Especially in Jazzy Style, Book 3: Piano Book

Alexander's jazz writing strips away pretense without sacrificing musicality. These pieces respect the late intermediate pianist's growing technical abilities while introducing authentic jazz vocabulary in a way that sounds genuinely contemporary rather than watered down. The stylistic variety across the collection means every student finds something that clicks with them personally.

Energetic and approachable. These pieces have the snap and color of real jazz without the harmonic density that intimidates intermediate players. You'll find yourself wanting to play them again immediately, listening for new details each time.

Late intermediate pianists ready to explore jazz beyond traditional classical repertoire. This collection works for students who thrive on contemporary sounds and those preparing for jazz festivals or recitals that emphasize stylistic diversity.

• Listen closely to the accompaniment recording to internalize the swing feel and groove; recorded jazz has a different rhythmic pocket than classical music, and hearing it repeatedly trains your ear faster than counting alone.
• Approach the blues changes with flexibility in your phrasing rather than metronomic precision. Jazz piano thrives on subtle timing adjustments that sit just slightly ahead of or behind the beat.
• Let the harmonic colors breathe by voicing chords with space rather than density. Alexander's jazz writing often moves the harmony with deceptive simplicity; clean articulation reveals the sophistication.
• Work sections up slowly to nail the syncopated rhythms, then bring the tempo back to performing speed so the rhythm feels conversational instead of academic.

Program individual pieces in spring recitals to showcase student versatility and add contrast to an otherwise classical program. Several titles work well as pre-competition confidence builders since they combine technical interest with infectious groove. The collection also suits casual performance contexts where jazz repertoire signals musical curiosity.

• Reading and executing syncopated rhythms within a swing feel
• Understanding blues changes and reharmonization
• Jazz articulation and touch differentiation
• Improvisation foundations through guided composition elements
• Voice leading in jazz chord progressions
• Listening and ensemble awareness when performing with accompaniment