanks so much for this practice tip. The wall over my keyboard is covered with all the good tips from Premium & love the practice log book idea.
Great to hear Jude and thanks for your kind words about Premium Membership. Glad to hear you’re enjoying the course and Premium’s practice log.
I’m in. Up until 3 years ago I was a jazz guitarist. At the time I was 50 years old. I remember when I was 14 I asked my mother for an alarm clock for my birthday. I would set that alarm for 4-30 AM, practise for 2 1/2 hours before school and more again after school.
Arthritis in my fingers meant I couldn’t continue at age 50. I couldn’t put sideways pressure on my fingers and the guitar requires a lot of this type of movement.
Practising the piano didn’t hurt . . . so, at 50 years old I took up the task of applying what I knew about music to an unfamiliar instrument. 3 years down the track and with a lot of help from your website, Steve, and I’m starting to think that my dreams of playing music may not be over after all.
Thanks, Steve
Glad you’re finding the piano as your new music vehicle Harry and thanks for your comment. Lets make some great music in the next week!
I’m in. Up until 3 years ago I was a jazz guitarist. At the time I was 50 years old. I remember when I was 14 I asked my mother for an alarm clock for my birthday. I would set that alarm for 4-30 AM, practise for 2 1/2 hours before school and more again after school.
Arthritis in my fingers meant I couldn’t continue at age 50. I couldn’t put sideways pressure on my fingers and the guitar requires a lot of this type of movement.
Practising the piano didn’t hurt . . . so, at 50 years old I took up the task of applying what I knew about music to an unfamiliar instrument. 3 years down the track and with a lot of help from your website, Steve, and I’m starting to think that my dreams of playing music may not be over after all.
Thanks, Steve
Glad you’re finding the piano as your new music vehicle Harry and thanks for your comment. Lets make some great music in the next week!
I’m in
Great Kitty!
I’m in
Great Kitty!
I’m in.
I’m in.
im in !!!
Welcome aboard.
im in !!!
Welcome aboard.
I’m in.
Great to hear Richard.
I’m in.
Great to hear Richard.
I’m in!
Great to hear DebbyAnne.
I’m in!
Great to hear DebbyAnne.
Im in, though for me it’s no big deal Steve as I can honestly say outside of a few travel days I havn’t missed a day where I havn’t practiced and reviewed some of your lessons. There is such a tremendous amount of material you have passed on to us the last 5 years or so I live in fear of forgetting some of the techniques you have shared and I always want to have them at my finger tips. The voicings and substitutions alone could fill an entire book. (Still waiting for you to publish a Nixon “Secrets to Jazz” book that would put to shame my own pathetic notes). LOL I am sure many members feel the same way and your new Seinfeld method should help those who share my fears. Cheers. Ray
Thanks Ray!
Im in, though for me it’s no big deal Steve as I can honestly say outside of a few travel days I havn’t missed a day where I havn’t practiced and reviewed some of your lessons. There is such a tremendous amount of material you have passed on to us the last 5 years or so I live in fear of forgetting some of the techniques you have shared and I always want to have them at my finger tips. The voicings and substitutions alone could fill an entire book. (Still waiting for you to publish a Nixon “Secrets to Jazz” book that would put to shame my own pathetic notes). LOL I am sure many members feel the same way and your new Seinfeld method should help those who share my fears. Cheers. Ray
Thanks Ray!
I’m in!
I’m in!
I,m in !
Welcome Peter!
I,m in !
Welcome Peter!
Steve, I’m in. For me, practicing has to be a habit so you feel worse when you don’t practice. Also, its discouraging when, at times, you don’t know where to go next. But I must say that since I joined the Premium Membership, there are always areas/techniques to learn and work on. Just turned 75 but am still working in the Foreign Service on short overseas assignments and playing as a volunteer at Assisted Living Facilities while trying to grab hold of this jazz and improv thing. Not easy but if I follow your recommendations and work on various Premium libraries, I feel that I am making progress. By the way, sign me up for the Nixon “Secrets to Jazz” book should you decide to publish. I still think you have some of the most interesting and great sounding jazz chords I’ve heard. Thanks again, Frank
Thanks for sharing your background Frank. Glad to hear you’re enjoying Premium Membership. Maybe I should write a book in a future product release. Not a bad idea at all. Seems like people are interested?
