Jazz-a-Little, Jazz-a-Lot, Book 3: Piano Book

Rollin writes jazz that respects the idiom without requiring students to already speak the language fluently. Each solo stands as a complete musical idea rather than an exercise, giving intermediate pianists real repertoire to inhabit. The collection balances straight blues and Latin feels with pieces that explore modal harmony and contemporary swing, so there's something to reach for at every lesson.

These solos capture the swagger and flexibility of jazz without the formality of classical music. You'll find moments of relaxed groove alongside passages that require precision rhythmic control, and melodies that invite you to bend and breathe rather than follow a strict tempo.

Intermediate to late intermediate pianists ready to explore jazz language in a structured, repertoire-based way. This collection works for studio students preparing for recitals, young pianists curious about improvisation fundamentals, and classroom musicians looking to expand beyond classical forms.

• Listen to authentic jazz recordings of each style represented before you begin. Blues and Latin grooves sound entirely different, and your ear needs to absorb the rhythmic feel before your fingers can deliver it.
• Practice the syncopated passages slowly with a metronome, then gradually shift the metronome click to different subdivisions to internalize the relationship between your melody and the beat.
• Shape the harmonic movement in pieces like Dorian Motion by letting certain chord tones breathe slightly longer than others; this helps the listener hear the mode's color rather than just play through it.

Slot a solo from this collection into a spring or winter recital to show students' stylistic range and keep the audience engaged between classical pieces. Alternatively, use individual pieces throughout the year as rewards for students who've mastered a particular technique, since each solo offers distinct rhythmic or harmonic challenges that complement standard classical repertoire.

• Reading and executing syncopated rhythms and swing eighth notes
• Understanding and playing major and minor blues progressions
• Recognizing modal harmony (Dorian) and its sound
• Interpreting jazz articulation and phrasing conventions
• Balancing harmonic sophistication with melodic simplicity
• Developing independence between left-hand groove and right-hand melody