In this first standard, you'll be learning the Henry Mancini classic "The Days of Wine and Roses." Be sure to watch "How the course works" to learn how best to use this course.

In this lesson you'll learn 6 different accompaniment patterns to use for your slow blues improv and compositions.

In this lesson you'll learn how to comp chords in your left hand while playing a rhythmic improvisation in your right.

In this lesson we will create a full arrangement of "I Loves You Porgy" by beginning with a chord shell exercise before learning the full arrangement.

In this lesson you'll learn Duke Jordan's "Jordu," a faster-tempo song that incorporates shells and stride-like playing.

In this lesson I’ll show you how to create a full arrangement of As Time Goes By using my step-by-step standards system. We will start with easy chord shells then I’ll teach you a more advanced arrangement and show you how to do quick chromatic fills to create a more personal style for your arrangements. You should do the My Romance lesson before starting this lesson. Finally, I’ll give you some “pro tips” to make your lead sheet playing sound more professional.

In this lesson you'll learn how to think of playing standards in layers. Each layer adds sparkle to the arrangement and you'll learn how to use these layers for maximum effect!

Learn the steps needed to create your first arrangement of a jazz standard. After learning the techniques in this lesson, you'll be ready to create your own first arrangement from a lead sheet.

Learn the 3 basic types of 7th chords that you must know. Learn about adding tensions to the chords and how to play the chords using two-hands along with shells.

In this lesson we will build on the blues concepts we have already studied with the goal being to create an entire blues arrangement. You will learn a right-hand part, left-hand shell voicings, and a standard jazz ending, as well as study the skill of transposition and play along with some great jam tracks.

Learn an improvisation pattern that you can use over cycle 4 motion.

Perhaps one of the most important progressions in jazz, you need to know how to improvise over the ii-V-I progression. In this lesson we begin by learning how to create 2-5-1 voicings in all 12 keys.

In this lesson you'll learn how to improvise over the 12-bar blues Chicken Pox Blues.

Learn how to play a full 12-bar blues. You'll also learn about tags and how to transpose the blues into different keys. This prepares you for the next lesson on Chicken Pox Blues improvisation.

Learn Root-7 chord shells along with how to form all types of seventh chords.

Learn how to create different types of triads and Root-5 accompaniments.

Learn how to create an arrangement from ONLY a lead sheet melody. We will use the Christmas classic, Silent Night to create an arrangement. Learn these techniques...even if you're not interested in Christmas music! You'll learn how to figure out the right chords to use.

Now we will learn how to create an arrangement using the chords we created in the last lesson.

In this lesson you'll learn some killer voicings that I love to us for the standard "My Ship."

In this lesson we will continue working on Summertime and add a bassline and improvisation. You'll also learn about rootless chords and how to comp.

Learn an easier arrangement of this Christmas classic! "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!", also known as simply "Let It Snow", is a song written by lyricist Sammy Cahn and composer Jule Styne in July 1945. It was written in Hollywood, California during a heat wave as Cahn and Styne imagined cooler conditions.

"O Tannenbaum" (German), English: "O Christmas Tree", is a German Christmas song. Based on a traditional folk song which was unrelated to Christmas, it became associated with the traditional Christmas tree by the middle of the 19th century. This song was also popularized in the 1965 animated "A Charlie Brown Christmas " played by Vince Guaraldi.

In this lesson we will learn how to play a simple arrangement of It’s Only A Paper Moon using chord shells and bass line concepts.

10 examples in a variety of styles to help you learn your chords, comping, styles and rhythms in the key of G

10 examples in a variety of styles to help you learn your chords, comping, styles and rhythms in the key of Bb

10 examples in a variety of styles to help you learn your chords, comping, styles and rhythms in the key of Ab

This lesson will show you how to create and weave your own solo using chord tones and enclosures. We will use the song “It Could Happen To You” to create our solo.

In this lesson I tackle how to create an arrangement for the song The Nearness of You using my 4-step method to arrange standards. I also answered a bunch of questions from students since this was recorded as a Live lesson.

Learn how to improvise over the song "Fly Me To The Moon" with different exercises designed to help you focus your improvisation choices.

In this lesson you'll learn my popular song, Kimmy's So Cool. You'll learn the song along with improvisation and I'll show you exactly what you need to practice. This is an important song for Beginning Improvisation!

In this lesson you'll learn a really cool minor chord progression and how to play it with two-handed chord voicings and an easy bassline.

Learn how to vocalize rhythms to make your rhythmic playing stronger. Using my song "Do'h Blues" you'll also learn how to create 7th chords, chord shells and how to create basslines from shells.

