For pianists who have spent months or even years learning scales and licks, but still freeze up during solos...
And for those who know their soloing skills are lacking...
What if you had a complete system that made improvising less painful and way more fun...
And ELIMINATED the endless spiral of self-doubt, not knowing what to play next, or running out of ideas?
WARNING: May cause spontaneous head-bobbing and outbursts of, “Wow, that actually sounded good.”
Most jazz pianists can play the heads of tunes and comp chords… but when it’s time to solo, they often don't know what to really play, lack confidence in their abilities, quickly run out of ideas, or rely on playing memorized licks.
And let’s be real: anyone can learn to play the heads of tunes, voicings, etc. That’s not why people listen to jazz.
The whole point is the solo: hearing a player's take on the tune, the story they tell, their individual voice. Without that, it’s basically just a Classical recital.
Here's the big problem:
Many players avoid soloing, knowing deep down they need to do something about it. They are unsure of what to play, are ashamed of their lack of soloing skills, or will say their soloing "sounds bad."
They pile on more tunes, licks and voicings... but their solos are still aimless, wandering, repeat the same ideas, they don't know what to play, or worst of all, they just wing it and "hope for the best."
We want to sound good. You're too far in to give up on your solos never sounding good. For many, that can feel like some impossible, unachievable dream that's just too far out of reach (which is completely untrue).
But what if I told you that you don't have to be reliant on licks, or sounding like everybody else? That you actually could learn to solo like the pros?
That you could solo with total creative freedom instead of fear, have a wide variety of killer techniques to choose from, and total confidence?
And learn to think like a composer in real time, so your solos tell an exciting and captivating story, and actually say something memorable.
All without learning or relying on a single lick or transcribed phrase.
And most importantly: never running out of ideas or what to play next, EVER AGAIN.
You have mastered scales.
You have memorized dozens of licks.
And yet, YOUR SOLOS STILL SUCK.
The players you deeply admire like Oscar Peterson, Brad Mehldau, Herbie Hancock, all seem to be able to play anything on the spot and make it sound amazing.
But when it's your time to solo, your fingers freeze up...
I know that feeling: the first time I ever took a solo in a band setting when playing in my university's jazz big band, I had NO CLUE what to do.
You're tired of sounding like you don't know what you're doing whenever a weird chord change comes up, what to play next, or what to even play in the first place.
And you wonder what the hell you're missing, and what the greats have but you don't.
You have music in your head you want to share with the world. Or just for yourself.
To finally hear the sounds you have always imagined come alive through your fingers...
Because deep down, this isn’t just a hobby—it’s who you are, and you have this drive that you can't explain.
Playing jazz is about expressing something that only you can say.
When the music and your improv flows, and the ideas actually match what you’re hearing inside your head...
That’s the moment you feel like you were born for this.
That's what makes all of this worth it.
The Truth About Why You're Stuck With Improv:
It's crazy to me that improvising and HOW to actually solo is still such a mystery, and doesn't seem to really be taught.
I'm here to tell you that it is NOT YOUR FAULT.
You have been lied to and mislead. The system is broken.
If your jazz education has come from YouTube, books, or even disappointing private lessons, you are likely not sure what to believe based on the tangled mess of conflicting advice out there.
Lie #1: Transcribing hundreds of licks will make you a better soloist
That’s what I was told by lots of different people. I transcribed and memorized every lick I could find. I could play them back in practice, but when it came time to solo in the moment?
They never came out in my playing. If they did, they didn't work or sound right. Or I couldn't think fast enough to even play them.
The brain can’t juggle and pick out hundreds of isolated phrases in the heat of the moment. And when you plug one in out of context, it's like trying to fit a square peg in a round hole. It just doesn't work.
The Truth: You don’t need thousands of licks. You need to learn how to create and develop your own ideas in real time.
Lie #2: Just match scales to chords, and you’ll be fine
Dorian on Minor chords, Mixolydian on Dominant chords, etc. Technically, the notes “fit.” But the solos? Wandering, aimless, and basically rambling.
