Start Playing Amazing Jazz Solos While Practicing Less

With Expert Training to Help You Learn One New Jazz Standard a Month So You Can Improve Exponentially In Just 30 Days

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Are You Satisfied With Your Jazz Improv Abilities?

If you’re like 99% of my students and subscribers, the answer is no. Deep inside you want to feel the freedom to flawlessly navigate your instrument and improvise incredible melodic ideas, but more often than not, you feel unsatisfied, frustrated, or even stuck.

Tell me if you can relate:

  • You’ve spent countless hours practicing, jumping around YouTube and blogs, but feel aimless and like you aren’t improving quickly enough without a step-by-step plan.
  • You’ve felt overwhelmed by learning jazz standards, unsure of how to efficiently learn them, and unsure of how to start improvising over them as well as you want to.
  • You’ve felt left behind with all of the complex jazz theory. Most teachers assume you know music theory jargon, leaving you feeling embarrassed to ask questions.
  • Your jazz education is a lonely journey. You wish you had other like-minded musicians to learn from, get motivation, and share accountability.

You’ve probably struggled with some of these. I know this because I struggled with these same things when I was learning to play jazz.

Luckily, I didn’t stay stuck like this.

  • I learned the most important things to practice and how, instead of wasting years of aimless practice time working on the wrong things.
  • I figured out how to learn and practice jazz standards the right way, instead of instead of getting stuck and confused with improvising.
  • I got plugged in with mentors and a community of other like-minded musicians, instead of feeling isolated with nowhere to go for help.

Hey, I’m Brent Vaartstra, professional jazz musician, author, and educator. I’m best known as the jazz musician behind the internationally renowned online jazz education site, Learn Jazz Standards.

 

I want to help you get on that same path to accelerating your jazz improv skills, and get the help and support you need to break through barriers and become the musician you’ve always wanted to be.

 

That’s why I created a place for you to get everything you need, all in one place, under one roof…

Introducing the
Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle

I'd like to personally invite you to join my Inner Circle membership community!

The LJS Inner Circle is a premium online jazz education membership. It is my complete package of top-notch jazz training and a community platform that fosters growth and the motivation for continual musical improvement.

 

In the Inner Circle you get access to:

  •  Monthly jazz standard studies, to help you learn and improvise over jazz standards
  •  In-depth courses, and practice programs to help you improve quickly
  • Instrument Accelerator courses to help you master the technical side of playing jazz on your instrument *
  • A diverse community of musicians playing all kinds of instruments to get support and motivation

* See list of instrument courses available below

I am a father of three, a PE teacher and a karate trainer. Needless to say, I am not able to take private lessons and have a fixed schedule. The Inner Circle is therefore perfect for me. It contains tons of material which is very well explained so I can organize my musical progress accordingly. I highly recommend it to everyone regardless the instrument or previous musical knowledge!
Shony from Israel
Shony from IsraelTrombone
I am a father of three, a PE teacher and a karate trainer. Needless to say, I am not able to take private lessons and have a fixed schedule. The Inner Circle is therefore perfect for me. It contains tons of material which is very well explained so I can organize my musical progress accordingly. I highly recommend it to everyone regardless the instrument or previous musical knowledge!
Shony from Israel
Shony from IsraelTrombone

The LJS Inner Circle Helps You:

Learn jazz standards and start improvising over them

By getting a monthly study packet and training video to learn a new jazz standard alongside other members. You’ll stop being confused by jazz standards, and feel confident to improvise over them.

Find a practice plan that will accelerate your jazz skills

By getting access to all of our in-depth premium courses and practice programs. I guarantee you will improve your playing quicker just like hundreds of my current and alumni course students.

Fill in the gaps in your musical knowledge

By getting access to a growing library of beginner 101 courses on topics like music theory. You won’t feel lost or left behind in other parts of your membership. You'll have the training you need for success.

Practice alongside other musicians

By joining courses or Practice Groups on topics you need help with, or by starting your own. You can get accountability and help from other members working on specific concepts you want to improve on.

Get answers to your questions

By getting access to premium community forums and discussions. You don’t have to feel afraid to ask a question, or get help with something you’re stuck on. The community is there to help, and you can help others as well.