Sincerely,
Steve Nixon
freejazzlessons.wpsc.dev
Steve, I’m in. For me, practicing has to be a habit so you feel worse when you don’t practice. Also, its discouraging when, at times, you don’t know where to go next. But I must say that since I joined the Premium Membership, there are always areas/techniques to learn and work on. Just turned 75 but am still working in the Foreign Service on short overseas assignments and playing as a volunteer at Assisted Living Facilities while trying to grab hold of this jazz and improv thing. Not easy but if I follow your recommendations and work on various Premium libraries, I feel that I am making progress. By the way, sign me up for the Nixon “Secrets to Jazz” book should you decide to publish. I still think you have some of the most interesting and great sounding jazz chords I’ve heard. Thanks again, Frank
Thanks for sharing your background Frank. Glad to hear you’re enjoying Premium Membership. Maybe I should write a book in a future product release. Not a bad idea at all. Seems like people are interested?
Sincerely,
Steve Nixon
freejazzlessons.wpsc.dev
I’m in.
Great!
I’m in.
Great!
I’m in! and I am reminded of an encounter I had several years ago with an eleven year-old pianist. I heard him playing one day and I told him that I thought he played very well. He thanked me for the compliment and asked, “Do you play?” I smiled and said, “Well…I try but I’m not that good at it; certainly not as good as you. My problem is I hardly ever practice.” He stopped suddenly, turned and looked me right in my eyes with an expression I can only describe as shocked, confused disbelief — which, as you can imagine, is quite impactful worn on the face of an eleven year-old — and then he spoke with all the seriousness and intensity as a doctor would use to tell a patient that the diagnosis was terminal. He said, “You HAVE to PRACTICE.” (crickets, crickets, crickets) There was nothing else to say.
I’m in! and I am reminded of an encounter I had several years ago with an eleven year-old pianist. I heard him playing one day and I told him that I thought he played very well. He thanked me for the compliment and asked, “Do you play?” I smiled and said, “Well…I try but I’m not that good at it; certainly not as good as you. My problem is I hardly ever practice.” He stopped suddenly, turned and looked me right in my eyes with an expression I can only describe as shocked, confused disbelief — which, as you can imagine, is quite impactful worn on the face of an eleven year-old — and then he spoke with all the seriousness and intensity as a doctor would use to tell a patient that the diagnosis was terminal. He said, “You HAVE to PRACTICE.” (crickets, crickets, crickets) There was nothing else to say.
am in
am in
I’m in!
Sounds great Vickie.
I’m in!
Sounds great Vickie.
I’m in!
Great to hear!
I’m in!
Great to hear!
Great Julian!
Great Julian!
A lot of people can feel that way Glen. Stay simple and just do a little everyday. Keep the chain intact.
A lot of people can feel that way Glen. Stay simple and just do a little everyday. Keep the chain intact.
I’m in!
Great Marilyn!
I’m in!
Great Marilyn!
I’m in Steve.
Great Chris!
I’m in Steve.
Great Chris!
i’m in
Awesome to hear Angele
i’m in
Awesome to hear Angele
Well, I thought I was practicing every day. But, end of school, summer activities starting, etc., I apparently was slacking off more than I thought. This morning I sat down at my computer, looked at the calendar, saw the Xs, and turned to my keyboard instead.
Bam! Perfect example of what this challenge is all about. Way to use the x’s as a motivator Kitty!
Well, I thought I was practicing every day. But, end of school, summer activities starting, etc., I apparently was slacking off more than I thought. This morning I sat down at my computer, looked at the calendar, saw the Xs, and turned to my keyboard instead.
Bam! Perfect example of what this challenge is all about. Way to use the x’s as a motivator Kitty!
Funny, its so simple.. I know I should practice every day, but I get busy and I just don’t. I know if I just spend a few minutes at it, its way better than no minutes! I’m in!
There you go David. Start small and just build your habit. Good things will come from there.
Funny, its so simple.. I know I should practice every day, but I get busy and I just don’t. I know if I just spend a few minutes at it, its way better than no minutes! I’m in!
There you go David. Start small and just build your habit. Good things will come from there.
