Piano inspirations – Jools Holland

There are many people who have inspired me to play the piano, but it took me quite a while to find them.

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Early Days: Just the Music

I started learning piano when I was a small boy, and at that time I didn’t really have any specific role models.

It was the music itself that inspired me. I simply enjoyed playing for the sake of it.

There wasn’t a big master plan—just curiosity and enjoyment.

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Feeling Lost After Classical Grades

After completing all my classical grades, I suddenly found myself unsure of what to do next.

By the time I reached around nineteen, I felt a bit lost musically. I had passed Grade 8, but I wasn’t really motivated to push further into full classical performance.

My tutor at the time encouraged me to go on to diploma level and even tackle full Beethoven sonatas—some stretching to 30 pages long—but it just wasn’t something I wanted to do.

To be honest, I was never fully dedicated to classical piano practice in the way I probably should have been. I passed Grade 8, yes, but I could have gone further if I’d put in more hours.

Even so, while I still enjoy classical music and play it occasionally, it never truly lit that long-term fire in me.

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A Slightly Embarrassing Wake-Up Call

I remember proudly telling everyone at work that I had passed Grade 8 piano. I was really pleased with myself and quite happy to show off a little.

A couple of months later, we had a Christmas work party—and there just happened to be a piano right next to our table.

After a few drinks, my colleagues started encouraging me to play. I agreed, thinking it would be a good moment.

But when I sat down… I realised I didn’t have any sheet music with me.

All I could really rely on were the classical pieces I’d been learning.

So I played a few sections from my Grade 8 repertoire.

The problem was, I was in a noisy restaurant full of colleagues having drinks and chatting. Classical piano wasn’t exactly the right fit for the atmosphere.

After about ten minutes, people slowly drifted back into conversation. I sat there feeling slightly awkward, even though they told me I was good.

But I knew I hadn’t really connected with them musically.

And that made me question something:

What’s the point of learning piano if I can’t even entertain the people around me?

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A Turning Point

I was genuinely disappointed after that night. It felt like all the years of work hadn’t quite translated into something I could use in the real world.

But things changed soon after.

For my 21st birthday, my dad surprised me with tickets to see Jools Holland perform live.

My brother came along too, even though it wasn’t really his kind of music—but he joined us for the occasion.

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Seeing Boogie Woogie Live

We were seated on the balcony, quite close to the stage. Unfortunately, from that angle I couldn’t see the pianist’s hands clearly, which was frustrating as a player.

But then something unexpected happened.

When Jools Holland came on stage, a large screen appeared behind him, showing a close-up camera view of the keyboard.

Suddenly, I could see everything—every movement, every rhythm, every detail of what he was playing.

It completely changed the experience for me.

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Discovering Boogie Woogie

What really grabbed my attention was the style he was playing: boogie woogie.

I had heard it before, but never experienced it as a full performance like this.

What amazed me most was his left hand.

Just one hand—playing alone—creating this huge, driving, powerful sound without anything else.

Up until then, I had mostly been taught to play using both hands together in a balanced way. So hearing the left hand take full control like that was a real eye-opener.

That moment changed everything for me.

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Finding My Direction

From that day on, I knew exactly what I wanted to play.

I started searching for every boogie woogie video I could find, trying to figure out how it worked.

At the time, I couldn’t find much sheet music, so I had to learn by ear and observation:

• Watching hand movements
• Listening carefully to rhythm
• Trying to copy what I heard

It was slow and difficult at first, but gradually things started to click.

Once I learned a few left-hand patterns, everything else began to fall into place.

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The Challenge of Hand Independence

The real challenge came next: adding the right hand.

Boogie woogie relies heavily on hand independence, and that took serious practice.

I often spent hours just working on the left hand alone before even attempting the right hand.

It wasn’t always exciting practice—sometimes it was repetitive and frustrating—but it was absolutely necessary.

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Where I Am Now

After years of consistent practice, I can now play boogie woogie and slow blues confidently.

I’ve been lucky enough to perform with blues bands, which has allowed me to use what I’ve learned in real musical situations.

And there’s nothing quite like seeing the audience react to live piano—it’s one of the most rewarding parts of playing.

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Not Forgetting the Classical Foundation

Even though boogie woogie and blues became my focus, I never forget where I started.

All those years of classical training, exam preparation, and scale practice gave me the foundation I rely on today.

That’s why I often encourage learners to start with classical training first.

Not because it’s the only way—but because it builds:

• Technique
• Discipline
• Reading ability
• Finger strength

There are always exceptions—some incredibly talented players can skip that path—but they are the minority.

For most people, classical training provides a solid foundation to build from.

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Final Thoughts

If I ever sit down at a piano in a pub or bar today, I can still do the same thing that inspired me all those years ago:

Start a boogie woogie left hand… and instantly get people listening.

So if you’re keen to learn blues or boogie woogie, don’t underestimate the importance of putting in the groundwork first.

It might take time, patience, and repetition…

But it’s worth it in the end.