All filler, and really doesn't say anything.
The Truth: soloing isn’t about dumping scales. It’s about shaping phrases and rhythms in ways that connect to the harmony and move the listener.
Lie #3: It takes decades of practice to finally sound good
This one nearly broke me. I thought if I wasn’t practicing 8 hours a day, that I would never get there.
Most players waste YEARS of time on the wrong things: running scales, collecting licks, following advice with no system.
The Truth: If you focus on the right concepts and practice the right way, you can start sounding musical right now, without waiting decades for it to click into place.
And that's because if you’re piecing together your jazz education from YouTube, books and transcriptions, it’s not your fault you’re struggling to make sense of it all.
Most jazz teachers and books never show you a clear path. They teach you random licks, give vague advice and have zero structure
Of course, that leaves you totally lost and is why your improv feels random, forced, or empty.
Half the time you will find videos that are either too vague or so complicated you want to throw your piano out the window.
Most accomplished jazz musicians are quick to share licks and tricks, but few have a clear system that actually take someone from aimless solos and not being sure what to play, to confidently soloing for good.
Once you go from:
• Memorizing licks... to building your own language.
• Plugging in scales... to telling a story.
• Decades of grinding... to focused practice that actually works.
Everything about your improvisation changes.
Yes, there IS a solution!
Now you can get a clear path to confidently improvising over any tune, any chord, for any situation you come across.
With the right approach, it’s possible to improvise effectively, without memorizing a single lick…
Because relying on vague advice and memorized licks is a total dead end.
You won't be wasting a single minute on Theory, conflicting advice, or patterns and licks you will never be able to use in real life playing situations.
And with this step-by-step system, you won’t be stuck guessing what to learn next, or searching YouTube for some random guru showing off at lightning speed with no idea of how to get it into your playing.
No more replaying videos hundreds of times, squinting at their fingers, and hoping you can play it right.
I took the best of what I’ve learned over the past 30+ years of playing piano —from playing strictly Classical and not having a clue about jazz and improvisation, to freely improvising with confidence as a working jazz musician
In less time than you’ve already wasted on random jazz videos, you could be:
✅ Playing solos with clear ideas that tell a story.
✅ Feeling confident at jam sessions or on gigs.
✅ Creating your own unique voice—not copy-pasting someone else’s.
Hi, I'm Justin Highland
Jazz musician, world traveler, and most importantly, your future secret weapon for improvisation success.
Look, I get it. Jazz improv can feel like a CRUEL JOKE.
For years, I was stuck — solos were scary, I had no clue what to play, and my practice felt pointless.
Then I hit a breaking point.
I stopped wandering aimlessly and started investing in real mentoring, and spent serious time on breaking down what actually works.
The result?
A clear roadmap that gets you improvising with confidence, creativity, and meaning.
No fluff. No guesswork. Just real skills.
And now I’m handing it to you on a silver platter...
My testimonials say this course is like getting a jazz improv cheat code.
But don’t take my word for it, listen to them:
"The course has been fantastic. I find that I can easily sit down and practice the content. It's structured and there's plenty for me to learn."
- Richard Martin
"Before taking this course, I had some rough ideas about improv. Justin really broke down each technique and explained each one in a very clear way.
The greatest thing about this course is, it gives me all the soloing tools I could possibly imagine.
No more struggles of what to play next...If you really want to learn the meat and potatoes of soloing, take this course with Justin."
- Raymond Liu
"I wanted to learn jazz piano. For years I tried transcribing, memorizing fakebook tunes, but it didn't get me very far. Justin’s course changed that.
The materials are very, very clear. I've been a professor for 35 years and this is excellent teaching."
- Charles Grogg
So that's why I created...
I know what it is like to dream about solos that actually impress, not just sound like aimless, random notes.
You have been missing a clear, easy to follow system for improvising that has been hiding from the masses.
