🎹 If Boogie Still Feels Hard, Read This

Let’s paint a picture… tell me if this ever happened:

You sit down at the piano, ready to play. You’ve put in the work. You know the basic licks, the left-hand pattern, the chords progressions.

But the moment you start playing…

❌ Your fingers stiff and cramp up.
❌ Your brain is working overtime, struggling to control every move.
❌ Your hands don’t feel free, and everything sounds robotic, stiff, unnatural.

You see those pros on YouTube jamming like it’s second nature—fluid, loose, playful. They’re having fun. 
They aren’t overthinking every move.
They just sit down and let it happen.

And that’s what you want, right?

To stop hesitating.
To feel the music, not just play the notes.
To break free from stiffness and finally flow.

Why This Happens (And Why It’s NOT Your Fault)

If you’re struggling to let loose, it’s NOT because you don’t have talent.
It’s NOT because you didn’t start as a child.
And it’s definitely NOT because of your age.
(my oldest student, 88 y/o, completely new to boogie, and she does great.)

The truth? Most people are trained the wrong way.

If you…

➡️ Learned piano through traditional lessons, classical training, or a "follow the notes" mindset…

➡️ Have spent countless hours jumping between YouTube tutorials (including mine)…

➡️ Or even worse, tried learning authentic boogie woogie with an app like Flowkey, Simplypiano, or Pianote…

…then it makes perfect sense why you’re struggling to loosen up and really learn this.

First, let’s break down why these 3 methods fail most players.
Then, I’ll give you 3 clear solutions for each of these. Let’s go.

1. Traditional Lessons: Expensive, Ineffective, and Frustrating

Maybe you took piano lessons as a kid, music school or private, or tried traditional classes as an adult. But there’s a problem:

Finding a teacher who actually teaches boogie woogie? Almost impossible.

Most piano teachers:
❌ Don’t know how to play and teach authentic boogie woogie.
❌ Focus on sheet music, classical training, and memorization.
❌ Teach slow, step-by-step pieces instead of real freedom & improvisation.

So even if you do find a teacher you click with… you end up paying a fortune for lessons that don’t even teach you what and how you really want to play.

(Just 1 year of traditional lessons can cost up to $5000 at $100/h… and still leave you unable to improvise a single boogie lick…)

It’s simply an outdated system that requires too many factors to actually be effective.

And I Know This Firsthand—Because I Was Stuck in That System

Let me explain.

For six years, I was a music school teacher, and I’ll be honest…

There was a point where I almost felt bad taking money from my students.

Why?

Because I knew the music school took 50% of what the teachers made, and to survive, I had to take on so many students at once that I was constantly overworked.

And when you're in "survival mode", exhausted from back-to-back lessons, trying to juggle too many students…

You can't give each student the attention they deserve.
You don't have the time or energy to teach creativity and freedom.
You end up just going through the motions, following the same old ineffective system.

And I wasn’t alone—I saw other teachers going through the same struggle.

It wasn’t good for the teachers.
It wasn’t good for the students.
And it definitely wasn’t good for learning a style like boogie woogie.

That’s when I knew there had to be a better way for me to teach. A smarter way that’s “new”. Which is actually why I came up with Boogie Woogie Mastery after years of developing, deliberating, and optimizing.

2. YouTube Lessons: Too Fast, Too Slow, Too Scattered

So maybe you turn to YouTube, hoping to find a better way.

"Okay, if traditional lessons don’t work, I’ll just learn from “free” online tutorials."

At first, it seems promising. There’s a ton of great content out there. I do a lot of YouTube myself to help you guys out.

But soon, you run into a new problem…

❌ Every teacher teaches differently. One lesson says “do it this way,” the next says “that way is wrong.” Who do you believe? This leads to information overload, having you forget 90% the next day.
❌ Some lessons are way too fast, others are painfully slow. You keep jumping from video to video, searching for one that actually meets your level.
❌ There’s no clear structure or path to follow. One day you’re learning a lick, the next day a chord progression, the next day a technique—but how does it all fit together?!

And before you know it…

😫 You’ve wasted hours jumping between videos without actually improving and remembering.

That’s why I said “free” in quotation marks.

Because at the end of the day, you’re paying with your time & energy learning this way.

Which is arguably more valuable than actual $. Especially at an older age when time is sort of running out

The biggest issue with YouTube? No structure.

You’re learning random pieces of a puzzle—but no one is showing you how to put them together, and you don’t even know if you’re learning the right stuff or not.