All Inner Circle Members Get Instant Access To:

Autumn Leaves Chord Analysis 1
Autumn Leaves Chord Map 1
Autumn Leaves Chord Tones C
Autumn Leaves Guide Tones 1
ScaleMap-page-001
There Will Never Be Another You (Highlighted Target Notes)
Video Lesson
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Immediate Access to the "Jazz Standards Club" Monthly Studies

Every month you’ll get access to a new jazz standard study course, AND all previous studies, so you can learn and practice them. Here’s what’s included in the club:

 

  • An in-depth color-coded analysis of the jazz standard so you can understand how it works.
  • Chord tone, guide tone, and scale maps to help you map out note options for improvising.
  • An etude over the jazz standard, composed by pro jazz musicians to help you learn musical ideas for improvising.
  • 4 practice itineraries, to provide road maps for practicing success.
  • In-depth video training walk-through, to break down the jazz standard for you.

Entire Library of Premium Practice Program Courses (Current and Future)

Whether you need to work on learning essential jazz standards, ear training, the blues, or a full-on jazz practice program, my premium courses will provide great roadmaps for jazz improvement for all instruments.

 

From my flagship course 30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing, to my basic jazz theory book and course Zero to Improv, you’ll get instant access to all of these.

 

Learn at your own pace, when you want, wherever you want.

Jazz Blues Accelerator is my powerful jazz blues practicing course that digs deep into a process for jazz blues mastery.
Jazz Blues Accelerator is my powerful jazz blues practicing course that digs deep into a process for jazz blues mastery.
30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing is our flagship jazz practicing course, where you'll work on all aspects of jazz improv success.
30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing is our flagship jazz practicing course, where you'll work on all aspects of jazz improv success.
How to Play What You Hear is my ear training course where you'll learn to hear intervals, chords, chord progressions, and melodic dictation.
How to Play What You Hear is my ear training course where you'll learn to hear intervals, chords, chord progressions, and melodic dictation.
The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol 1 Course is an in-depth study of 10 "Master" jazz standards that will make learning other tunes easier.
The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol 1 Course is an in-depth study of 10 "Master" jazz standards that will make learning other tunes easier.
The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2 Course is an in-depth study of 10 more jazz standards that have pivotal lessons to learn for jazz harmony.
The Jazz Standards Playbook Vol. 2 Course is an in-depth study of 10 more jazz standards that have pivotal lessons to learn for jazz harmony.
Zero to Improv is my basic jazz theory eBook and Companion Course where you'll learn all the essentials of jazz theory and apply it to improv.
Zero to Improv is my basic jazz theory eBook and Companion Course where you'll learn all the essentials of jazz theory and apply it to improv.
Minor Blues Accelerator is my powerful minor blues practicing course that digs deep into a process for minor blues mastery.
Minor Blues Accelerator is my powerful minor blues practicing course that digs deep into a process for minor blues mastery.
Rhythm Changes Accelerator is my powerful rhythm changes practicing course that digs deep into a process for rhythm changes mastery.
Rhythm Changes Accelerator is my powerful rhythm changes practicing course that digs deep into a process for rhythm changes mastery.
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Jazz Guitar Accelerator is our power-house jazz guitar course that helps you unlock your fretboard, boost your chordal vocabulary, and master jazz guitar concepts
Jazz Guitar Accelerator is our power-house jazz guitar course that helps you unlock your fretboard, boost your chordal vocabulary, and master jazz guitar concepts
Jazz Sax Accelerator is our power-house jazz sax course that helps you dominate the essentials and accelerate your jazz sax playing
Jazz Sax Accelerator is our power-house jazz sax course that helps you dominate the essentials and accelerate your jazz sax playing
Jazz Bass Accelerator is our power-house jazz bass course that helps you navigate your instrument with confidence, develop your sound, and improvise unique jazz bass lines
Jazz Bass Accelerator is our power-house jazz bass course that helps you navigate your instrument with confidence, develop your sound, and improvise unique jazz bass lines
Jazz Trumpet Accelerator is our power-house jazz trumpet course that helps you improve your dexterity, gain greater flexibility, and develop the jazz trumpet sound you have always imagined
Jazz Trumpet Accelerator is our power-house jazz trumpet course that helps you improve your dexterity, gain greater flexibility, and develop the jazz trumpet sound you have always imagined
Jazz Piano Accelerator is our power-house jazz piano course that helps you master technique, dominate jazz piano voicings, and comp like a pro
Jazz Piano Accelerator is our power-house jazz piano course that helps you master technique, dominate jazz piano voicings, and comp like a pro
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NEW! Instrument Accelerator Courses

Our Instrument Accelerator courses help you excel in every other area of your membership by filling in the gaps on your specific instrument.