And now, it’s yours.
This is NOT another "Play these 10 licks and hope for the best" course.
Here's how it will TRANSFORM your playing entirely:
• Think like a composer in real time, so you stop blanking out or wait for your fingers to “figure it out.”
• Craft compelling improvisations that tell a story. No more aimless wandering with no direction.
• Know a variety of techniques that fit the type of tune in front of you, not just slapping bebop licks on a ballad and wondering why it sounds off.
• Feel confident improvising over any kind of chord changes over any tune, without the cold-sweat panic when you see
“Abmaj7 #5” flash by.
• Stop recycling the same old lines and start sounding like YOU, not a YouTube tutorial addict.
• Learn how to blend different techniques together seamlessly, so your solos have variety, flavor, and creativity—never dry, never random.
• Move far beyond running scales and memorizing patterns, and start playing phrases that actually say something.
• Create and build your own jazz vocabulary, without memorizing a single lick or transcribed phrase. (And yes, you can still sound pro).
• Unlock the FREEDOM to play creatively for any solo over any tune, without second-guessing or running out of ideas, EVER AGAIN.
STANDARD
$297
Play-Rest Technique NOT Included
Complete step-by-step improvisation course, 18 lesson videos ($6,000 + value)
Bonuses:
• Ultimate Listening Guide ($20 value)
• Practice Structuring Guide ($30 value)
• Transcription Mistakes ($10 value)
20+ PDF Worksheets with exercises for each module
Lifetime access
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
Access to private Discord community
PRO
$397
MOST POPULAR
PREMIUM BONUS: Play-Rest Technique ($100 value)
Bonuses:
• Ultimate Listening Guide ($20 value)
• Practice Structuring Guide ($30 value)
• Transcription Mistakes ($10 value)
Complete step-by-step improvisation course, 19 lesson videos ($6,000 + value)
20+ PDF Worksheets with exercises for each module
Lifetime access
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
Access to private Discord community
What's Waiting Inside
We’re talking real-deal, pro-level soloing techniques and real jazz tunes.
Not “jazz-inspired etudes."
You will see how all of the techniques work over a wide range of different types of jazz tunes: standards, modal, blues and modern tunes:
2-5-1s in multiple keys, major and minor.
Autumn Leaves
All The Things You Are
So What
Blues in F and B♭
Speak No Evil (Wayne Shorter)
Humpty Dumpty (Chick Corea)
The chord progression of Kendrick Lamar’s "Complexion"
Practice them with iReal Pro, a metronome, or your dog barking in 4/4, it doesn’t matter.
Full 3-hour course (broken into 6 bingeable modules) that show you HOW to actually improvise step-by-step and learn the principles, not just throw notes at a chord and "hope for the best."
Mod 1: Learn the single most important thing in all of improvisation, that you can use on ANY solo you ever play, or if you ever run out of ideas.
Mod 2: Amplify and develop your ideas in endlessly creative ways using these effective and time-tested Compositional techniques.
Mod 3: How to make your solos much more engaging, unpredictable, and intrigue the ear, using the most overlooked and most powerful aspect of jazz improvisation.
Mod 4: How to use an assorted palette of harmonic colors, and master the distinct jazz sound to give richness and complexity to your lines.
Mod 5: Master the two principles that connect and make up most music, and how to combine them together for devastatingly powerful improvisation.
Mod 6: How to plan out your solos in real time, how to seamlessly combine different techniques together, and how to use the best techniques for different types of jazz tunes.
PDF Worksheets for each module full of practical exercises and zero fluff. Instructions on exactly how to practice and apply the concepts from each module to your playing and real tunes.
How to use one idea for a full chorus (and why pros rely on this more than “licks”).
The sneaky way to shift your phrases so they sound surprising instead of boxed-in.
How to sound like you have endless ideas, even if you’re only working with one technique at a time.
And many more...
Get access to a private Discord community where you can ask questions, share wins, upload videos of your progress, and connect with other like-minded jazz nerds.