Like George declared “The Summer of George I am declaring the “The Summer of Ruben” Thanks for the motivation I am in.
That’s what I like to hear! Congrats Ruben. Lets make some great music this week.
Like George declared “The Summer of George I am declaring the “The Summer of Ruben” Thanks for the motivation I am in.
That’s what I like to hear! Congrats Ruben. Lets make some great music this week.
Hi Steve,
Awsome. I’m in.
Keis
Cool Keis! Welcome to the challenge.
Hi Steve,
Awsome. I’m in.
Keis
Cool Keis! Welcome to the challenge.
Hi Steve! I1m happy to be here and practice everyday and building up my music. It will be a magical wand to help who needs it! π Best wishes for All!
Great to hear Radnai. Happy to have you here with us.
Hi Steve! I1m happy to be here and practice everyday and building up my music. It will be a magical wand to help who needs it! π Best wishes for All!
Great to hear Radnai. Happy to have you here with us.
One more time thanks a lot Steve. I like yours advices.
I wish you the best .
Philippe
You’re most welcome Philippe. Glad to have you hear!
One more time thanks a lot Steve. I like yours advices.
I wish you the best .
Philippe
You’re most welcome Philippe. Glad to have you hear!
It’s never too late! I’m in. There are times when you can not play when far from home. In these cases, I happen to ‘play mentally’! It can be quite effective…
Christian
Great to hear you’re with us Christian. Appreciate the comment and lets make some great music in the next week!
It’s never too late! I’m in. There are times when you can not play when far from home. In these cases, I happen to ‘play mentally’! It can be quite effective…
Christian
Great to hear you’re with us Christian. Appreciate the comment and lets make some great music in the next week!
Ooo-Baby!!!!…I am SO IN !!! I’ve lived a very long life without making any headway. —have begun marking-up a 2015 calendar, and love your Premium M’ship. Kudos on your teaching-skill. Thank you!!
Thank you Robert! Glad to hear you’re loving Premium Membership. Awesome that you’re in on this 7 day challenge too!
Ooo-Baby!!!!…I am SO IN !!! I’ve lived a very long life without making any headway. —have begun marking-up a 2015 calendar, and love your Premium M’ship. Kudos on your teaching-skill. Thank you!!
Thank you Robert! Glad to hear you’re loving Premium Membership. Awesome that you’re in on this 7 day challenge too!
I am awesomely in. Can’t thank you enough Steve for such valuable information. It is like breaking down that big wall of ICE.
Great Dwight. It’s my pleasure and I enjoy sharing music with you. Let us know how your progress is going.
I am awesomely in. Can’t thank you enough Steve for such valuable information. It is like breaking down that big wall of ICE.
Great Dwight. It’s my pleasure and I enjoy sharing music with you. Let us know how your progress is going.
I am in! I am one for doing regular practice and a minimum of an hour a day with the odd lapse. I have my sight on where I should be in two years. That is what keeps me going. This site has helped me loads.
Great to hear Michael. Welcome to the 7 days π Happy to have you here with us.
I am in! I am one for doing regular practice and a minimum of an hour a day with the odd lapse. I have my sight on where I should be in two years. That is what keeps me going. This site has helped me loads.
Great to hear Michael. Welcome to the 7 days π Happy to have you here with us.
I’m in.
dlb
Great David!
I’m in.
dlb
Great David!
Discipline starts with 1 small action. Then repeat from there. Seriously though just start with 1 day. Don’t worry about the other days till the next day. Narrow your focus π
Discipline starts with 1 small action. Then repeat from there. Seriously though just start with 1 day. Don’t worry about the other days till the next day. Narrow your focus π
I’m in. Only 2 problems – even though it’s 50 odd years ago I have too many bad memories of red ink and crosses against my work so I’m using stars with a gold one every 7 days. And I’ve never seen Seinfeld so how do I watch them all and still find time to practice. Thanks Iain
Lol Ian. That’s funny π Gold stars, pink stars, red x’s, stickers etc.β¦whatever you want to use is absolutely fine. Just get the practice time in!
