Beginning Jazz Piano 2

Beginning Jazz Piano - An Introduction to Swing, Blues, Latin and Funk

Part 2 - Harmony, Improvisation, Accompanying & Reading from Lead Sheets

This book is aimed at players with some piano experience who wish to develop a grasp of the basic tools required to play and improvise in a jazz style.

Chapter 1: Harmony & Improvisation  Builds on the concepts covered in Part 1 to help you deal with typical situations such as 32-bar sequences, II – V – I, playing in 3/4, etc.

• Develop your improvisation skills using techniques such as pentatonic scales, modes, arpeggios, broken chords, horizontal and vertical improvisation
• Online resources include downloadable AUDIO FILES of every piece, BACKING tracks, and interactive ‘REPLAY’ tracks featuring scrollable music and adjustable tempos

Chapter 2: Accompanying  An essential skill for anyone playing in a duo situation, or for vocalists wishing to accompany themselves at the piano.

• Build your own bass lines in a range of styles, including two-feel, walking bass, blues, funk, bossa nova
• Add chords in the right hand and learn how to ‘comp’ in the style of tunes such as All of Me and One Note Samba

Chapter 3: Interpreting Lead Sheets  Follow the ‘Lead Sheet Protocol’ to help you get away from reading sheet music and start creating your own arrangements – like professional jazz pianists.

• Explore a variety of left-hand styles including shells, rootless chords, stride piano
• Learn how to play melodies using two-handed voicings in four- and five-part harmony

Beginning Jazz Piano includes seven originals alongside traditional standards such St James Infirmary, When the Saints Go Marching In and Indiana. This is the ideal book to use with your piano teacher, but the backing and ‘Replay’ tracks make it equally accessible to those studying on their own.

About the author
Tim Richards is an experienced teacher, and the author of the critically acclaimed Improvising Blues Piano and Exploring Jazz Piano textbooks.

BEGINNING JAZZ PIANO 2 - Press Reviews

"Tim Richards has yet again outdone himself with these two amazing books. Anyone who is ready to commit themselves to this level of proper jazz instruction will undoubtedly find that his is absolutely the course to use...Brilliantly paced, carefully leaving no stone unturned, while systematically developing, consolidating and building on acquired skills" - Andrew Eales, Pianodao.com

“The books are nicely paced, not overloading you with too much too soon. Tim obviously has vast experience within teaching and writing… I really enjoyed both books.” – Justin Randall, The Jazz Rag Magazine

“If you are a teacher who loves jazz, has little knowledge of jazz piano, or just wants to build confidence teaching it, do give this a try. It is a superb publication” – Karen Marshall, MUSIC TEACHER Magazine