PERSONALISED JAZZ IMPROVISATION COACHING • only Five Places

PERSONALISED JAZZ IMPROVISATION COACHING • only Five Places

Become a more confident, instinctive improviser in 90 days

Become a more confident, instinctive improviser in 90 days

Stop guessing what to practise.

Together, we'll identify what's really holding your playing back and build a personalised programme to help your playing become more natural, musical and instinctive.

Together, we’ll identify what’s really holding your playing back and build a personalised programme to help your playing become more natural, musical and instinctive.

Any instrument • Five places • 30-day risk-free guarantee

Watch a short introduction

Any instrument • Five places • 30-day clarity guarantee

Does this sound familiar?

Does this sound familiar?

Does this sound familiar?

You’ve worked hard… but something still isn’t clicking.

You’ve put the hours in, but your playing still doesn’t feel as natural, confident or instinctive as you’d hoped.

Every new tune feels overwhelming.

Opening an unfamiliar lead sheet still feels like standing at the bottom of a mountain.

Theory makes sense… until you start playing.

You understand scales, chords and harmony, but when it’s time to improvise, everything seems to disappear.

You don't have the right resources to practise effectively.

You find yourself searching for exercises, backing tracks or resources, but they are never quite the right fit for your goals, your instrument or where you are in your development.

Everyone seems to say something different.

You’ve watched videos, read books and taken lessons, but instead of feeling clearer, you feel overwhelmed by conflicting advice.

INTRODUCING SOUND KITCHEN COACHING

A three-month individual programme built around one musician: you.

A three-month individual programme built around one musician: you.

Start with a clear destination

We define what you want to change and what success will look like for you.

Follow a personal roadmap

Every practice session connects to a clear priority and a larger musical goal.

Bespoke resources built around you

Bespoke exercises, backing tracks and resources created specifically for your goals, your playing and your next steps.

Stay supported as you progress

Get expert guidance and feedback between sessions so you can solve problems, stay clear and keep moving forwards.

What’s included

What’s included

90-minute assessment and roadmap session

We’ll identify your goals, understand your current playing and create a clear direction for the next three months.

Six 60-minute one-to-one coaching sessions

Practical sessions focused on developing your playing, applying new ideas and working through the areas that will make the biggest difference.

A personalised practice plan

A clear approach designed around your goals and the time you realistically have available.

Bespoke exercises, backing tracks and resources created specifically for you

Materials designed around your playing that you can keep and continue using long after the programme finishes.

Support and feedback between sessions

Send recordings, questions or practice updates between sessions and receive guidance when you need it.

Recordings of every session

Revisit explanations, demonstrations and feedback whenever you need them.

Only five places available

Sound Kitchen Coaching is built around close, personalised support. By working with only five musicians at a time, I can give each person the attention, feedback and guidance needed to build a programme around their playing and make meaningful progress.

No more trying to piece everything together alone.

No more trying to piece everything together alone.

You have a clear plan, the right tools and expert support whenever you need direction.

You have a clear plan, the right tools and expert support whenever you need direction.

WHY WORK WITH MIKE?

The guidance you need, backed by real experience.

The guidance you need, backed by real experience.

Hi, I’m Mike.

I’m a jazz saxophonist, composer and educator. I’ve balanced a career as a professional performer with helping musicians become more confident, instinctive improvisers.

Real-world performing experience.

I perform throughout the UK and internationally, have released two albums as a bandleader and work alongside many of Europe’s leading jazz musicians.

Thousands of hours helping musicians grow.

I’ve taught musicians at every stage, from students discovering improvisation for the first time to experienced professionals looking to deepen their musical voice.

Both sides of that work shape how I coach: grounded in the reality of making music, and focused on what genuinely helps a musician grow.

RECORDING

Released two albums as a bandleader.

PERFORMING

Perform across the UK and internationally.

LIVE

On stage at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club.

TEACHING

More than twenty years of teaching.

HOW I TEACH IMPROVISATION

The Sound First Method

The Sound First Method

The Sound First Method

A framework built around developing your ears, instincts and musical decision-making, so that improvisation becomes more natural, confident and expressive.

A framework built around developing your ears, instincts and musical decision-making, so that improvisation becomes more natural, confident and expressive.

Hear before you analyse

Hear before you analyse

Hear before you analyse

Develop your ears and musical instincts so you can respond naturally rather than relying only on conscious thought.

Build instinct, not just knowledge

Build instinct, not just knowledge

Build instinct, not just knowledge

The goal is not simply to understand concepts, but to make musical ideas part of how you actually play.

Hear relationships, not isolated elements

Hear relationships, not isolated elements

Hear relationships, not isolated elements

Connect notes, chords and ideas together so harmony becomes something you hear and feel.

Simplify before adding complexity

Simplify before adding complexity

Simplify before adding complexity

Focus on the things that create the biggest musical difference before adding more information.

Everything I do in Sound Kitchen Coaching is designed to help you play with greater clarity, confidence and freedom

and above all, to enjoy playing music.

Everything I do in Sound Kitchen Coaching is designed to help you play with greater clarity, confidence and freedom

and above all, to enjoy playing music.

Everything I do in Sound Kitchen Coaching is designed to help you play with greater clarity, confidence and freedom

and above all, to enjoy playing music.