 

All instruments need to work on the same things for jazz improvisation, but our Instrument Accelerator courses will help you gain the technical freedom you need to start playing jazz like a pro!

 

Don’t  see your instrument here yet? We are continually releasing more in the future, so don’t wait to get started.

 

Our Growing Library of 101 Courses

These mini-courses will give you tools and knowledge you need to succeed in other areas of your membership and help you understand the basics of becoming a better jazz musician. We add new ones each quarter!

Making Scales Musical 101
Bebop 101
Jazz Standard Roman Numeral
Rhythms 101 Thumb
How to Learn Jazz Standards by Ear 101
How to Record Yourself Thumb
Note Mapping 101
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Monthly Live Q&A Calls

You’ll have exclusive access to our “Monthly Jazz Mastermind,” which is a live Q&A session we do on a monthly basis.

 

If you can’t make it on the date of the live call you can ask questions ahead of time, and I’ll answer them on the call so you can watch back on the replay, which is made available in the Inner Circle a few days later.

 

This is your opportunity to get answers to jazz and music related questions that you need help with!

A Supportive Community of Musicians

The Inner Circle community is the place to go for all your questions, asking for feedback, gaining support and getting to know other like minded musicians.

 

You can even join or create your own Practice Groups so you can learn and work on concepts with other members and get accountability.

 

You won’t just be interacting with musicians who play your instrument. The Inner Circle community is diverse, with musicians playing all kinds of instruments. This is a HUGE advantage.

BONUS: Inner Circle Power Plan

We created our Inner Circle Power Plan course especially for our new members so you can immediately start making meaningful improvement within your first 30 days of membership, even with little practice time! 

  • You won't have to guess where to start. We tell you EXACTLY what to do, so that in 30 days you'll know a new jazz standard and be able to improvise over it.
  • You'll go through our core training so you get off to a perfect start.
  • You don't have to give up anything to make room for practice. You'll be making meaningful strides in just quick 30-minute practice sessions.

All of this exclusively for Inner Circle Members!

Since joining the Inner Circle, I have been able to be far more organized with how I approach my practice sessions and have definitely seen improvement. The frameworks of the lessons are super organized and provide the structure I can't always create spontaneously for myself. I highly recommend it for any jazz musicians of any level. The lessons are surprisingly applicable to beginners and pros alike.
Tony
TonySaxophone
Since joining the Inner Circle, I have been able to be far more organized with how I approach my practice sessions and have definitely seen improvement. The frameworks of the lessons are super organized and provide the structure I can't always create spontaneously for myself. I highly recommend it for any jazz musicians of any level. The lessons are surprisingly applicable to beginners and pros alike.
Tony
TonySaxophone

Take a Sneak Peek Tour:

Massive Value at a Ridiculously Low Cost

Massive Value at a Ridiculously Low Cost

Let’s not even talk about the fortune you could spend on music school, or private lessons to get this kind of training and community.

Let’s not even talk about the fortune you could spend on music school, or private lessons to get this kind of training and community.

  • For a fraction of the cost of ONE monthly private lesson...
  • For less than ONE dollar a day...
  • For less than ONE cup of coffee a day…

You get unlimited access to the best jazz education and community you can get your hands on.

