Jazzin' About Styles for Piano/Keyboard (Revised): Piano Book & CD

Wedgwood writes idiomatically for the keyboard across wildly different genres without resorting to pastiche. Each piece in this collection stands on its own musical merit, and students encounter real stylistic variety rather than simplified approximations of jazz, rock, and pop.

These pieces capture the swagger and humor of their respective styles. You'll feel the syncopation of disco grooves, the punch of big-band rhythms, and the irreverent energy of pieces with titles like "There Ain't No Beer in Cow-Horn Creek." The collection refuses to take itself too seriously while maintaining musical integrity.

Intermediate pianists ready to explore styles beyond classical repertoire will find genuine engagement here. This collection works equally well for private studio students seeking motivation and for young musicians in jazz-focused programs looking for accessible performance material.

• Reference the recorded performances first to hear the groove and articulation choices in each style, then use the slowed-down backing tracks to lock in rhythmically without rushing.
• Pay attention to dynamic variation within each piece; these styles live and breathe through contrast between busier passages and locked-in grooves.
• Experiment with voicing and texture based on the style you're playing. A big-band piece demands different touch and pedaling than a disco number.

Program selections from this collection alongside or between classical works to showcase your students' range and keep audiences engaged. The variety of styles and accessible difficulty level makes it ideal for spring recitals, casual concert programs, or showcases celebrating contemporary approaches to piano repertoire.

• Reading and performing jazz articulation and swing rhythms
• Voicing chords idiomatically across different contemporary styles
• Coordinating rhythmic independence between hands in groove-based accompaniments
• Interpreting stylistic nuance and dynamics within unfamiliar genres
• Building confidence with improvisation cues and blues-based harmonic structures