Empowering Classical pianists to unlock their greater musical potential: As a Classically trained pianist from a young age, the author shares a deeply personal journey of discovering Jazz piano while pursuing a Classical piano performance degree in college. After just one semester, his passion shifted to Jazz. At the time, his university was heavily focused on Classical music and lacked a dedicated Jazz program which was in it's infancy, a program that would be introduced years later. Through intense self-study and private mentorship outside of the university, the majority of the material was written during the final stages of his program in fall 2012.

The book dives into a broad range of topics, including the author’s firsthand experiences with Jazz, the ongoing challenges of poorly presented Jazz education, common misconceptions about improvisation from a Classical perspective, and the intricate "Jazz Language." It reveals why Jazz cannot be learned through the Classical approach and explores the mysteries of learning and practicing Jazz improvisation. It also highlights how to find key links from Classical training which can apply to Jazz playing, a comprehensive listening guide, self-teaching tips, a curated list of the best essential books and a clear, actionable roadmap with 10 first steps to best facilitate the transition into Jazz, saving curious readers countless hours of trial and error, frustration and confusion.

Highland offers invaluable insights, advice, and guidance for those with similar backgrounds looking to explore new creative paths through the rich world of Jazz and improvisation, having navigated this journey "the hard way." The aim is to provide clarity, direction and focus, helping readers avoid the immense frustration, confusion, and wasted time he himself experienced. While the book was mostly completed in 2012, it was published in 2023 with some updates to reflect over 15 years of experience and musical growth. Despite these edits, much of the original material has been preserved to maintain the raw authenticity of the author's transition from Classical to Jazz.

About the Author: Justin Highland is a pianist, keyboardist, composer, and educator based in Los Angeles, California. With over 30 years of piano experience and 15 years of seasoned teaching expertise across all ages, levels and styles, he is passionate about helping others discover their musical voice. For more information or to inquire about private coaching and mentorship, please visit playbetterjazz.com/contact