3. Music Learning Apps: Copying, Not Learning.

So maybe you’ve tried apps like Simply Piano, Flowkey, or Yousician.

And hey—they can be fun. They teach you to follow along and play songs.

But here’s the problem:

❌ They don’t teach improvisation. You’re just following along like Guitar Hero.
❌ They don’t teach real boogie techniques. No left-hand secrets, none of the 7 famous riffs and their shapes explained, no essential and authentic boogie/blues techniques. Stuff that every professiona boogie player uses. It’s an artform totally different to other styles of music (but actually easier)
❌ They don’t explain how this music actually works. You learn to copy songs, but you never learn how boogie woogie, blues, or rock piano actually works.

And that’s not real boogie woogie. And again, it gets expensive for the return you get.

If you just want to play pre-arranged songs, an app might help.

But if you want to sit down, let loose, and jam like a real boogie woogie pianist, you need something very different.

You need:

🎹 Steam-engine hand independence so your left hand plays effortlessly.
🎹 A deep understanding of the essential 7 - boogie riffs and their variations.
🎹 Knowledge of the 3 secret essential boogie techniques.
🎹 The ability to improvise—so you can finally be FREE.
🎹 A clear roadmap that brings you there step-by-step, tailored for beginners like you.

And none of that is taught in traditional lessons, YouTube videos, or apps.

The worst part? This cycle feeds itself.

You try to loosen up, but it doesn’t work. So you try harder. You concentrate more. You tighten up even more… until suddenly, playing piano feels more like solving a puzzle than making music. It becomes a chore instead of the rewarding journey it could be.

And that’s exhausting.

Maybe you’ve tried really hard years ago using one of the methods we just looked at, given up, and closed that chapter—and now regret it?

If you’ve been frustrated with your playing, if you feel stiff, if you struggle to improvise—it’s NOT your fault.

It’s simply because no one has shown you the right way to learn boogie woogie.

But the good news?

You can break free from this. You can develop the skills that make boogie feel effortless.

And that’s exactly what I want to show you.

If you’re stiff, slow, and struggling to just play, it’s not because you need to "relax" more. It’s because your foundation isn’t built for freedom and confidence.

The real solution?

✅ Clear out the confusion – Understand exactly what you should be practicing, why, and how.
✅ Develop steam-engine hand independence – So your left hand runs on autopilot while your right hand is free to roam.
✅ Learn to actually improvise – By first learning the 7 main riffs, 3 secret techniques, and learning boogie composition so you build real fluency in improvisation (which is basically just on-the-spot composition)

Let’s break these down.

1. Get Rid of the Confusion (Most Players Are Stuck Here!)

A lot of players think they’re bad at improvising when really… they’re just confused.

🔸 What should I play over this bass line?
🔸 How do I transition smoothly?
🔸 What do I even do with my right hand?

This uncertainty creates hesitation, which kills your flow before you even start.

Solution: Find crystal-clear information on the building blocks of boogie woogie and blues piano—and stick with it. (I’ll talk more about these in a sec)

When you understand how the music works, your brain stops second-guessing, and your hands move with confidence.

2. Build “Steam-Engine” Hand Independence

If your left-hand boogie pattern still requires mental effort, you’ll never be able to truly improvise.

You see, the best boogie players don’t “think” about their left hand—it just runs on autopilot. They don’t view it as individual notes, but rather as 1 entity.

But most players? Their left hand still needs conscious control, so they can’t focus on making their right hand sound interesting.

Solution: Train your left hand like a machine. For example:

✅ Play your boogie bass patterns slowly with a metronome on beats 2 and 4.
✅ Add distractions—talk, watch TV, count out loud—while playing.
✅ Play at whisper volume (if you can only play a boogie pattern loudly, you’re still too tense).

When your left hand is completely automatic, your right hand will finally have the freedom to play without stiffness or hesitation. That’s when the fun begins.

3. Learn to Actually Improvise (By First Practicing Composition)

Most people try to improvise before they even know how the music works they’re trying to improvise.

Think about it—if you don’t how to out notes, riffs, and techniques together in general, how can you expect to do it instantly on the spot?

This is why so many players “freeze up” when they try to improvise.

Solution: Practice improvising by composing first.