In part one of this lesson, you will learn 8 different practice methods for learning Giant Steps. We will learn how this advanced complex harmonic tune is unique and how it will make you a better piano player.

In this 2nd volume, we will be learning how to build a solo over the Norah Jones song, "Don't Know Why." These techniques work well for most pop/rock songs so you can easily take what you learn in this lesson to other songs. We will also learn about rock piano articulation which gives your improvisation more of a 'pop' and helps your lines stand out.

In this first lesson of a multi-lesson set, we will begin by covering how to improvise over Green Dolphin Street. This lesson is marked advanced, but students of all levels interested in improvisation can benefit from the chapters on how to make improvisation lines. Willie will also be conducting a Master Class in a future lesson based upon student input.

In this 3rd step we are focusing on intros, endings and accompaniment. Wether you're interested in accompanying yourself while singing or you're working with others, these techniques in this lesson will help you be more effective and 'clear' in your accompaniments.

In part 2 we are going to finish up creating 3 options for lines 5-8 for the song. We will also cover some "options within the options" like tri-tone substitutions and other 'goodies'. Finally, we will discuss different endings. This is a definite 'must-do' lesson if you are interested in cocktail piano playing.

In this second part, we will cover soloing techniques and endings. Using the soloing techniques in this lesson, you will be able to create a basic solo over most swing standards. The endings can also be used on multiple songs.

In this lesson, we will focus on creating a beautiful arrangement using our shells and melody technique. Much like the My Romance lesson, this lesson will go step-by-step through the song so that you can see a finished arrangement using these techniques. Picking apart this arrangement and the techniques used, will be a valuable exercise for students of all levels.

In this important lesson for ALL styles, we will talk about the core ingredients of a 2-5-1 progression and chord voicings. Once you understand these core concepts, it is easier to add upon them to create richer and fuller voicings. We will also discuss voice-leading and show you how to smoothly move between chords. There will be a followup to this lesson with several progression examples.

In this 10 tips lesson, we are going to focus on the left hand. Using the first four-measures of Night And Day, I’ve created 10 different left-hand accompaniment examples that you can add to your arrangements. This will give you 10 different options when approaching a lead sheet.

In this song lesson, we will use our step-by-step standards technique (similar to My Romance) to create an arrangement. In three steps (plus analysis) we will go from melody to complete arrangement along with some advanced tips to help you apply these techniques to other standards.

In this lesson we will take all of the techniques we learned in the previous lesson to create a full arrangement. I'll teach you the entire arrangement step-by-step.

In this lesson we are going to work through an arrangement for Auld Lang Syne in 8 steps (The 8th step is Special Reharm pt 2). In each step we will add a new technique that we can use for reharmonization of this song and countless others. If you are interested in reharmonization, want to create your own arrangements or need more help with concepts like Dominant motion, related ii's, tri-tone substitution then this lesson is for you! Even beginners can benefit from this lesson...just remember to go slow and re-watch the chapters!

In this lesson you’ll learn When Sunny Gets Blues using my step-by-step standards approach. This is a perfect lesson for all levels, especially beginners. You'll learn how to analyze the song, which makes it easier to memorize, while also learning improvisational flourishes to make it sound more full.

Manha De Carnaval from Black Orpheus is one of Luiz Bonfa’s most famous songs. In this lesson we will be breaking down the improvisation of the song first and add an arrangement at a later date. I will cover a few techniques that you can use in both group and solo settings. I will also play it a bit faster (like you will often find on gigs). This lesson is for the intermediate to advanced student.

This is an older lesson of one of my fun original songs, "Kimmy's So Cool" written for a student of mine years ago. Even though this isn't a jazz standard, I think it is a toe-tapping song that your audience will love to hear!

In this lesson I will break down the Rogers and Hart standard My romance into 5 easy steps. We are using the chords right out of the Real Book with limited re-harmonizations. Many students have asked “How do I play from a fakebook?” Well, this is the lesson for you! The information in this lesson can easily be applied to thousands of other standards.

If you are new to improvising over the blues, or you want to do more than “hunt and peck” using the Blues scale, this lesson is for you. We will cover over a half-dozen scales that you can use for improvisation and you’ll learn how to “hit” the important chord tones in your solo. I also teach you note-for-note a cool blues improvisation that works perfectly with the Slow, Soulful Blues lesson.

A beautiful song by Hoagy Charmichael in which I teach you the arrangement while also reviewing arranging techniques that "spice up" the song. We will be covering drop 2, drop 3 and drop 4 voicings. These voicings help to spread out your chords.