Why Practicing More Isn’t Making You Better (And What Actually Does)
From Jazz Piano School by Brenden Lowe : Professional Jazz Pianist and Jazz Piano Educator
February 19, 2026 · 29 min · Episode 389
About this episode
In this episode, Brenden Lowe discusses how misalignment in the reasons, methods, and focus of practice can hinder jazz pianists' progress and lead to frustration.
Most jazz pianists don’t struggle because they aren’t practicing — they struggle because their why, what, and how are misaligned. Most jazz pianists aren’t stuck because they’re lazy. They’re stuck because they’re working hard on the wrong things. In this episode, I break down the three hidden reasons practicing more often can actually make you feel worse instead of better: • Why you practice • What you practice • How you practice When those three aren’t aligned, effort turns into frustration instead of confidence. We’ll talk about: • Why practicing for relief leads to burnout • Why switching topics kills momentum • Why more information doesn’t equal progress • Why attention matters more than time If you’ve ever practiced consistently but still felt unclear or behind, this episode will help you recalibrate. Want a Clear Path? If you’re not sure what to focus on next, download the free Jazz Piano Roadmap: https://jazzpianoschool.com/roadmap If you’re ready for structured progression through comping, solo piano, and improvisation, check out Proficient Jazz Pianist: https://jazzpianoschool.com/pjp
People in this episode
Host: Brenden Lowe
Topics covered
- practicing
- jazz piano
- musical alignment
- burnout
- progress
- confidence
Keywords
- jazz piano
- practicing
- musical progress
- burnout
- practice methods
- confidence
- musical alignment
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Jazz Piano School
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