Jazz Improv: Intermediate Piano Book

This book strips away the mystique around jazz harmony by building seventh chords and ii-V-I progressions through manageable steps. Students get immediate musical payoff with riffs they can use right away, then graduate to genuine improvisation on provided charts, which means you're not just teaching theory, you're getting students to actually play jazz.

A conversation between student and guide. The writing stays patient and clear without condescension, offering just enough scaffolding so that trying to improvise feels possible rather than overwhelming.

Piano students ready to move beyond classical repertoire into jazz but who need guided introduction to harmony and improvisation. Younger players benefit from the structured approach; experienced classical pianists find a clear pathway into a new musical language.

• Start with the demonstration pieces before tackling the riff exercises. These short examples show exactly how the concept sounds in context, which accelerates understanding faster than explanation alone.
• Encourage students to transpose the riff exercises into multiple keys as soon as they feel solid in the original. This builds real fluency rather than just memorized finger patterns.
• Use the free improvisation charts to set up low-pressure improvising sessions. Knowing the harmonic structure is already laid out lets students focus on phrasing and listening rather than scrambling to navigate changes.

Slot this into your jazz curriculum or independent study offerings as the foundational harmony text. It pairs naturally with jazz ensemble work, giving ensemble members the harmonic literacy they need to function in that setting.

• Building and recognizing seventh chords (major 7, dominant 7, minor 7)
• Executing ii-V-I progressions in multiple keys
• Using approach tones to connect chord tones in improvisation
• Reading and performing lead sheets with chord symbols
• Creating melodic lines within harmonic constraints