Alfred's Teach Yourself Chords & Progressions at the Keyboard: Keyboard/Piano Book & CD

Konowitz brings decades of classroom experience to this method, which means every progression and exercise is genuinely teachable. The step-by-step design meets students exactly where they are, whether they're picking up keyboard for the first time or transitioning from classical training into jazz and pop styles. The included CD with live jazz combo backgrounds transforms passive learning into active musicmaking, giving students a real sense of playing alongside professionals.

The experience is one of gradual discovery. Each new concept builds logically on what comes before, so progression from basic triads to fuller jazz voicings feels natural rather than overwhelming. The live combo backgrounds give you the thrill of making music that sounds complete and contemporary, even when you're still in the early chapters.

This book suits anyone new to keyboard who wants to move beyond reading note-by-note into the world of chords, voicings, and improvisation. Adult learners, teenagers exploring jazz and pop styles, and classically trained pianists looking to expand their harmonic vocabulary will all find a clear, achievable path forward. Self-directed learners and students working with a teacher will both benefit from the accessible progression and concrete examples.

• Listen to the CD tracks before attempting each new progression. Hearing the sound in context helps you understand where chord voicings belong within an arrangement.
• Practice the left-hand accompaniment patterns separately until they become automatic. This frees your right hand to focus on melody and improvisation.
• Play along with the recorded backgrounds multiple times at the same tempo before increasing speed. Matching the feel of the live combo matters as much as hitting the right notes.
• Transpose progressions into different keys once you've mastered them in the book's original keys. This builds real flexibility for playing pop and jazz standards.

Use this as a bridge curriculum for students in classical piano lessons who express interest in jazz, pop, or improvisation. It works equally well as a standalone self-study resource for adult learners or as supplemental material in group keyboard classes. The progression is especially valuable for building confidence in students who learn better from hearing accompaniment and playing within a musical context.

• Reading and interpreting chord symbols in context
• Building major, minor, and seventh chords from scale degrees
• Understanding chord progressions in common blues and pop forms (I-IV-V-I, ii-V-I, etc.)
• Voicing chords across multiple octaves for fuller keyboard arrangements
• Playing left-hand accompaniment patterns that support a harmonic framework
• Transforming lead sheets into playable arrangements
• Following chord changes while maintaining a steady rhythmic groove
• Playing with recorded accompaniment and adjusting tempo control