As Halberstadt says in his preface on how to use the book, it is “designed to supplement books dedicated to jazz piano or jazz theory.” He covers some issues common to all musicians--practicing, gigging, and tips for success. His chapters on theory and developing improvising skills apply to any jazz musician. Others are applicable to pianists and can be as specific as fingerings for scales.

There is a subject index, a glossary of terms, the sheet music for the standards which he uses as examples, and a resource page where he lists his favorite recorded versions of the tunes discussed in the book.

Randy Halberstadt is a pianist, composer, arranger, and a professor at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington. He appears on numerous recordings of other artists and has released three as a leader: Inner Voice, Clockwork, and Parallel Tracks.