Jazz Improvisation for Keyboard Players, Book 1: Basic Concepts: Piano

Haerle cuts through the mystique that often surrounds jazz improvisation. Rather than overwhelming students with theory, he builds from fundamentals like melody creation and hand independence, making improvisation feel attainable from day one. The pianistic focus matters too; these aren't generic jazz concepts translated awkwardly to keys, but approaches designed specifically for how pianists think and play.

Methodical and grounded. Haerle's writing has the clarity of someone who has sat across from hundreds of struggling improvisers and knows exactly where they get stuck. The material feels practical rather than abstract, encouraging you to try things immediately rather than study concepts in isolation.

Pianists who understand jazz harmony at a basic level and are ready to learn how to actually improvise. Equally useful for students working one-on-one with a teacher and for those teaching themselves through structured practice. This is the book to reach for when a student says they understand chords but freezes when asked to solo.

• Work through the scale choices systematically before attempting to improvise over a full tune. Knowing which scales fit which chords removes hesitation in the moment.
• Record yourself playing the comping patterns shown in the left hand studies, then improvise melodies over your own accompaniment. This builds the independence you need in live performance.
• Start by improvising in short phrases rather than long, unbroken lines. Two or four bar ideas give you time to think and respond to the changes.
• Practice the concepts on standards you already know. Familiarity with the melody helps you focus on the improvisation technique itself.

Assign this as supplementary material during a unit on jazz styles or composition. The contained scope makes it ideal for students who want to develop soloing skills without committing to a full improvisation course. You can also use individual exercises as warm-ups during rehearsals or lessons that focus on other repertoire.

• Creating simple melodies over chord progressions
• Using left hand comping patterns while improvising
• Selecting appropriate scales for given chord qualities
• Developing hand independence on the keyboard
• Navigating chord changes with fluency
• Building longer solo lines from short phrases