Portraits 1: Keyboard/Piano Book

Student-level jazz, blues, and rock piano books are rare, and most that exist sound either dumbed-down or jarringly arranged. Baerman's Portraits series respects the idioms while keeping the technical demands realistic. Pairing each piece with artist context, listening guidance, and targeted prep work turns these from isolated exercises into genuine musical exploration.

You're walking through a studio where different artists work. Each room sounds distinct: the smoky warmth of blues, the sharp precision of rock, the sophisticated ease of jazz. The pieces are accessible enough that you can begin capturing these sounds within days, yet rich enough to reward close listening and repeated playing.

This book reaches students who arrived at piano through pop culture rather than classical tradition, or who need a break from Baroque and Classical-heavy curricula. It also serves adult beginners seeking music that connects to their own listening habits.

• Listen to the featured artist before touching the score. The preparatory exercises make far more sense once you've internalized the sound you're aiming for.
• Use the recorded accompaniments to lock in groove and phrasing, especially in blues and rock pieces where feel matters as much as accuracy.
• Check the listening suggestions in the artist bios; they're there to build your interpretive instincts, not just to entertain.

Slot this into student recitals or studio showcases as the set piece that proves piano isn't confined to concert repertoire. It pairs well with music theory study of jazz harmony and blues form, or with world music units that explore global popular styles.

• Reading lead sheets and jazz notation conventions
• Blues and jazz chord progressions and improvisation foundations
• Swing eighths, syncopation, and groove-based phrasing
• Stylistic interpretation across jazz, blues, and rock idioms
• Listening for and replicating artist-specific sound and articulation