🎉 BONUSES 🎉
• Play-Rest Technique — The ground-breaking, innovative and secret exercise to seriously flex up your phrasing. If your solos feel like one long breathless ramble, or you're stuck playing your lines the same way every solo, this is your fix—and then some. Full video breakdown + PDF. I honestly shouldn’t even be teaching this.
• How to Organize and Structure Your Jazz Piano Practice — This is, by far, the most common question people ask who study jazz piano. This is my most in-demand resource, and will show you how to turn confusion and overwhelm into a clear, structured and personalized roadmap for success:
How to set specific short and long-term goals that excite and motivate you.
Pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses so you know what to prioritize.
What to focus on and how to organize your time into 5 essential practice areas.
How to build a routine that fits your schedule and keeps you consistent.
Specific practice tips and what you should and shouldn't practice in all 12 keys.
• The Biggest Transcription Mistakes and How to Fix Them — Most jazz musicians unknowingly go about transcribing the totally wrong ways, wasting tons of time. This bonus guide reveals the biggest mistakes that sabotage your progress and shows you exactly what to do to fix them.
• The Ultimate Jazz Piano Listening Guide — The entire comprehensive history of jazz piano from it's beginnings through the modern day. Explore every era, genre and style, with hand-picked listening examples so you can find your favorite genres and players, discover new influences, and bring fresh approaches into your playing.
STANDARD
$297
Play-Rest Technique NOT included
Complete step-by-step improvisation course,
18 lesson videos ($6,000 + value)
Bonuses:
• Ultimate Listening Guide ($20 value)
• Practice Structuring Guide ($30 value)
• Transcription Mistakes ($10 value)
20+ PDF Worksheets with exercises for each module
Lifetime access
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
Access to private Discord community
PRO
$397
MOST POPULAR
PREMIUM BONUS: Play-Rest Technique ($100 value)
Complete step-by-step improvisation course,
19 lesson videos ($6,000 + value)
Bonuses:
• Ultimate Listening Guide ($20 value)
• Practice Structuring Guide ($30 value)
• Transcription Mistakes ($10 value)
20+ PDF Worksheets with exercises for each module
Lifetime access
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
Access to private Discord community
Finally sound like you know exactly what you're doing. Risk free.
I believe The Complete Jazz Improv System will completely transform your playing for good. But if you join and feel after 30 days it is not a good fit, I'm giving you a 30-day money back guarantee.
That’s right: if you don’t love it within 30 days, just send me an email and I’ll refund you immediately. No questions asked, no hard feelings.
Stop sounding like a confused squirrel on caffeine, stop overthinking, stop playing scale lines, stop being scared to solo or that your improv "sounds bad", and finally sound like you know exactly what you're doing.
Just click the button below to get started.
Yep, I anticipated these FAQs
Nope! But this isn’t a “first day of jazz piano” kind of course. You should already be familiar with common scales like Blues scales, Pentatonics, Major and Melodic Minor scales, and have a general idea of what scales go with common chord types (Dorian for Minor 7s, Altered scale for Dominants, etc.).
If that sounds like gibberish to you, then you will want to start with my beginner course first.
But if that’s you? You are going to THRIVE.
You will be totally fine. The course features notated PDFs with examples of right hand melodies on the treble clef.
Even if you are not great at reading music, you can follow along with the videos, where I demonstrate all the examples found in the PDFs.
This course is about understanding and applying concepts, rather than reading or being reliant on sheet music.
Yes! Lessons are short and punchy. You can knock one out in 10–15 minutes between work, gigs or existential dread.
Plus you will have lifetime access so you can revisit lessons anytime, at your own pace.
This is NOT a random collection of tips that sounds smart but leaves you wondering what to actually practice. This is a step-by-step SYSTEM, built by a real working jazz musician.
No fluff. No recycled YouTube advice. No "just feel it, man." If you’re tired of spinning your wheels with vague tutorials and theory rabbit holes, this course will be a breath of fresh air.
