WHAT IS IMPROVISE FOR REAL
Discover your own musical creativity
Used by students and teachers alike in more than 20 countries, Improvise for Real is considered by many to be the definitive system for learning to improvise. You’ll learn to understand the sounds in the music all around you. And you’ll learn to express your own musical ideas exactly as you hear them in your mind.
The IFR method includes video courses, audio ear training materials, jam tracks for practice, and step-by-step exercises that guide you through understanding how music really works. You’ll learn to recognize chord progressions, create your own melodies and solos, and develop the confidence to jam with other musicians. Throughout this process, you’ll gain a deep understanding of musical concepts by experiencing them directly through sound and practice.
Your path to musical freedom starts here
Whether you’re taking your very first steps in improvisation or ready to explore advanced harmonic concepts, everything you need is here. This is where you’ll discover how harmony really works, learn to play what you hear in your imagination, and develop the confidence to improvise in any musical situation.
With musicians who understand the journey
Every IFR instructor is a dedicated improviser who knows what it’s like to search for authentic self-expression through music. They bring years of experience and a genuine passion for helping you discover your own creative voice. They’ll guide you through the same journey that transformed their own playing—with clarity and care.
A single, integrated method combining video lessons, jam tracks and ear training
Our step-by-step video lessons teach you the concepts and instrument skills. Our progressive jam tracks let you explore the sounds creatively. And our beautiful ear training audio lessons show you the connection to real music. All three elements work together at each step of your learning.
THE LESSONS
Video lessons for all instruments
The IFR method applies to every instrument — but always through the lens of what your instrument actually does in music. Your instructor guides you through every concept with clear, hands-on exercises, so you always know exactly what to practice. From your very first lesson you’ll be jamming and expressing musical ideas.
Learn to improvise freely on guitar. IFR teaches you to see the entire fretboard as one connected landscape — so you can weave melodies through chords, solo in any key, and express your own music instead of memorized patterns.
Learn to improvise on the piano — no sheet music required. IFR teaches you to play from your imagination, understand harmony by ear, and express your own musical ideas from day one.
Learn to improvise and create your own music on any brass, woodwind or string instrument. IFR teaches you to understand harmony by ear, connect your imagination to your instrument, and play your own music in any key.
Learn to create your own bass lines, walking bass and melodic bass solos. IFR teaches you to understand the fretboard, play by ear, and create your own music in any key.
WHY IT WORKS
How is Improvise for Real different from other approaches
- A better understanding of harmony. The biggest problem that beginning improvisers have with expressing themselves creatively is that they are trying to apply licks and scales to isolated chords, but this isn't how music works at all. When you listen to your favorite songs, what you hear is a lovely interplay of notes and chords on a single musical landscape. With Improvise for Real you will learn to see this musical landscape and weave your own melodies effortlessly through the chords.
- Creativity right from the start. In every other art form (painting, poetry, etc.) students get to experience the creative process as a natural part of their learning. It's only in music that this creative process remains shrouded in mystery. Improvise for Real is changing all of that. We believe that your own creative exploration of the sounds is essential. With Improvise for Real you will be improvising and expressing your own musical ideas right from the very first day. This is true whether you're learning from the book or using our step-by-step video courses tailored for your instrument.
- Connection to the ear. Improvise for Real will show you how to connect your ear to your instrument. For each new harmonic situation that you learn, you'll explore the sounds creatively and you'll learn to HEAR these sounds in the music all around you. The result is a deep personal understanding of harmony that allows you to recognize melodies and chord progressions by ear and to play the sounds you imagine.
- Music as a journey. We believe that musical improvisation is the most beautiful art form in the world, and we want to help you enjoy this amazing art form for the rest of your life. What we teach is a journey through the entire world of modern harmony. But it's also a journey of your own personal growth as an artist. And so every step of the way, you'll be discovering your OWN musical voice and growing in your ability to tell powerful musical stories on your instrument.
TESTIMONIALS
See what fellow musicians are saying
Start Your Journey!
Choose the plan that works for you. Both give you complete access to everything IFR has to offer:
Start with flexible monthly access. Cancel anytime or upgrade to yearly when you're ready to commit.
Our most popular plan. Commit to a full year of musical growth and save 30% with annual billing. You’ll be amazed what a year with Improvise for Real can do.
Both plans include:
- Complete video courses for each instrument family
- 1,900+ jam tracks in all 12 keys
- Beautiful ear training audio lessons
- Special courses on the blues, jazz standards and more
- Single integrated learning method
- Calm, beautiful environment for your daily creative practice
- Complete freedom to learn at your own pace
- Access to our library of student Q&A + unlimited support by email
Try Improvise for Real risk-free
We’re confident that IFR will transform the way you think about music and unlock your creative freedom on your instrument. But we also know that every musician’s journey is unique. That’s why we offer a simple 30-day money-back guarantee.
Join today, explore the video lessons, practice with the jam tracks, and experience our unique approach to ear training. If you don’t feel that IFR is the right fit for you within your first 30 days, just send us an email and we’ll refund your payment—no questions asked.
GET ACCESS
The Improvise for Real Program
The IFR Membership gives you complete access to everything we’ve created: all video courses, the ear training program, hundreds of jam tracks, student Q&A, and new content added regularly.
- Complete video courses for each instrument family
- 1,900+ jam tracks in all 12 keys
- Beautiful ear training audio lessons
- Special courses on the blues, jazz standards and more
- Single integrated learning method
- Calm, beautiful environment for your daily creative practice
- Complete freedom to learn at your own pace
- Access to our library of student Q&A + unlimited support by email
Subscribe to our online school to get access to our entire method and start improvising right away!