Even after years spent immersed in theory books and traditional piano instruction, there was a moment I realized the most lasting breakthroughs came from outside the classroom—those little cocktail piano masterclasses that took place in hotel lounges, upscale restaurants, and quiet cafes.
Those moments, brief as they were, stuck with me: hearing a tasteful phrase drifting through the room, then leaning over to ask the pianist, “How did you play that fill?” or “What was that substitution you just used?” Some players were wonderfully generous, offering impromptu breakdowns of a couple measures. And somehow, those two bars contained more wisdom than chapters of academic analysis.
That spirit of exploration and generosity is exactly what led to the Sneak Peeks video sessions. Created more than a decade ago, this informal series was my way of giving fellow pianists a seat beside me—not to hear lectures or receive assignments, but to watch, listen, and absorb. These sessions recreate that intimate “over-the-shoulder” moment: the kind of learning that happens from a subtle voicing, a clever reharm, a spontaneous improvisation.
Rather than covering full tunes from start to finish, we zoom in and explore just a few measures—again and again. Each repetition offers new possibilities in voicings, fills, substitutions, and stylistic decisions. In the process, you build fluency, flexibility, and most importantly, a personalized sense of style.
🎹 What You’ll Learn
- Voicing Techniques – lush harmonies, block chords, and subtle textures
- Styling Strategies – rhythmic spice, expressive fills, tasteful contrast
- Creative Chord Substitutions – tri-tone subs, suspended chords, elegant detours
- Improvisation Tools – from modal freedom to chromatic embellishments
- Transferable Ideas – approaches that can be woven into any standard
📦 Full Series Breakdown
| Session | Song Focus | Duration | A Few Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sneak Peek #1 | My Romance | ~1 hr | Voicings, fills, dynamics |
| Sneak Peek #2 | Stormy Weather | ~1 hr | II-V-I progressions, tri-tone subs, blues scale |
| Sneak Peek #3 | The Song Is You | ~50 min | Looping, arpeggios, chromaticism |
| Sneak Peek #4 | The Way You Look Tonight | ~15 min | Simple voicings, 7th–13th chords |
| Sneak Peek #5 | Alfie | ~40 min | Tenths, rhythmic variation, melody shaping |
| Sneak Peek #6 | Where Is Love? | ~35 min | Diatonic contrast, suspended voicings |
| Sneak Peek #7 | I Thought About You | ~54 min | Shearing block chords, blues and Mixolydian color |
| Sneak Peek #8 | You Are Too Beautiful | ~41 min | Altered tones, left-hand styling techniques |
💬 Student Praise
“Every single Sneak Peek taught me something new I could apply immediately. It’s like learning through inspiration instead of instruction.” — Jamey T., Sydney, Australia
“The breakdowns are brilliant—short, deep, and endlessly reusable. This is the most enjoyable piano learning I’ve had in years.” — Kate G., Roanoke, Virginia
🔥 Unlock Big Value, Instantly
Normally, each session is priced separately—totaling $154 for the full set. But for a limited time, you can grab the entire bundle for just $99. That’s instant access to more than six hours of premium content, packed with transferable ideas that will last a lifetime.
Your next creative breakthrough might be waiting in just a few measures.
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