I’m in. Only 2 problems – even though it’s 50 odd years ago I have too many bad memories of red ink and crosses against my work so I’m using stars with a gold one every 7 days. And I’ve never seen Seinfeld so how do I watch them all and still find time to practice. Thanks Iain
Lol Ian. That’s funny π Gold stars, pink stars, red x’s, stickers etc.β¦whatever you want to use is absolutely fine. Just get the practice time in!
Would like to try – I’m in
Noel MacCarry
Great Noel. Welcome to the 7 day challenge!
Would like to try – I’m in
Noel MacCarry
Great Noel. Welcome to the 7 day challenge!
I am on the road. No access to a piano. Once I get home I’m in. And will try to find a very portable keyboard for next road trip. By the way LOVING the Masters DVD which I opened early for Fathers Day!
Awesome David! Let us know how the 7 day challenge goes for you. Thanks for your kind words on the Jazz Masters Method DVD! Glad you’re getting joy out of it. Very happy to be sharing music with you further.
I am on the road. No access to a piano. Once I get home I’m in. And will try to find a very portable keyboard for next road trip. By the way LOVING the Masters DVD which I opened early for Fathers Day!
Awesome David! Let us know how the 7 day challenge goes for you. Thanks for your kind words on the Jazz Masters Method DVD! Glad you’re getting joy out of it. Very happy to be sharing music with you further.
I’m in!
Fantastic Jacob!
I’m in!
Fantastic Jacob!
Hi, I`m in. I try the magnificant top note voicing concept. This is really, really great. But it`s for sure hard work.
Great Wolfgang! Glad to hear you’re in. Good things come from hard work at the keyboard. Keep going my friend. It will pay off.
Hi, I`m in. I try the magnificant top note voicing concept. This is really, really great. But it`s for sure hard work.
Great Wolfgang! Glad to hear you’re in. Good things come from hard work at the keyboard. Keep going my friend. It will pay off.
KappΓ© great to hear you’re in and thanks for sharing your story. I can relate to what you’re saying but on the flip side. Everything I’ve learned about self improvement and commitment/showing up I’ve learned from music. So, I try to take those lessons into other areas of my life yoga, meditation, etc. I can relate to what you’re saying. Great to have you here with us again!
Steve, Thanks for the flip side of the coin. And that’s just it- self improvement takes commitment. Loved your sharing.
KappΓ©
It’s my pleasure KappΓ©. It’s true that improvement comes from commitment. Fortunately, as I like to tell my students…we’re not digging ditches here and doing hard physical labor…we’re playing the piano. There is a serious fun aspect to this whole process.
KappΓ© great to hear you’re in and thanks for sharing your story. I can relate to what you’re saying but on the flip side. Everything I’ve learned about self improvement and commitment/showing up I’ve learned from music. So, I try to take those lessons into other areas of my life yoga, meditation, etc. I can relate to what you’re saying. Great to have you here with us again!
Steve, Thanks for the flip side of the coin. And that’s just it- self improvement takes commitment. Loved your sharing.
KappΓ©
It’s my pleasure KappΓ©. It’s true that improvement comes from commitment. Fortunately, as I like to tell my students…we’re not digging ditches here and doing hard physical labor…we’re playing the piano. There is a serious fun aspect to this whole process.
Hi – I.m a bit late but I’m in – starting tomorrow evening. Kappe’ – I’m the same age – go the baldies!
Great!
Hi – I.m a bit late but I’m in – starting tomorrow evening. Kappe’ – I’m the same age – go the baldies!
Great!
I’m in
Excellent Seb!
I’m in
Excellent Seb!
I’m in!
Alright Mary Frances! Welcome to the challenge. Keep us posted on your progress.
I’m in!
Alright Mary Frances! Welcome to the challenge. Keep us posted on your progress.
I’m in. Turn 67 tomorrow. Practice will be within the first hour after I wake up tomorrow. Prayer, scripture, music then exercise.
I’m in. Turn 67 tomorrow. Practice will be within the first hour after I wake up tomorrow. Prayer, scripture, music then exercise.
Love the commitment Tanny. Happy b-day as well!
Love the commitment Tanny. Happy b-day as well!
I’m in. Turn 67 tomorrow. Practice will be within the first hour after I wake up tomorrow. Prayer, scripture, music then exercise.
