How to Learn a Jazz Song - 5 Steps to Memorize Jazz Standards

As a Jazz musician you need to have a few songs memorized.

Ready to play at a moment’s notice.

But how do you actually learn new songs in the first place?

Has anyone ever shown you?

Today I'm sharing my 5-step method.

This works for any song:

Step 1: Prepare for Success

1. Print the sheet music.
2. Place it on the stand.
3. Open the piano.
4. Put the bench in position.

Make practice as easy as possible.

Every time you walk past the piano - you just find yourself playing!

It starts here - preparation.

Step 2: Play the Song Once — All the Way Through

This is just to break the ice.

Read the notes carefully.
Don’t rush.
Don’t skim.

Be precise with every note.

Do this in one sitting.

Step 3: Divide Into Sections (huge tip)

Most musicians practice songs from the start to finish every time...

But this wastes huge amounts of time.

Here's why:

● You keep rehearsing what you already know (the first 16 bars).

● You avoid the section that actually needs work (the last 16 bars).

● Your focus gets spread thinly across the entire song.

● Three days of practice drags out into three weeks.

So instead, do this:

Break the song into two sections:

● 'The first half' (A section).

● 'The second half' (B section / ending).

...

Now practice like this instead:

Day 1 = First 16 bars

Day 2 = Last 16 bars

Day 3 = Whole song, both sections together

Step 4. 'The Rule of 50'

Memorization takes repetition (there's no way around it).

You must build up repetitions.

For me, it takes 50 plays before a song feels truly secure.

But there's some ways you can make 'building repetitions' fun:

1. The 'Walk Past' Method

Every time you walk past the piano, sit down and play the piece once through.

Short bursts.
5–10 times a day.
No fatigue.

Or...

2. The 'Three-in-a-Row Challenge'

Play the section you're working on three times in a row — note-perfectly.

If you make a mistake?
Back to zero.

You’re not allowed to leave the piano until you get three clean runs.

Why this works?

It seems so simple that it lures you in...

"Three tries is easy" you think.

You start practicing - and now you're not going to quit...

By the time you finally get your 'three-in-a-row' - you've actually played it 15 times!

Really it's a way to get yourself to play something 15 times.

Step 5: No Sheet Music

Once you can play the song with the sheet music...

Take the sheet music away.

How far can you play?

Where do you mess up?

Which sections do you forget?

Isolate those sections and loop them 15 times.

Pro Tip: Attack the Weak Spots

Yes - we all enjoy playing the parts we’re good at...

But professionals do the opposite:

Isolate the weak bars — and loop them 10… 20… 30 times.

Make your weakest sections just as strong as your best.

By the time you're done, there should be no 'weak sections'.

None!

Which song will you learn?

Get my list of '30 Jazz songs for beginners' - ideal for solo Jazz piano:

Let's Review — 5 Steps:

1. Prepare: Print the sheet music, set up the piano.

2. Break the Ice. Play the song once — all the way through.

3. Divide into sections (first half, second half). Work on each section separately.

4. Repetitions ('The Rule of 50'). Play each section 50 times. Short bursts throughout the day.

5. No sheet music. When ready, see how far you can play - no sheet music. Focus on the weak spots.