Here's What Our Members Are Saying:

Here's What Our Members Are Saying:

The Inner Circle has a variety of courses to help with ear training, jazz basics, etc. There is a good balance of theory and playing. I really enjoy the Jazz Standards Club, where we really focus on one standard a month. What is great, since this is my passion, not my career, is that I can do it at my own pace, when I have time and still have all of the resources at my fingertips. The Community Forums provide a great opportunity to interact and share experiences with others that share similar challenges, as well as provide other learning opportunities. I highly recommend joining the Inner Circle, it provides great learning opportunities for players at all levels!
Tim from Virginia
Tim from VirginiaSaxophones
After a 50 year hiatus, I took up playing again three years ago. I alway wanted to learn to improvise so that is what I'm concentrating on. Since I have no harmonic background and play a melodic instrument I have always struggled with chord changes. Here is where the LJS Inner Circle comes in, which is a perfect tool to really getting to understand jazz harmony and how to apply the changes. Brent has done an incredible job and the peer support through different community discussion blogs is excellent. I highly recommend the Inner Circle. You won't regret it.
Bruce from Amsterdam
Bruce from AmsterdamTrumpet
I am a classically trained musician and like many of my kind, the goal of being able to play jazz and improvise seemed like the impossible dream. I have tried self help books, online videos, private teachers, but was not able to stick with it. What I've come to consider is that jazz, being an aural tradition, is not easy to teach and some are better at teaching it than others. Eight months ago I enrolled in my first course at Learn Jazz Standards and have found Brent Vaarstra to be an experienced, brilliant teacher who has designed a very accessible web site to teach jazz improvisation on many levels. When the opportunity arose to join his newest concept, The Inner Circle, I didn't hesitate. Now I feel part of an international jazz community and it is all very exciting and inspirational.
Frances from North Carolina
Frances from North CarolinaMelodica
I began immersing myself within the Inner Circle program approximately 3 weeks ago. One of the biggest benefits to me, has been the course structure. It has forced me to focus on the process and helps me with clear, step by step achievable goals. Beginner, intermediate or advanced, it doesn't matter, there is something for everyone.
Eric from New Jersey
Eric from New JerseyGuitar
I have felt for a very long time that my improvisational skills were not improving beyond a certain point and I was looking for ways to develop these further. I was delighted to read about the introduction of the LJS Inner Circle and decided to apply to join without any hesitation whatsoever. There are an amazing number of resources available through the LJS Inner Circle membership. I have been working on this month's jazz standard and already feel that my improvisation has improved tremendously and know it will continue to do so. Also, the interaction amongst the members is fantastic. This is mainly done through the various discussion forums where you can ask those burning questions that have been bothering you for a long time and be certain to get responses. I have no regrets about joining and very much look forward to developing my skills further through my membership of the LJS Inner Circle.
Bill from Scotland
Bill from ScotlandSaxophone and Clarinet
Brent’s LJS platform which I’ve followed since a few years, and especially the Inner Circle, offers a great opportunity not only to take different courses, getting resource material with an analytic approach and backing tracks, but most important to be musically active by posting audio-or video files of your playing and having a discussion forum where you can exchange ideas and tips with other members. So you actually have feedback on what you and others are doing. After being just a few weeks in the Inner Circle I feel that I am becoming already a more open minded player. I can highly recommend joining the Inner Circle!
Fritz from Austria
Fritz from AustriaPiano
I have started playing Saxophone in July 2019, with the clear aim to get a better understanding of playing jazz music, but the theory behind it was a big mystery. I made good progress on the instrument, but only when I found Brent's Learn Jazz Standards site and subscribed to courses the jazz mystery began to unveil. Now, I am deep in the "30 Steps to Better Jazz Playing" course and am able to do things, which I never thought possible. The big difference of Brent's courses compared to classical text books on the market, is that in addition to excellent teaching material provided, Brent guides me through the learning process by providing clear aims that should be achieved. I also have a sax teacher who is a University trained jazz musician and she too finds Brent's courses excellent, not more to say I guess, but that I wholeheartedly recommend the Learn Jazz Standards Inner Circle, this is true value for money!
Johannes from the UK
Johannes from the UKSaxophones
I've always struggled with how to connect chords together melodically when soloing over a jazz standard. Part of the reason why is that I really did not "know" the harmonic structure of the tune. Brent provides guide tone exercises, chord exercises, some contrafacts, and a video walk-through of each jazz standard. Directed, structured practice is the key to learning anything, especially how to play jazz. Brent's courses, with their emphasis on recording yourself, have really helped me. They'll help anyone willing to dedicate a bit of focused practice time. It's fun to see improvement, and this enjoyment makes me look forward to my daily practice time. Thank you, Brent.
Tom from Mississippi
Tom from MississippiSaxophone
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Get Instant Access to the Inner Circle!