I’m in. Turn 67 tomorrow. Practice will be within the first hour after I wake up tomorrow. Prayer, scripture, music then exercise.
Love the commitment Tanny. Happy b-day as well!
Love the commitment Tanny. Happy b-day as well!
This is a great article π Thanks Steve.. I am going to buy the calendar right away and start hitting the keys everyday π
Beautiful Collins! Keep us posted on your progress.
Sincerely,
Steve Nixon
*freejazzlessons.wpsc.dev *
This is a great article π Thanks Steve.. I am going to buy the calendar right away and start hitting the keys everyday π
Beautiful Collins! Keep us posted on your progress.
Sincerely,
Steve Nixon
*freejazzlessons.wpsc.dev *
New musician in the making!
Great Simon!
New musician in the making!
Great Simon!
the use of high-quality calendar! I’m in my man
Great to hear! Welcome aboard.
the use of high-quality calendar! I’m in my man
Great to hear! Welcome aboard.
HI Steve,
I got the calendar and I am in for the next 7 days….However, I would like some suggestions – I frequently travel and am not near a piano. When I am on the road, is there something that I can do that can “count” as practicing??
Great to hear Leslie. You can work on ear training and your music theory skills. Many hotels have pianos by the way. Sometimes you just have to ask the front desk.
HI Steve,
I got the calendar and I am in for the next 7 days….However, I would like some suggestions – I frequently travel and am not near a piano. When I am on the road, is there something that I can do that can “count” as practicing??
Great to hear Leslie. You can work on ear training and your music theory skills. Many hotels have pianos by the way. Sometimes you just have to ask the front desk.
i’m in
Great Kofi!
I’m in!
Great Willie!
I’m in!
Great Peter!
I’m in!
Awesome Jake!!
Ψ³ΩΨ§Ω Ω Ω Ϊ©Ψ§Ω Ψ¨ΫΨ² ΩΨ³ΨͺΩ Ψ§Ψ² Ψ§ΫΨ±Ψ§Ω ΨΉΨ§Ψ΄Ω ΩΎΫΨ§ΩΩ jazzΩΨ³ΨͺΩ Ψ―ΩΨ³Ψͺ Ψ―Ψ§Ψ±Ω ΫΨ§Ψ― Ψ¨Ϊ―ΫΨ±Ω .
Hi Kambiz,
My Persian is not very good so I hope you don’t mind if I respond in English. π Glad to hear you love jazz! Thanks for your comment and hope to share music with you further.
Great Patrizio! Love the commitment.
I’m in
Great Amanda!
ok this is great can we have a party at my place for all challenge members and everyone plays something?
Lol sounds like fun.
Lol…wouldn’t that be nice Amanda π
Hey Amanda,
This challenge is more about consistency than anything else. So,the choice is up to you how much you want to practice. The more you put into it the more you’ll get out of it. π
that’s what I needed to hear thank you
Its the perfect plan. So inspired, so devious yet so simple <<<— Seinfeld Quote from the switch. I'm in . I try to do this now and some times give myself the weekend off as a reward if I can do the 5 days in a row but I'll try this and not to break the chain.
Yeah John! Welcome to the challenge. Glad to hear you are in!
Steve, I’m in π
Great Dan!
I’m 67 as well and I’m in too! My excuse for practising just four days a week is that I work three days. From today onwards I’ll do my practise on work days in the evenings. Thanks, Steve
Great Mary!
I.m in….. thanks steve I have really nt bin able to do rehasals for long too
helpful strategy
I am going to try this starting today
Great Mary!
Steve
First I’d like to compliment you on how good you play
I’m a 60’s garage band that was very good in the day
Played insane stage and sounded as good as a band tw4, better known as Styx
I still got my ole farfisa but recently added a korg and been playing everyday for last couple months
I really want to get better and your free lessons have been helpful but have hard time knowing what chords your playing especially with left hand
Can you comment?
Thanks and again I enjoy your music!
I’m in. Thanks for the motivation Steve, and all your great lessons.
