Mastering Jazz Piano: The Deliberate Practice Approach

Thankfully smokey clubs are a thing of the past. Notice what is missing in this Ai generated image of smokey jazz clubs: The lack of diversity. Thankfully the jazz world is no longer segragated.

“Practice makes perfect” if you practice correctly. This blog explores the concept of deliberate practice—a systematic focused and purposeful approach. Here are some ideas to make the most of your practice time. Parallel to the jazz piano suggestion I will illustrate how I use these ideas myself in my quest to master percussion instruments, including the vibraphone.  

1. Have Specific Goals
The first step in deliberate practice is setting clear, specific goals. Forget vague objective like "get better at jazz piano," that is too vague. Try to narrow it down to something tangible. For instance, aim to master a particular jazz standard, improve your improvisational skills, or work on a specific technique.

For example, here are my Jazz Vibraphone meta-goals, and a breakdown of the sub-goals.
I want to be able to jam around town on the vibes with my friends. BTW, my friends are mostly retired professional musicians, so the skill level is high. Skills I need to master.

The skills and tasks are:
a.4 mallet techniques
       i. Block chords
      ii. Hand independence
b. Playing a jazz solo with 2 mallets
      i. Developing my Bebop, swing, and modern vocabulary.
c. Mastering 4 mallet jazz chords
     i. Guide tones
     ii. Rootless 4 note chords
    iii. Idiomatic comping
d. Memorizing tunes on a new instrument

What are your meta goals for jazz piano? What are your immediate goals?
An example of an immediate Goal: Learn to play "Autumn Leaves" with a focus on incorporating ii-V-I progressions smoothly.

My weekly goals or practice regime is:  one transcription of a jazz “head.” Practice comping on tunes I already know. Playing melodies along with professional recordings. Practicing my “licks” in 12 keys, at half tempo.

2. Break It Down
Deliberate practice involves breaking down complex skills into smaller, manageable parts. For jazz piano, this means isolating specific elements of a piece or technique.

Techniques to Focus On:
Chords and Voicings: Practice different voicings for chords in the song. Guide tones, Sonny’s Thumbs (Bebop shells), or rootless voicings!
Scales and Modes: Work on the scales and modes relevant to the piece.
Rhythmic Patterns: Focus on swing feel and syncopation by playing along with recordings.

3. Focused Repetition

Repetition is crucial, but it needs to be mindful and focused. Rather than mindlessly playing through a piece, concentrate on one aspect, or section, at a time. Repeat challenging sections until you can play them effortlessly.

(In my snare drum work, I’ve been isolating a single measure for a few days.)

Practice Routine:
Spend 10 minutes practicing just the left-hand voicings. Devote another 10 minutes to right-hand scales. Combine both hands and play through the difficult measures slowly.

4. Feedback and Adjustment
Effective practice involves constant feedback and adjustments. Record your practice sessions or use a metronome to ensure you're staying in time.

Self-Assessment Tips:
Listen to your recordings and identify areas for improvement. Ask yourself the following question. How is my timing, articulation, and dynamics? Did I play the correct notes? Adjust your playing based on the feedback from the recording you receive. Rerecord and listen again. (There are recording devices on my electronic pianos and drum kits. Do you have one on yours?) I understand how difficult it can be to listen to yourself. But it is well worth the emotional  and psychological pressure to push through the resistance. Here is a suggestion, use headphones.

5. Challenge Your Comfort Zone
Deliberate practice pushes you beyond your comfort zone. If you always play familiar pieces, your progress will plateau. Tackle new and challenging material regularly to keep improving.

New Challenges:

Learn a new jazz standard every month. Experiment with different improvisation techniques. Try playing with backing tracks or in a jam session to apply what you've practiced in a real-world context. (I’m going to a jazz jam this afternoon with my vibraphone and later tonight to a big band practice with my drumkit. Playing with others, as soon as you are ready, is the quickest way to improve.)

6. Rest and Recovery
Finally, deliberate practice recognizes the importance of rest. Your brain needs time to consolidate new skills. Ensure you have breaks during practice sessions and allow yourself to rest between intensive practice days.

Rest Strategies:
Take short breaks every 25-30 minutes. Have at least one day a week without practice to rest your hands and mind. Conclusion

Practicing jazz piano using the deliberate practice model requires a focused and systematic approach. By setting specific goals, breaking down skills, engaging in focused repetition, seeking feedback, challenging yourself, and incorporating rest, you'll see significant improvements in your playing. Remember, the key is not just to practice, but to practice deliberately. Good luck.
 
If I can help you learn to practice, call me.

David

Further reading:
(PDF) How Popular Musicians Learn: A Way Ahead for Music Education (researchgate.net)
Is the Deliberate Practice View Defensible? A Review of Evidence and Discussion of Issues - PMC (nih.gov)