Learn Jazz Standards Podcast

Brent Vaartstra built learnjazzstandards.com into one of the most trusted jazz education resources online, and this podcast is the audio companion that puts all that knowledge into your earbuds. Over 570 episodes cover an enormous range of practical topics -- how to actually practice improvisation without going in circles, ways to internalize chord changes so they stop feeling like math homework, and honest talk about what it takes to get comfortable on a bandstand. What sets this apart from a typical music education podcast is Brent's ability to make jazz theory feel approachable without dumbing it down. He's a working musician and author who clearly remembers what it was like to be stuck on a particular concept, and that empathy comes through in how he structures each episode. Regular guest experts add variety, and there's a listener hotline where people can submit questions that get addressed on air, which keeps the content grounded in real problems real players are dealing with. The show ran through multiple seasons before its most recent run wrapped in mid-2024, but the back catalog is massive and almost entirely evergreen. A tip about practicing II-V-I progressions from 2019 is just as useful today. With a 4.8-star rating from over 450 reviews, the audience skews toward intermediate players looking to level up, though beginners will find plenty of accessible entry points. Brent keeps the tone motivational without veering into empty cheerleading -- he's genuinely trying to help you become a better musician.