Get Instant Access to the Inner Circle!

If you're ready to take your jazz playing to the next level by joining the LJS Inner Circle, choose your payment option below and click the button...

If you're ready to take your jazz playing to the next level by joining the LJS Inner Circle, choose your payment option below and click the button...

PAY MONTHLY

$ 29 PER MONTH
  • Jazz Standard Club Access (Monthly Study)
  • Access to All Premium Practice Program Courses
  • Access to Beginner 101 Courses
  • Monthly Live Q&A Calls
  • Access to Premium Community Forums and Practice Groups
  • BONUS: Inner Circle Power Plan (New Member Course)
JOIN TODAY
Recurring payment - cancel anytime
30 day money back guarantee

PAY ANNUALLY

$348
$ 288 PER YEAR
  • Jazz Standard Club Access (Monthly Study)
  • Access to All Premium Practice Program Courses
  • Access to Beginner 101 Courses
  • Monthly Live Q&A Calls
  • Access to Premium Community Forums and Practice Groups
  • BONUS: Inner Circle Power Plan (New Member Course)
JOIN TODAY
BEST VALUE: Save $60/year compared to monthly
30 day money back guarantee
BEST VALUE

The LJS Guarantee:

My team and I hold all of our products to the highest of standards. We go to great lengths, with a lot of effort and care to only sell things to our audience that holds extreme value. Anything less, would be unacceptable.

Because of our confidence that you are going to love the Inner Circle, we are willing to take the risk completely out of the equation for you and put it on us.

We are offering a 30-day money back guarantee from the time of your purchase. If you don’t like the Inner Circle, email us, tell us why, and we’ll issue a full refund (we’ll cover the credit card fees too).

Not Sure If the Inner Circle Is Right for You?

Not Sure If the Inner Circle Is Right for You?

The LJS Inner Circle is NOT for everyone, and truth be told we’d prefer to help you figure out if it’s not right for you BEFORE you join rather than waste your time.

The LJS Inner Circle is NOT for everyone, and truth be told we’d prefer to help you figure out if it’s not right for you BEFORE you join rather than waste your time.

WHO THE INNER CIRCLE IS FOR:

  • Beginner to intermediate jazz musicians who know music basics but are wanting to take their jazz skills to the next level. Advance players are welcome as well, but know that the content is generally geared towards these skill levels.
  • Musicians who are brand new to jazz, but already have the essential skills on their instrument together.
  • Anyone who plays a melodic/harmonic instrument (including vocalists), and wants to become a better jazz improviser.
  • Musicians who understand that real improvement only comes with practice and follow through, not cheap shortcuts.
  • Musicians that want actual practice plans and structure- not just a massive library of one-off lessons. If that’s what you want, check out my YouTube channel. I’m interested in getting you clear results.

WHO THE INNER CIRCLE IS NOT FOR:

  • Someone trying to learn a new instrument. The Inner Circle will not teach you how to play a specific instrument, especially from scratch.
  • Someone looking ONLY for instruction specific to their instrument. While we do have a growing list of Instrument Accelerator courses to help you with instrument specific technique, most material in the Inner Circle is geared towards working on jazz concepts all instruments need to work on. Because SPOILER ALERT: all instruments need to do mostly the same things to become great jazz improvisers. You don't need to work on things only for your instrument, and you'll have a huge advantage learning from musicians that play different instruments from you.
  • Percussive instruments. As much as I love the drummers and would like to see them in our community, much of the course and club content is geared towards melodic/harmonic instruments, and you may not get as much value from the material as they would.
  • Musicians looking for hacks or shortcuts. While you will shorten your learning curve and be working on the right things to improve, without practice and hard work you WILL NOT get the results you want.
  • Musicians with big egos or bad vibes. The Inner Circle is a supportive uplifting community of jazz musicians of all skill levels. If you bring bad energy to the community you will be refunded and excused. We take the community culture of the Inner Circle very seriously.

Join Members Like Collin, David, Louis, and Daniel who are benefiting from the Inner Circle!

Still Have Questions? Here Are Some Answers:

Still Have Questions? Here Are Some Answers:

Not just a huge library of random content. The Inner Circle provides actual jazz courses, practice plans, and monthly jazz standard studies so you get real direction and results- not a whole lot of overwhelm.

