Jazzin' About Standards: Favorite Jazz Standards for Piano/Keyboard (Revised): Piano Book & CD

Wedgwood's arrangements capture the swing and sophistication of jazz standards without resorting to simplified chord charts or watered-down melodies. The inclusion of original pieces alongside the standards creates a cohesive learning journey, and the accompanying CD gives students both a performance model and a real rhythm section to play with.

Warm, swinging, and genuinely fun. The standards carry their original charm while the original pieces feel like natural companions to them, all written in a language intermediate players can own immediately rather than struggle through.

Intermediate pianists and keyboard players who want to explore jazz standards with smart, playable arrangements. This collection also serves ensemble directors building a jazz curriculum, since the pieces work well for solo recitals or as teaching demonstrations in band or choir classes.

• Treat the eighth-note swing as a priority before worrying about perfect tempo. Listen to the CD multiple times to internalize the feel, then play along without the recording to build independence.
• Pay attention to Wedgwood's dynamic markings and articulation. She's written these details to clarify the jazz phrasing, not to overload the score.
• Use the rhythm section accompaniment as your foundation for ensemble feel, even if you're practicing alone. This teaches you to sit comfortably in a groove rather than rushing or dragging.

Feature individual pieces during jazz-focused concerts or use them to introduce students to the great American songbook. The CD and varied repertoire make this ideal for a semester-long jazz unit where students rotate between standards and Wedgwood's originals, building both repertoire and confidence.

• Reading and performing jazz articulation and phrasing
• Playing swing eighth notes with consistent feel
• Understanding chord progressions and harmonic movement in jazz standards
• Syncing with a rhythm section accompaniment
• Interpreting dynamic and expressive markings specific to the jazz idiom