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Playing the Piano With Three Chords: Piano Collection

$8.50 USD

Playing the Piano With Three Chords: Piano Collection

Name: Playing the Piano With Three Chords: Piano Collection
Brand: Alfred Music
SKU: 98-FJH2369
Price: 8.50 USD
Availability: InStock

The Blues

arr. Robert Schultz

Level: Intermediate

Item: 98-FJH2369

$8.50

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The Playing Piano with Three Chords series introduces pianists to the fundamentals of chord playing, offering a gradual path toward hands-together coordination. Designed for early to late intermediate pianists, this collection of piano solos provides a diverse selection of standards and original blues-inspired pieces. Featuring everything from the soulful "Bassline Blues" and "Beacon Street Blues" to lively, upbeat selections like "Hot Shot" and "Spring Swing," these pieces are harmonized with no more than three chords, making them accessible while laying the foundation for more complex playing.
This volume includes well-loved classics like "The House of the Rising Sun" and "The Saint James Infirmary," along with unique compositions such as "Monty's Groove" and "Nowhere to Go." Each piece is crafted to help students develop coordination, rhythm, and an understanding of chord progressions, all in easy key signatures. Whether playing the reflective "Little Blue Waltz" or the rhythmic "Offbeat Blues," pianists will find a perfect balance of challenge and enjoyment in this versatile collection. It's an ideal resource for students wanting to explore the world of blues, jazz, and standards while honing their technical and interpretative skills.

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Series: The Robert Schultz Library: Playing the Piano with Three Chords

Publisher: The FJH Music Company, Inc.

Page Count: 32

ISBN10: 1-61-928352-2

ISBN13: 978-1-61928-352-7

UPC: 241444440940

SKU: 98-FJH2369

More about this title

About the Arranger: Robert Schultz

Robert Schultz has built a career designing piano curricula that meet students where they are, creating pieces that demystify chord progressions and harmonic thinking. His Three Chords series reflects decades of classroom experience: the recognition that limitation breeds creativity, and that students learn fastest when they can play real music from day one.

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Why we love this

Schultz avoids the trap of over-simplification by pairing genuine standards and blues classics with original compositions that sound mature despite their harmonic restraint. Students get to play pieces they actually want to hear, which means they practice longer and develop genuine musicality alongside technical skill.

What to expect

Playful and soulful in equal measure. The blues pieces have that late-night lounge warmth, while the originals like 'Monty's Groove' and 'Offbeat Blues' invite experimentation with rhythm and feel. You'll find yourself enjoying these pieces as much as your students will.

Who it's for

Intermediate pianists ready to move beyond single-note melodies but not yet comfortable navigating complex voicings. This collection serves students in private lessons and group settings who want to explore blues and jazz idioms with firm harmonic scaffolding.

How to get the most out of it

Build the left hand foundation first. These pieces demand independence between hands, so isolate the bass line and chord shapes before combining them with the melody.
Listen to recorded versions of the standards before you begin. Hearing 'The House of the Rising Sun' or 'Saint James Infirmary' in context helps you understand the style and phrasing beyond what's on the page.
Treat the three-chord limitation as a compositional feature, not a restriction. Notice how Schultz varies rhythm, texture, and articulation to create contrast within a simple harmonic framework.
Don't rush the tempo in pieces like 'Hot Shot' and 'Spring Swing.' Let the syncopation breathe; clarity matters more than speed at this level.

How to use it

Assign individual solos for practice recitals or informal performances where students can shine without the pressure of elaborate technique. These pieces also work beautifully as supplemental material alongside a traditional method book, giving students real-world application of the chords they're learning in theory.