A community of musicians playing all kinds of instruments. It’s not a community of just bass players, just guitar players, saxophonists, or pianists. You’ll not only learn a lot from musicians playing your instrument, but also gain perspective from musicians playing different ones.

More than just community forums. You can join or create Practice Groups with other members to share and work on things together. If you are a part of a course you’ll be working and communicating with other members who are in that course with you.

A place to learn the way that works for you. Have a lot of time on your hands to practice? Work on one of my in-depth practice programs. Don’t have a lot of time? Work on the monthly Jazz Standards Club study and keep it light. Have a specific skill you want to work on with others? Start a Practice Group and get help from the community.

Yes. While we strongly believe you will love the LJS Inner Circle and won’t want to leave, you can easily cancel your membership at anytime. There are no hoops you have to jump through, just a few clicks of your mouse. If you are paying monthly, your subscription will not renew at the next billing cycle. If you are paying annually, you will have 30 days to ask for a refund from time of purchase.

While you may know some jazz standards that we focus on in our Jazz Standards Club, no one is ever finished studying and improving their improv over a jazz standard. Regardless of your experience, you’ll find the resources such as the etude helpful, and the opportunity to interact with the community motivating to practice and share your jam sessions. As the Jazz Standard Club library grows, you will have continual access to each study. Outside of the Club, our Jazz Standards Playbook courses feature 20 studies of jazz standards that should keep you busy.

It is possible that you may have purchased one or more of our courses prior to the release of our membership. It’s important to point out that our courses sold individually cost $95-$247 each. So for many, membership will be a better value if you were planning on purchasing one or two courses.

But it is important to remember that having access to the Jazz Standards Club, 101 Courses (which are not available a la carte), Community forums and Practice Groups adds hundreds of dollars of additional monthly value to your membership. The value of being a member is completely worth it to you, even if you have already purchased some Premium Courses.

100% absolutely yes! You can rest assured that we never process credit cards ourselves. We use PayPal and Stripe to run payments which are industry standard 3rd party services that massive retail and online businesses use for payment processing.

After purchase you will be redirected to a Welcome Page, which will give you a quick orientation so you will feel comfortable navigating the Inner Circle and know first steps. But at anytime you can go to learnjazzstandards.com and click the login button so you can get access to the main membership dashboard.

No! While you will come across music theory in your membership, you will have the tools you need to learn the basics. Our growing list of beginner 101 Courses goes over common theory you will come across in other parts of our membership. In addition, you will have access to our basic jazz theory eBook and Course “Zero to Improv” which will get you going.

Everything that is provided in your membership is geared towards ALL melodic and harmonic instruments. While drummers may not get as much value out of some of the material, bassists, guitarists, pianists, saxophonists, trumpeters, violinists, harmonica players, vibes players, and others of the like will get great value. All courses and studies focus on concepts that ALL jazz musicians need to be working on and will benefit from. All handouts and materials are provided with versions for C, Bb, Eb, and Bass Clef instruments.

Still unsure? Feel free to send us an email with any questions and we'll get back to you soon!

You're Making the Right Decision!

You're Making the Right Decision!

You're just clicks away from joining the Inner Circle family

You're just clicks away from joining the Inner Circle family​

PAY MONTHLY

$ 29 PER MONTH
  • Jazz Standard Club Access (Monthly Study)
  • Access to All Premium Practice Program Courses
  • Access to Beginner 101 Courses
  • Monthly Live Q&A Calls
  • Access to Premium Community Forums and Practice Groups
  • BONUS: Inner Circle Power Plan (New Member Course)
JOIN TODAY
Recurring payment - cancel anytime
30 day money back guarantee

PAY ANNUALLY

$348
$ 288 PER YEAR
  • Jazz Standard Club Access (Monthly Study)
  • Access to All Premium Practice Program Courses
  • Access to Beginner 101 Courses
  • Monthly Live Q&A Calls
  • Access to Premium Community Forums and Practice Groups
  • BONUS: Inner Circle Power Plan (New Member Course)
JOIN TODAY
BEST VALUE: Save $60/year compared to monthly
30 day money back guarantee
BEST VALUE