Jazz, Rags & Blues, Book 2: Piano Book & CD

Mier writes jazz and blues idioms in a way that sounds authentic without overwhelming early intermediate players. Book 2 hits the sweet spot where students can actually feel the swing and blues character rather than just reading notation, and the included recordings give them a real sonic reference that transforms how they understand these styles.

These pieces swings, grooves, and bent notes come alive when played with conviction. The blues progressions and syncopated rhythms create an immediate sense of forward motion and character that feels like actual jazz, not an academic exercise in the idiom.

Early intermediate to intermediate pianists ready to move beyond classical forms and explore jazz and blues styles. This book works especially well for students who respond better to American vernacular music and need the musical payoff that comes from playing genuinely appealing repertoire.

• Listen through the entire CD recording before diving into any piece. Hearing the full interpretation helps you understand phrasing, dynamics, and where the swing feel lives in each tune.
• Isolate the rhythm section feel in your head. Tap your foot or count along with the recorded track to internalize the underlying groove before adding your own interpretive choices.
• Work swing rhythms explicitly. If a piece contains eighth-note swing, practice it mechanically first (triplet-feel eighths), then gradually loosen into the groove rather than starting from a loose interpretation.
• Vary your touch between straight eighths in the melody and relaxed eighths elsewhere. This layering helps the listener hear which line carries the tune and which supports it.

Pair these solos with classical or contemporary pieces in a recital to showcase your student's stylistic range and versatility. Book 2 also works beautifully in a themed studio recital focused on American music, where you might combine it with folk song arrangements or other jazz repertoire at varying levels.

• Understanding swing feel and jazz rhythm notation (triplet-feel eighths, syncopation)
• Blues progression reading and harmonic awareness
• Jazz improvisation foundations through pre-composed syncopated melodies
• Articulation and touch differentiation between jazz and classical idioms
• Listening actively to recordings as a practice tool
• Musical expression and phrasing within non-classical contexts