Jazz Piano Skills Celebrating 300 Episodes

Dr. Bob Lawrence
3 days ago
3 min read

Discover . Learn . Play

Celebrating 300 Episodes of Jazz Piano Skills

Wow—300 episodes! I can hardly believe it. When I launched the Jazz Piano Skills podcast back on November 19, 2019, I had no idea it would turn into the journey it has. Every week since then, without missing a beat, I’ve had the joy of sitting down with you to discover, learn, and play jazz piano together. Today, we pause for a moment to celebrate this milestone—and to look back at where it all began.

My Musical Journey

Music has always been part of my life. Growing up in a family where everyone played an instrument, it felt as natural as eating or sleeping. My own path started at age 10 as a drummer, inspired by the legendary Louis Bellson. As a teenager, I spent countless nights sneaking into clubs and sitting in with older jazz musicians. One of those moments—playing behind pianist Warren Parrish—lit a spark that eventually pulled me toward jazz piano.

At 14, I picked up the John Mehegan books and stumbled onto the famous page of “60 jazz chords.” That single page has shaped how I think about and teach jazz piano for more than 50 years. From there, my journey took me through St. Ambrose University and later the University of North Texas, where I earned my doctorate in music education with a focus on jazz. Along the way, I had the privilege of learning from some incredible musicians and educators who helped shape the way I play and the way I teach.

What I’ve Learned Along the Way

If I’ve learned anything in my decades of teaching, it’s this: there is such a thing as good teaching and bad teaching. Too often, students blame themselves for not “getting it,” when in reality, it’s the teacher’s job to explain things in a way that clicks. And for students—it’s not about impressing anyone else. It’s about falling in love with the music itself. When teaching is student-centered and learning stays music-centered, that’s when the magic happens.

Your Favorite Episodes

Over the years, so many of you have shared your favorite episodes, and I thought it would be fun to highlight a few of them here:

Two-Handed Voicings (March 2020) – a game-changer for learning to voice chords across both hands.
Key Dependency (April 2020) – tough but so important for understanding harmonic function.
Chord Family Scales (May 2020) – a deep dive into chord-scale relationships.
Circle of Fifths (November 2021) – exploring the genius of counterclockwise harmonic motion.
Locked Hands Series (Fall 2021) – those classic George Shearing-style voicings.
Blues Studies (June 2020) – because let’s face it, the blues is the heartbeat of jazz.

And of course, many of you have loved digging into episodes on Modes, Turnarounds, Substitutions, Inside/Outside Playing, and Hybrid Arpeggios. These episodes have become pillars in the learning journey for so many listeners.

For Newcomers: Where to Begin

If you’re just joining us, you might be wondering: Where do I even start with 300 episodes? My advice? Begin with Episode 100 (October 26, 2021). In that episode, I give a roadmap for approaching the first 100 lessons. Then, think of the podcast library the same way we approach our tune studies: harmonic analysis, melodic analysis, and improvisation. That framework will help you build a solid foundation and keep you from feeling overwhelmed.

Looking Ahead

The truth is, we’re just getting started. Each week, we’ll keep exploring new ideas, breaking down tunes, and digging into the beautiful art of jazz piano. Whether you’ve been with me since Episode 1 or you just discovered the podcast last week, I’m grateful you’re here. This milestone isn’t just about me—it’s about us, this incredible community of learners who love jazz piano.

So here’s to 300 episodes—and to the many more that lie ahead. Thanks for listening, thanks for learning, and most of all, thanks for making music with me.

Join the Celebration

If you haven’t already, subscribe to the podcast so you never miss a new episode. Share this milestone with a fellow musician, and let me know your favorite episode so far—I’d love to hear from you. And of course, keep practicing, keep exploring, and keep discovering the joy of jazz piano with me every week.

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