Hi Steve, I’m in. Time is the enemy for me’ just because even if music is my main job, I have lots of keyboard programmings and tunes to learn for the bands I play with, thats why I dont have a lot of time for a pure piano practice. But here’s my 1h program : 30 mn of Hanon exercices and scales, 15mn of chords praticing, 15mn tune or impro practicing…
Im in! I want to become a better piano player! Btw… I started following you a couple days ago (maybe 3 weeks..) anyhow I appreciate the fact that when watching your videos we feel you’re not trying to withhold your tricks … We can tell you like teaching and this is a must. Keep up the good work and I’ll be on my way to become a member . Good day
Thank you Panayiotis!
I’m in. 74 and loving learning how to play better and stretch myself. I need the discipline. Easy to let “everything” else get in the way of practice. Yes, I can!
Great Judy!!
I’m in but I don’t have money for piano right now , is it better for me to just wait until I get keyboard?
Ok cool. Fortunately this is a piano site. No need to buy paint?
I’m in!
Great Benny!
I’m in! I’m a professional singer and want to start accompanying myself. Excited!
Love it Jamila!
Can’t wait to hear about your progress.
I’m in!
Great Philip! Keep us posted on your progress.
I’m in.
Awesome Juan! Keep us posted on your progress.
I’m down…as a lifelong musician, I’ve known for quite some time it’s all ’bout consistency…daily. Thanks for the reminder! As we get older, and responsibilities crowd in, we begin to prioritize, sometimes to our own detriment. Life is better when we can achieve balance.Happ B’day Tanny…I also like the way you start your day. I have the first two covered, now I need to incorporate the last two π
Hey George thank you for sharing your insights. I can definitely relate to how getting older more and more responsibilities pile on and prioritizing things if life become crucial to get anything accomplished… Keep up the great work and great things will happen no matter where you are in life :). Glad to have you here with us George and we look forward to sharing music with you for a long time!
I’m in.
I’m 62 and getting to where I can play consistently well enough to gig is at the top of my bucket list.
Thanks for what you’re doing, Steve.
Great Jerry and it’s my pleasure!
I’m in too.
I’m pretty good about sticking to my piano practice time. Am a 57 year old retired military guy and a widower, so my days and evenings are wide open. Spend anywhere from two to four hours practicing. Only missed two days in the past 30, and I was at a concert both of those evenings.
Great to hear Wes. Keep us posted on your progress!
I have to say that I am encouraged seeing all of the Baby Boomers on here trying to learn how to play jazz piano. I thought I was too old at 57 to be taking on the challenge of learning how to play jazz piano. I guess not.
Oh yeah. People from all generations are here learning jazz. It’s awesome! Timeless music.
I’m in. Moving back to piano at 68 l, after having guitar as my main instrument for 40 years. Very high expectations for myself and this will help
Hi Jeffrey! Good to hear from you. Keep up the good work!
I’m in. I haven’t touched a keyboard seriously in over 40 years, so I’m not lacking things to practice. But what I remember as youngster was practicing everyday and progress came quickly. Now,though, I’m playing for fun. Thanks for the reminder.
Great to hear and welcome aboard!
I’ve had the same thought re: daily practice on each instrument (saxophone [my primary axe] and piano), since it’s much easier to play piano where I live (headphones!), since I can play saxophone in my sleep (after 43 years, it’s like riding a bike), and since there is more room for improvement on piano than saxophone (progress there is incremental). So maybe I’ll get an “electoral” marker and calendar (red for piano, blue for saxophone?) These devices (sax, piano) are jealous mistresses (thank you, Duke Ellington!), but it’s great to be able to kill on one of them, put it down and pick up the other, rinse, repeat….
Speaking of Mr. Ellington, perhaps Mr. Seinfeld got his idea from Duke, who said to COMPOSE every day to improve one’s writing chops…. So, that’s an “independent third party” (green?) marker, too!
As to the idea itself, remember the old musician’s adage: skip a day, and YOU notice… Skip two days, and your BANDMATES notice…. skip three, and the AUDIENCE notices! I’ve always said that 15 minutes a day is better than 6 hours on Saturday only. Arnold Schwarzenegger said he does some form of exercise every day. He’s still killing it in the gym, at 70. So is Stallone.
Great comment Jeff. I like the comments you made about skipping days of practice. Very true.
