A Million Miles Away - Piano Solo: Piano Solo

Alexander writes jazz that respects what makes the genre compelling while keeping technique accessible. The melodies stick without feeling simplistic, and the rhythmic vocabulary opens doors to styles many late intermediate students haven't encountered before. Your students will actually want to practice these pieces.

These pieces balance sophistication with accessibility. You get real jazz textures, walking bass lines, blues progressions, syncopated melodies, but the technical demands stay in the late intermediate zone. There's an ease to how Alexander phrases things that makes jazz feel natural rather than imposed.

Late intermediate pianists ready to explore jazz idioms with writing that sounds professional without requiring advanced technical facility. This collection suits students preparing for jazz festivals, those deepening their stylistic range, or anyone looking to make practicing feel less like work.

• Study the rhythmic placement of syncopation in each piece; Alexander often shifts accents just enough to feel authentic without overwhelming the student.
• Let the harmony breathe. These aren't classical pieces, so don't rush through chord changes. Listen to how the colors land.
• Mark the style changes between pieces. Moving from "Barclay Street Blues" to "Porto Alegre" requires different touches and attitudes at the keyboard.

Insert individual pieces into recitals to show off your students' stylistic versatility or program several together as a jazz-focused segment. The collection works equally well as supplementary repertoire for students already deep in classical study or as a complete unit for exploring jazz piano.

• Jazz improvisation fundamentals and stylistic vocabulary
• Syncopated rhythm reading and execution
• Blues progressions and chord-based harmony
• Swing eighth notes and jazz articulation
• Left-hand independence in walking bass patterns
• Jazz comping techniques and voicing awareness