Master the Art of Playing Jazz Standards Like a Pro
A focused 6-week deep dive into cocktail piano — chord voicings, melody harmonization, jazz substitutions, and the confident, polished sound of a real lounge pianist.
You know the feeling. You sit down at the piano, a jazz standard in front of you, and… nothing. The chords feel clunky, the left hand is a mystery, and the sophisticated lounge sound you hear in your head never quite makes it to your fingers.
That's exactly what the Cocktail Piano Intensive was designed to fix. In just 6 focused weeks, you'll learn the real vocabulary of cocktail piano — the voicings, the substitutions, the left-hand patterns, and the harmonic thinking that gives jazz its unmistakable sound.
Not theory for theory's sake. Not exercises you'll never use. Just the essential tools — taught step by step, with a clear practice system that keeps you moving forward every single week.
Most piano students know what to practice. They just don't know how. Practice Actions solve that — permanently.
Each week comes with 3 short Practice Action videos — typically 4–10 minutes each — that tell you exactly what to work on and how to work on it. No guessing. No wasted time at the piano.
Students tell us the Practice Actions are what keep them from racing ahead before they're ready — and from getting stuck on just one thing. The right pacing is built right into the course.
Willie breaks each piece of music into the smallest possible steps and shows you precisely how to practice them. You always know where you are in the process — and where you're heading next.
After 6 weeks, you don't just know the song — you know how to practice any song. Students regularly report applying these same methods to new pieces on their own, long after the intensive ends.
What Students Say About Practice Actions
"The 3 weekly practice actions are fantastic, and have helped me learn how to practice. You demonstrate how to break the music down into small pieces."
— Tom H.
"The pacing of the practice actions is perfect. It stops me racing ahead or only practicing one element. It also disciplines me to stick with one track for six weeks."
— Alexander C.
"The Intensives feel like being handed a road map. Every stop is clearly marked, and the destination is always in sight."
— Kelly S.
Play a jazz standard with full, professional-sounding chord voicings
Use your left hand confidently — shell voicings, bass notes, and movement
Harmonize a melody using the cocktail pianist's approach to chords
Apply jazz chord substitutions that add color and sophistication
Read and work from a lead sheet or Real Book arrangement
Add tasteful fills, turnarounds, and intros that frame the song beautifully
Know exactly how to practice — and apply that method to any new song
Play with the poise and confidence of a cocktail lounge pianist
Each week: 1 deep-dive lesson + 3 focused Practice Action videos
Real results from real students who completed the intensive
"I am amazed at how Willie took such a complicated subject and simplified the basic steps such that I, 5 weeks later, find myself playing professional sounding piano."
— James N.
"6 weeks is a great length… The 3 weekly practice actions are fantastic, and have helped me learn how to practice. Your teaching is clear, calm, and always joyful."
— Tom H.
"I've even been applying the steps to a couple of songs in the Real Book and it is working! I never knew what to do with the left hand."
— Leslie H.
"I decided to apply what I learned here to other songs from the lead sheet. I feel I learned the very core concepts of jazz piano."
— Miyuki B.
"The lessons are pretty fool-proof… kudos to you for breaking this down into little, easy-to-swallow morsels!"
— Linda R.
"I LOVED this whole course! I am playing my piano daily and I am loving that!"
— M. Cardello
6 Deep-Dive Lessons
2h 25m 54s of comprehensive instruction — one masterclass per week
18 Practice Action Videos
1h 29m 54s of focused, targeted practice guidance (3 per week)
Sheet Music & Lead Sheets
PDF downloads — print, annotate, and keep forever
Download Everything
All 24 videos are yours to download and own — no subscription, no streaming required
About Your Download Access
After purchase, you'll have 1 full year to download all 24 videos to your device. Once downloaded, you own them outright — no ongoing membership, no content that expires or disappears. This is not a streaming service. Your files are yours to keep.
Intensive #1 of 6
Six weeks. 24 videos. A clear road map. And a practice system that actually works. The Cocktail Piano Intensive gives you everything you need — and nothing you don't.
✓ Instant access after purchase · ✓ 1-year download window · ✓ Lifetime ownership of all files