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Piano Board => Student's Corner => Topic started by: buggington on April 05, 2011, 09:04:03 PM

Title: Simple Jazz Piece?
Post by: buggington on April 05, 2011, 09:04:03 PM

Hi

I'm getting on with my piano pieces now and  enjoying it hugely, but I'd like to start trying a couple of Jazz pieces. I've never really done jazz pieces on piano, though I have on keyboard a few years ago.

So, are there any simple-ish jazz pieces for someone of around grade 5/6 that you could recommend I could try?

Thanks,
Buggington

Title: Re: Simple Jazz Piece?
Post by: quantum on April 05, 2011, 11:36:44 PM

Check out Christopher Norton Connections.  Its a graded series of popular styles meant to compliment the study of classical repertoire.  You'll be able to find lots of jazz style pieces in there to start off.  

You may also wish to check out the Pattern Play series.  It has guided materials for improvising.

You don't have to stick to books for improv though.  I'd encourage you to start playing free improvisations.  There is a great improv community here at Pianostreet.  Also some recent threads on how to start improvising.  Go to the Improvisation board (inside the Audition Room). 

Title: Re: Simple Jazz Piece?
Post by: ted on April 06, 2011, 12:37:19 AM

Have you tried classical ragtime ? The complete works of Scott Joplin and James Scott are readily available now, and the last couple of decades have seen a huge output of contemporary ragtime composed by excellent composers such as David Thomas Roberts, Frank French, Hal Isbitz, Reginald Robinson and many others. While most ragtime is physically very manageable, it is demanding in that it requires a very good sense of rhythm of a particular type. You could also try the Dapogny transcriptions of Morton's solos.

Another collection well worth investigating comprises the two hundred odd transcriptions by John Farrell:

https://homepages.tesco.net/~stridepiano/midifiles.htm (https://homepages.tesco.net/~stridepiano/midifiles.htm)

If you have a Mac, Garageband will print scores of these Midis for you. Edited versions of Farrell's transcriptions not in Midi are also available for purchase from his daughter.

Title: Re: Simple Jazz Piece?
Post by: maykapar1 on April 17, 2011, 04:25:06 AM

You could also check out Martha Mier's Jazz Rags & Blues, a series of five books published by Alfred.  Books 4 and 5 would be at approximately the level you are looking for.  Students of all ages love this series - it's a lot of fun!

Title: Re: Simple Jazz Piece?
Post by: vuhuonganh on April 20, 2011, 05:50:09 PM

I quite like book 4 in Martha Mier's Jazz Rags and Blues. It has Jackson Street Blues which used to be ABRMS Grade 5 piece 2007. My other favourite piece in this one is Birmingham Blues

I have also just started playing Wistful prelude in Jazz Piano 2 by  Brian Bonsor. I think you should check these out in youtube  :)

Keep us posted on what you're going for  :)