And there is a system for this that makes it easy.
(75% of my students compose their 1st full 2-3 minute boogie after 1 month of going through boogie woogie mastery using the “block” system)

Instead of expecting yourself to “make something up” in real-time, slow down and actually build something:

1️⃣ Take a simple left-hand pattern for 12 bars
2️⃣ Play 1-3 of the 7 main riffs over it, at their designated spots
3️⃣ Write down what you create on paper in an easy way
4️⃣ Play it a couple of times until it feels natural
(this happens fast because you’ve practiced it independently)
5️⃣ Once it’s comfortable, start modifying it—changing rhythms, adding notes, swinging it differently.
6️⃣ Repeat for another 12 bars

That’s it. When you do this enough times, your brain starts recognizing patterns and phrasing instinctively—so when you go to improvise, you’re not just guessing…

🎶 You’re speaking a language you actually understand. 🎶

And now imagine this for a second…

You wake up, stretch, make your morning coffee. And instead of checking your phone, you sit down at the piano and play.

And just like that—your mood is lifted, your body relaxed, your brain firing on all cylinders before the day even begins.

Then, later that evening…

You sit at a public piano in a café, or maybe an airport.
A couple of people glance over. Then a few more.
Suddenly, you’ve got a crowd—smiling, clapping, recording.
They’re amazed. And you? You’re just having fun.

Or maybe you’re at home…

Your wife, husband, or partner sits nearby, watching with admiration.
Your kids or grandkids dance around, laughing at the pure joy in the music.
You feel proud, alive, in the moment—because you’ve created something magical.

And the best part?

It doesn’t feel hard anymore.

You’re not overthinking. You’re not struggling to keep up. You’re just… playing.

That’s real boogie woogie freedom.

And if you needed even more reason to pursue this? Science backs it up.

A study published in the journal Brain Sciences found that playing piano strengthens neural connections, boosts memory, and improves overall cognitive function—especially in adults.

✅ Learning piano at an older age enhances brain plasticity, keeping your mind sharp.
✅ It improves coordination and strengthens hand independence.
✅ It even reduces stress and releases feel-good endorphins.

In other words—boogie woogie is not just a musical skill. It’s a superpower for your brain and your well-being.

(Check out the study here if you want to dive deeper.)

And Now, Imagine the Alternative…

Another year passes, and you're still stiff, stuck, and frustrated.
Still struggling to improvise.
Still feeling like boogie woogie freedom is out of reach.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Because right now, you have a choice.

A choice to stop struggling and start playing with confidence.
A choice to finally break free and enjoy the music the way it was meant to be played.

If you’re serious about mastering boogie woogie the right way—so you can finally let loose, improvise freely, and play with effortless confidence—then I’d love to invite you to check out my Boogie Woogie Mastery program.

This is the most complete boogie woogie training program out there. It’s the new way to learn music.

But, this program isn’t for everyone—it’s for those who are truly ready to break free from stiffness and start playing boogie woogie like they’ve always dreamed.
(and blues & rock by extention)

If that’s you, let’s talk.

👉 Click here to book a free call with me and see if this program is right for you: https://www.learnboogiewoogie.com/start

We’ll chat about your playing, your challenges, and I’ll help you figure out if this program is a good fit or not. You can ask any questions.

Spots are limited, so if you’re interested, grab a time before they’re gone.

I also have something exciting coming up that you won’t want to miss.

I’m putting together an exclusive LIVE Boogie Woogie Masterclass for the 23rd of March (Sunday)

In this masterclass, I’ll guide you through the powerful method for unlocking boogie woogie freedom and mastering this music, including:

✅ The 7 main boogie riffs & 3 secret techniques (play hundreds of different riffs and improvise endlessly just by learning these few main patterns & techniques…)
✅ How to build steam-engine hand independence in 7 days (with any bass-line) 
(from zero to hero, so your left hand runs on autopilot and you can feel that power)
✅ How to improvise & play by ear fast (so you never freeze up again and can copy the riffs of any pianist on YouTube AND make then your own)

And a lot more. Too much to go into her ein this email.

This masterclass will be completely free—and it’s going to change the way you approach the piano forever.

📩 I’ll be sending you another email soon with the exact date, time, and how to sign up.

Spots will be very limited as it’s live, and I’m probably only doing this once—so keep an eye out so you can grab a spot as soon as I announce it.

My suggestion: Mark the 23rd of March down in your calendar already so that you can keep that date free, be at home, and ideally, have an hour of time and space to really focus on this masterclass. It will be the most valuable content I’ll ever put out for free.

For now, if you’re serious about making a real transformation in your boogie playing, book a free call with me here to chat about Boogie Woogie Mastery.

👉 https://www.learnboogiewoogie.com/start

I hope you enjoyed this one. Hit reply and let me know.

Let’s get you playing boogie woogie the way it was meant to be played.

Now go let loose and have fun! 🎶🔥

- Jonah