Easy Jazzin' About Standards: Favorite Jazz Standards for Piano/Keyboard (Revised): Piano Book & CD

Wedgwood strips away the complexity that often intimidates young pianists encountering jazz standards, keeping the harmonic and rhythmic essence intact. Students get to play recognizable tunes they can take pride in, while the CD accompaniment lets them experience what it feels like to play with a rhythm section.

Sophisticated without pretension. These are the songs adults know and love, rendered in a way that feels achievable at the piano. There's genuine joy in playing a real jazz standard, even at this level, and the rhythm section backing reminds you that you're part of something larger.

Elementary pianists ready to explore jazz but lacking the improvisational chops or harmonic knowledge of intermediate players. Teachers looking to introduce standards in a grounded, playable format that doesn't require simplified melodies or stripped-down arrangements.

• Listen through the entire CD track before learning your part. Hear where the melody sits in relation to the accompaniment and bass line.
• Swing eighth notes rather than playing them straight. Even at elementary level, the lilt separates jazz from classical playing.
• Work with the CD at a slower tempo first, then gradually increase speed once you've internalized the harmonic changes.
• Pay attention to chord symbols and use them as landmarks. Understanding the underlying harmony helps you connect to the style authentically.

Create a jazz-focused recital or concert segment where students showcase standards they've mastered. The CD accompaniment means you don't need a full rhythm section to present polished performances. This collection also works beautifully as a bridge unit between purely classical study and more adventurous jazz exploration.

• Swinging eighth notes and jazz articulation
• Reading jazz chord symbols and understanding harmonic function
• Listening and responding to accompaniment patterns
• Playing melodies with style and character beyond classical interpretation
• Building comfort with blues tonality and jazz phrasing