The Jazz Navigator

A customized jazz learning roadmap specifically curated for YOU.

The Jazz Navigator builds a personalized roadmap of lessons, interviews, and exercises to help you improve your jazz playing faster and with more fun, based on how you learn and what you want to improve most.

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To sample the Jazz Navigator, create a free Music Savvy account or sign into yours.

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Try out the Jazz Navigator

Your answers to 8 questions will unlock your own personalized learning roadmap.

Answer a few questions to begin your personalized jazz learning roadmap created for just for you.

You already know what parts of your playing you want to strengthen.

The question is: how do you find the right guidance to get there using the exercises, insights, and inspiration that actually move the needle for you?

Thought Navigator, just answer a few quick multiple-choice questions, and you’ll receive a personalized ‘roadmap’ – about a dozen handpicked lessons, interviews, and tools designed to help you grow musically wherever it matters most to you.

You can create a new roadmap anytime, and when you’ve completed one, or just want a fresh mix of material to explore. Save your roadmaps, revisit them, or generate new ones. The possibilities are wide open to guide you.

"What a pleasure it is to finally have a method to follow that makes me work on my listening skills (working by ear)."
Envoyé M.
"I just want to say thanks so much for your teachings. They are crystal clear, practical, and valuable. They are like vitamins."
Marty S.
"I noticed after working on your materials that I am hearing things in music that I didn't hear before. I didn't expect that!"
Charles N.
"What your teaching is doing is increasing my ear to instrument reaction time. This is really exciting for me!"
Sharilynn H.

Learn how to enable the music inside to finally flow out of your instrument

“My ear has improved since working through your materials, and I have seen improvement in my improvising. Hope that more aspiring musicians find out about Music Savvy. They won’t be disappointed.” – Jim M.

I want to help you play jazz better.
And with Jazz Navigator YOU WILL!

Personalized guidance. No generic lessons — every recommendation fits you, your habits, and your musical goals.
Save practice time. Focus on what actually moves your playing forward.
Learn from the masters. Includes lessons, interviews, and exercises drawn from top jazz educators and players.
Inspiration when you need it. , Roadmaps include motivational and creative prompts to keep you playing and exploring.

About Your Instructor, Michael Lake

Michael Lake, an acclaimed trombonist, composer, and educator, has been deeply immersed in jazz and Latin music throughout his distinguished career. Starting trombone at age 10 and later specializing exclusively in alto trombone during his time at Arizona State University, Michael honed his sound and distinctive musical voice.

Professionally active in Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York, Michael has performed across renowned venues, from the Village Gate to Carnegie Hall. In Boston, he led the Grammy-nominated salsa ensemble Caribbean Express and became an in-demand Latin trombonist, performing with legends like Frankie Ruiz, Lalo Rodriguez, and Ray Barretto.

As an author, Michael collaborated with jazz icons Dave Liebman and Richie Beirach on influential books, including The Art of Skill and Teaching and Learning Jazz. Through MusicSavvy.com and his state-of-the-art multimedia studio in Cave Creek, Arizona, Michael passionately helps musicians worldwide unlock their full improvisational potential.

Michael Lake

Generate a sample roadmap for yourself...

Sign or create a free Music Savvy account, then complete the form and see what Navigator can create for your learning adventure.

Without a Jazz Circle subscription, you can generate a roadmap and see each of the elements and their descriptions. You just won't have access to the roadmap elements until you subscribe for full access.

Create your roadmap
Navigator Course

Got Questions?

What exactly does Navigator do?

Navigator looks at your answers to a few questions and builds a roadmap of Music Savvy lessons, videos, exercises, and interviews tailored to your learning style and goals.

Do I need to be a member of Music Savvy?

I've tried other jazz methods without much success. How is Navigator different?

How many different roadmaps can I create?

Is there support available if I have questions while going through the course?

100% SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

If after subscribing to the Jazz Circle to gain access to Navigator, within your first month if you don’t get the results you expected, I’ll refund every penny for that first month and wish you the best. No questions asked.

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Create your free Music Savvy account to keep exploring lessons, interviews, Groovz tracks, and ideas for becoming the improviser you want to be. (Psssst... you can!)

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You’ve explored Music Savvy. Now you can go deeper with full access to the things you’re most interested in.

Get Full Access to Improvisation Savvy

Go beyond this next lesson and get access to the entire course.

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Or go all in with a Jazz Circle membership

Access to the Improvisation Savvy plus the >Groovz Playground play-along tracks for practicing. Watch any interview from the complete library of greats like Ron Carter, Joe Lovano,Randy Brecker... Answer your questions within the Learning Library articles, and check out everything else within the Jazz Circle membership.

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Play and practice with any of the Groovz Playground tracks.

Continue to explore all of these tracks to find those that inspire you to practice. Use the mood finder to find tracks based on their 'mood.'

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Or go all in with Jazz Circle membership

Get all the Groovz Playground tracks, learn from the Improvisation Savvy course, and watch any of the 60+ interviews with a great player or teacher. Answer your questions within the Learning Library articles, and check out everything else within the Jazz Circle membership.

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Get Full Access to Jazz Master Savvy

Continue to watch any of the interviews you want.

Get all the Jazz Master Savvy Interviews

Or go all in with Jazz Circle

Get the entire Jazz Master Savvy interview collection, the Improvisation Savvy course, and the Groovz Playground collection of play-along tracks. Answer your questions within the Learning Library articles, and check out everything else within the Jazz Circle membership.

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Keep Exploring the Learning Library

Continue reading the ideas and insights inside the Music Savvy Learning Library.

Read from the entire Learning library, learn from the Improvisation Savvy course, and practice with any Groovz Playground play-along track. Watch any of the 60+ interviews with a great player or teacher, and check out everything else within the Jazz Circle membership.

Join Jazz Circle