In Recital® with Jazz, Blues & Rags, Book 3: Piano Book

Stepping into a piano bar from a hundred years ago. The pieces swing and bounce with genuine character, from the confident stride bass of Scott Joplin to the playful blues riffs that feel like conversation between hands.

Late-elementary pianists who are ready for more sophisticated material but still building technical foundation. This book works especially well for students who respond to jazz and popular music, giving them permission to bring genuine joy to practice rather than grinding through classical etudes.

• Listen to the full-performance audio track multiple times before diving into the score. Hearing the groove and articulation first makes the written page make sense faster.
• In the blues and rag pieces, lock in the rhythmic feel by tapping the backbeat while you practice the written part. This keeps your phrasing grounded in the style rather than playing it straight.
• Record yourself playing and compare it to the accompaniment track. You'll catch tempo inconsistencies and phrasing that feels rushed or dragging.

Feature these pieces in student recitals where you want to show parents and peers what's possible beyond classical repertoire. They also work beautifully as rewards after students complete technical unit work, or as bridge material when transitioning students from classical to jazz studies.

• Reading syncopated rhythms in treble clef
• Playing consistent swing feel and triplet subdivisions
• Left-hand stride patterns and jazz comping
• Recognizing and improvising around twelve-bar blues form
• Articulation and phrasing in jazz style
• Performing with accompaniment tracks and staying locked rhythmically