Alfred's Basic Adult Jazz/Rock Course: Piano Book & CD

This course strips away the intimidation factor that keeps many adult learners from exploring jazz and rock. The paired CD accompaniments mean teachers without extensive jazz chops can confidently guide students through authentic stylistic concepts, while the 96-page format stays manageable alongside the main Alfred's curriculum.

The sound alternates between the relaxed swing of jazz grooves and the driving energy of rock rhythms, all grounded in accessible harmonic progressions. Each page feels collaborative with the CD; the student becomes part of an ensemble rather than practicing in isolation.

Adult students new to jazz and rock idioms who are already working through Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course form the ideal audience. Teachers seeking a practical, playable supplement that doesn't require advanced jazz knowledge will find this both functional and artistically sound.

• Listen to the included CD tracks multiple times before playing along, absorbing the groove and harmonic movement rather than treating it as background noise.
• Practice the swing eighth-note feel separately from the written rhythms; use a slow tempo to internalize the difference from straight eighths.
• Experiment with dynamics and touch across different keyboard textures (electric piano, organ, acoustic piano) to discover how timbre shapes the jazz and rock sound.

Assign chapters as parallel study alongside the main Alfred's course, allowing adult students to apply core piano skills to new stylistic contexts. The dual format (acoustic and electronic keyboard) makes it useful in both traditional studio settings and contemporary group classes.

• Swing eighth-note feel and jazz articulation
• Rock and shuffle rhythm patterns
• Blues changes and jazz chord progressions
• Reading lead sheets and chord symbols
• Playing in rhythm section contexts with accompaniment
• Improvisation within chord structures