This is EXACTLY what I WISH I had when I was starting out. And that's exactly why I made it.
Fear not! Head over to the private Discord server, drop your question, and I (yes, me — not a robot or random intern) will actually help you and can answer your questions. Plus, you will get to connect with other players going through the same things. It’s like having a practice room full of people who get it.
You're in the right place if you're an early intermediate to advanced jazz pianist who wants to...
✅ Bring that missing “magic touch” into your solos.
✅ Turn scales into meaningful solos that sound musical.
✅ Add fresh techniques and variety to expand your improv toolbox.
✅ Approach different types jazz tunes with confidence.
✅ Get clear guidance for soloing over any type of jazz tune.
✅ Rock jam sessions, gigs, or even just impress yourself at home.
✅ Stop being scared or unsure of soloing anymore, and stop "sounding bad"
✅ Stop running out of ideas or being unsure of what to play next.
✅ Tell a compelling story with your improv, instead of just running notes.
Finally be able to solo confidently, freely, and never run out of ideas about what to play… FOREVER.
Private mentorship or coaching with me? $6,000 a year or more.
Top jazz schools like Berklee or The New School? $10K per semester, and you still won’t get this kind of clarity, or focus.
I invested thousands of dollars for myself, decades of my life and years of trial and error, into everything for this one of a kind course.
What if you didn't have to rely on guesswork, spend years of your life and schooling, and thousands of dollars on lessons or tuition?
I really don't want you to have to do that, or miss out on this incredible opportunity.
So here it is: The Complete Jazz Improv System for a one-time payment of $297.
It gives you a clear roadmap to improvise that finally feels and sounds like you.
Imagine the relief of actually knowing what to play and being creative, while not having to worry about what to play, any self-doubt, or any anxiety every time you take a solo?
I want you to ask yourself: what would it do for you right now if you had all of the tools, techniques, and know-how to finally be able to solo confidently, freely, and the peace of mind that you would never run out of ideas on what to play, forever?
Wouldn't that be worth it?
You can fix all of those things for good, or keep running into the same old problems...
Let’s finally handle this part of your playing, FOR GOOD, and make you sound GREAT.
Just click the button below to get started.
STANDARD
$297
(Play-Rest Technique NOT included)
Complete step-by-step improvisation course,
18 lesson videos ($6,000 + value)
Bonuses:
• Ultimate Listening Guide ($20 value)
• Practice Structuring Guide ($30 value)
• Transcription Mistakes ($10 value)
20+ PDF Worksheets with exercises for each module
Lifetime access
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
Access to private Discord community
PRO
$397
MOST POPULAR
PREMIUM BONUS: Play-Rest Technique ($100 value)
Complete step-by-step improvisation course,
19 lesson videos ($6,000 + value)
Bonuses:
• Ultimate Listening Guide ($20 value)
• Practice Structuring Guide ($30 value)
• Transcription Mistakes ($10 value)
20+ PDF Worksheets with exercises for each module
Lifetime access
30-Day Money Back Guarantee
Access to private Discord community
The Critical Jazz Foundation Most Students Skip
You can get a special bonus from this page only:
Complete the course and get feedback on your playing in a 15-minute personalized recorded lesson from me, so you know the next right steps for you. You will be getting the bonuses in the Bundle that are only available in the higher tier of the course, which is $97.
The Beginner Jazz Piano Bluesprint - $67.00
This 1-hour, step-by-step beginner mini course takes you from ground zero to sounding like you’re playing real jazz right away, in just a matter of days.
It gives you all of the actual skills to play your first jazz tunes with confidence, and gives you the best foundation possible with jazz.
Even if you've had years of experience with other piano styles, or have never played jazz before. Coming from a Classical background? This is EXACTLY what you need and why I made it.
It fills in all the big gaps the Bundle doesn’t cover, like jazz rhythms and how to play them, chord voicings, how to swing the right way, and much more!