What people I've worked with say

What people I've worked with say

What people I've worked with say

Studying with Mike really helped me develop my approach to improvisation, tone and time feel, thanks to his wide-ranging expertise and useful practical exercises.

— Alex

My playing developed hugely in my time being taught by Mike. I started to find my own sound. Highly recommend!

— Will

Mike always was able to convey points in the best way for my learning and progress as a musician whilst always keeping lessons practical and fun. I progressed so much under his tuition.

— Rhea

Is this the right next step for you?

This programme is for you if…

This programme is for you if…

You’ve been learning, but something still feels missing.

You’ve been learning, but something still feels missing.

You want to develop your ears, not just your knowledge.

You want to develop your ears, not just your knowledge.

You want to become a more confident and instinctive improviser.

You want to become a more confident and instinctive improviser.

You want a clearer path forward.

You want a clearer path forward.

You want personalised support and resources built around you.

You want personalised support and resources built around you.

Still not sure?

Still not sure?

That’s exactly what the conversation is for.

We’ll talk about your playing, your goals and what you are hoping to achieve, and we can both decide whether Sound Kitchen Coaching feels like the right fit.

Book your call

Have a question before booking?

Have a question before booking?

If you have any questions before booking, feel free to get in touch. I’ll be happy to help.

If you have any questions before booking, feel free to get in touch. I’ll be happy to help.

Email me

Three months of personalised coaching

Three months of personalised coaching

Three months of personalised coaching

A complete one-to-one coaching programme built around your playing, your goals and the things that will make the biggest difference to your development.

A complete one-to-one coaching programme built around your playing, your goals and the things that will make the biggest difference to your development.

What’s included

What’s included

90-minute assessment and roadmap session

90-minute assessment and roadmap session

Six 60-minute one-to-one coaching sessions

Six 60-minute one-to-one coaching sessions

Personalised practice plan

Personalised practice plan

Bespoke exercises, backing tracks and resources created specifically for you, yours to keep after the programme finishes

Bespoke exercises, backing tracks and resources created specifically for you, yours to keep after the programme finishes

Support and feedback between sessions

Support and feedback between sessions

Recordings of every session

Recordings of every session

Founding member bonus

Founding member bonus

Complimentary access to the next major Sound Kitchen course or learning project when it launches.

Complimentary access to the next major Sound Kitchen course or learning project when it launches.

Founding member investment - Five Places Available

$1,500 USD

$1,500 USD

Or 3 monthly payments of $500 USD

UK pricing available on request.

This programme represents a level of personalised support that will be valued in the future at around $3,000 USD.

The founding price will not be repeated. As the programme develops, future coaching places will be offered at a higher investment.

30-day risk-free guarantee

After your initial assessment and first month of coaching, if you don’t feel that we’ve identified the right goals for your playing and given you a clear direction for your practice, you can request a full refund.

No complicated conditions and no awkward conversation.

Ready to take the next step?

1

Book your call

The first step is to have a short conversation about your playing, your goals and what you would like to achieve.


There’s absolutely no obligation to continue.

2

Have a conversation

We’ll talk through where you are currently, answer your questions and explore whether Sound Kitchen Coaching feels like the right fit.

3

Start your programme

If we both feel it is the right next step, we’ll begin building your personalised roadmap and start working towards your goals.

Book your call

Finding the right fit matters.

I only want to work with musicians where I genuinely believe this coaching can make a meaningful difference. If I don’t think the programme is the right fit for you, I’ll always be honest and help you think about the most useful next step.

Have a question before booking?

Have a question before booking?

If you have any questions before booking, feel free to get in touch. I’ll be happy to help.

If you have any questions before booking, feel free to get in touch. I’ll be happy to help.

Email me

I still have some questions…

I still have some questions…

Before starting any new programme, it’s natural to have questions. Here are some answers to the things musicians often ask.

How much experience do I need to join the programme?

Is this programme suitable for all instruments?

What do I need in order to take part?

How much time do I need to practise?

Is this different from having jazz lessons or buying an online course?

What happens during the three months of coaching?

Are flexible payment options available?

When does the programme start?

How does the 30-day risk-free guarantee work?

What happens after the three months?

I have another question that isn't answered here. What should I do?

A note from Mike

You’ve made it this far for a reason.

If you’re still reading, there’s probably a part of you that knows you want to develop your playing, but you may still be wondering whether this is the right next step.

I’m really excited about this programme. It brings together everything I’ve learned through my own development as a musician, more than twenty years of performing and thousands of hours teaching. My aim is simple: to help you make meaningful progress, enjoy the process and become a more confident and instinctive improviser.

I’m really excited about this programme. It brings together everything I’ve learned through my own development as a musician, more than twenty years of performing and thousands of hours teaching. My aim is simple: to help you make meaningful progress, enjoy the process and become a more confident, instinctive improviser.

If you’re curious about whether Sound Kitchen Coaching could be right for you, I’d love to hear about your playing and have a conversation. There’s absolutely no pressure or obligation to continue if we don’t feel it’s the right fit.

All the best,

Mike

Mike

Book your call

Have a question before booking?

Have a question before booking?

If you have any questions before booking, feel free to get in touch. I’ll be happy to help.

If you have any questions before booking, feel free to get in touch. I’ll be happy to help.

Email me