Choosing to learn jazz – whether on piano, guitar, or another instrument- goes far beyond running scales or memorizing licks. It’s about discovering a living musical language built on listening, improvisation, and interaction.
But to get started, you need a guide who can make this rich world accessible, without the jargon, confusion, or shortcuts. That guide is Alex Terrier, an experienced jazz musician offering a complete jazz for beginners program since 2013.
With JVL, you’ll learn jazz step by step, play real songs, and feel the melody and rhythm from your very first notes.
You don’t need an academic background to begin. JVL offers jazz lessons for beginners that introduce theory in a practical context, directly through playing your first songs.
At JVL, your path is clear. The jazz course is divided into five structured levels, so you always know what to focus on next and never feel lost.
Think again. The JVL method makes it easy to understand chord progressions, navigate a standard, and even begin improvising with freedom and joy.
JVL is designed for absolute beginners. You’ll learn at your own pace, without pressure, and enjoy the process of discovering jazz music.
When you join the Jazz Video Lessons community, you’re not just watching random videos. You’re following a complete jazz for beginners to advanced learning method built from the ground up for musicians.
You’ll start with Level 1, fully dedicated to beginners:
With JVL, you learn jazz by playing in a supportive and clear learning space without sacrificing musical quality.
Jazz lessons for beginners are available 24/7, so you can start, pause, and review anytime. No deadlines, no pressure, just consistent progress.
Want deeper guidance? Book a private online jazz for beginners lesson with Alex including a full recording so you can review and consolidate your learning.
Got stuck? Alex Terrier personally answers student questions, so you’re never learning alone even remotely.
Joining a global network” scratch “across france the us mexico and beyond, and beyond sharing a love for jazz music and its great standards.
Learning jazz isn’t reserved for the elite. Thanks to JVL’s Jazz for beginners method, you’ll have everything you need to get started, grow, and most importantly, enjoy playing classic jazz standards from day one.
Book a private video lesson with Alex Terrier and receive a recording of your session to revisit anytime
Your questions answered
Start with major, minor, and dominant 7th chords. Learning how to play chord progressions like II-V-I helps you build a strong foundation for jazz standards and improvisation.
Focus on easy tunes like Autumn Leaves or Blue Bossa. Learn their chords, melody, and form. Practice slowly with backing tracks and build confidence through repetition and listening to classic jazz albums.
Great piano jazz starters include Cantaloupe Island, Blue Monk, and So What. These songs use simple chords and iconic modal structures—perfect for learning voicings, rhythm, and phrasing on the piano.
Add blue notes (flat 3rd, 5th, 7th) into your melody or solos to bring a bluesy, expressive color to your jazz playing. They’re essential to styles played by Miles Davis and John Coltrane.
Practice chord voicings, time feel, and improvisation daily. Transcribe solos from greats like Herbie Hancock, learn standards, and play along with records to improve phrasing, ear, and rhythm.