I’m in !!! I hate to practice but I love music more!!! It is a struggle everyday. I practice 3 to 5 hours a day, sometimes less , sometimes more. I have been doing this for about 3 years. If I am too sore to play or feeling pain in my hands I can practice other ways (spelling scales and chords,going through my note reading app etc.). I was going through a jazz video and I realized I had the knowledge to play a 2-5-1 progression in all keys. I can recycle it by going 1/2 step up to a dim 7th back to the same key or to another key by changing the maj. 7th to a min 7th. I didn’t realize this until I saw this video, I practice maj 7ths ,min 7ths, dom 7ths, maj triads and min triads one day and dim 7ths, min7ths(b5), dim triads and aug triads the next day. I practice the inversions and the arpeggios also. This is only part of my practice. I practice scales (major,minor, blues, chromatic in all keys). I have started learning the major pentatonic scales. Again, this is only part of what I practice daily. Once I get into practicing. I tend to forget about how much I hate to practice. It is strange that what may have taken a hour to do years ago only takes 5 minutes now , but learning the other ways to apply the skills can take it back to a hour worth of daily practice. Excuse me, I have to, no I want to go practice now !!!
Peace.
Awesome! Keep us posted on your progress.
I’m in also. I turn 71 next month. I practice early (3:00 AM) in the morning.
I starting learning the piano at age 69. What fun.
That is awesome Mike! You’re in for a fantastic ride. Thanks for being a member of the community and keep us posted on your progress.
Hi Steve,
I read your article and liked so much that I sent the link to my son(27/busi(ness)-man) and my daughter(22/too busy with her MA). I taught them piano, mainly classical/erudite?! and some jazz … but I was always interested learning to play jazz effectively because of its freedom of improvisation and creativity. I have been receiving your emails for over a year and most of them finish off in a file that I called “Piano Jazz”, but I am afraid I have never opened it. However, your article made me think and have the courage to ask you: “do you believe that it’s possible for someone like me, “classical musician” to learn to play jazz? How do I get out of my erudite box?
Hi Angela,
Thanks for your comment. Yes, it’s possible. Although you need to take action. Just saving emails in a file won’t do anything for your development or your life. Start today. It will change your life for the better in a million ways. Keep us posted on your progress.
Im in ! Ive been trying to learn blues just by ear and ive been able to catch a few licks but not all of em… im sure your program will help me alot !
That’s awesome! Yeah you don’t have to do it all yourself Check out Breakthrough Blues (https://www.freejazzlessons.com/breakthroughblues/) by Blues Hall of Fame legend Bruce Katz. It’s a really detailed blues piano solution.
Hell yah I’m in. I practice every day anyway but it only makes results if I practice with a goal in mind rather than just mindlessly rehash my already good chops
Hey Colleen! Glad to hear your thoughts on this. Keep on practicing and making music!
Sincerely,
Steve Nixon
*freejazzlessons.wpsc.dev *
I am in
Awesome! Keep going at it. π
I’m in. For years, I’ve had a piano and all it did was sit in the living room looking pretty! It seems I never had “enough time” to get into it although I LOVE the instrument. I felt very intimidated by it because it seemed to be “smiling” at me and daring me come and play it. The game changer for me was reading your memo to one of your students sometime in March of 2017 stating that EVERYBODY has 20 minutes a day to practice the piano. The other thing is, I got tired of sounding silly whenever someone would ask me to play something and I told them I was “rusty”. Thanks for the “push” Steve.
CurtMapp
Cool Curt. Welcome and keep us posted on your progress!
Hi Orselli,
Getting real organized is a great way to track your progress and get you set on the right path to achieving you goals. Keep it up. π
I’m in… My band mate and I have been talking about doing this for awhile now, even just 15 minutes. I’m going to do it!
βHi Molly,
Awesome! I wish you all the best.
I am in
That’s great! You won’t regret it.
Sincerely,
Steve Nixon
*freejazzlessons.wpsc.dev *
I’m in! Jazz uni student π
Hi Dan,
That’s awesome! Keep working on it. π
Hey brother i’m in …
Awesome!
β
OK, it appears feasible, so I’m in too!
Not that I did not know that before now, but it just hit home suddenly. Lol. I’m in.
I’m in! π
Great to hear Patti! Keep us posted on your progress.