Premier Piano Course, Jazz, Rags & Blues 2B: Piano Book

Mier's pairing of age-appropriate jazz and blues vocabulary with reliable duet accompaniments removes the isolation from solo practice and gives students genuine ensemble experience at this level. The stylistic variety (ragtime, boogie, authentic jazz voicings) teaches harmonic color and rhythmic sophistication that transfers immediately to improvisation and sight-reading. The Federation Festivals selections signal that these pieces hold up under adjudication, making them credible choices for both practice and performance.

These pieces swing and groove. They introduce the blue notes, syncopated rhythms, and left-hand patterns that anchor jazz piano, all wrapped in melodies that sit comfortably under early intermediate hands. Playing them feels like stepping into a small jazz club rather than a practice room; each arrangement has harmonic weight and rhythmic character that makes even simple pieces feel sophisticated.

This book is designed for pianists at the early intermediate level (Level 2B) who are working through the Premier Piano Course Lesson Book 2B and are ready to explore jazz, blues, and ragtime in a structured way. It appeals to students drawn to contemporary styles and teachers seeking material that reinforces technical concepts while building cultural literacy and ear training.

• Establish the swing feel with your student before adding the accompaniment; lock the rhythmic pocket on pieces like 'Walkin' Jazz' by counting aloud together or tapping the backbeat during the first run-through.
• Listen to blues and jazz recordings of each style represented in the book so your student hears authentic phrasing, articulation, and dynamics before practicing the written notes.
• Use the duet accompaniment from the start rather than introducing it later; the harmonic foundation it provides makes rhythmic accuracy easier to hear and sustain.
• Pay attention to any indicated swing eighths or jazz articulations; these stylistic details are what make the pieces feel alive rather than mechanical.

Program individual selections from this book in student recitals to showcase stylistic range and appeal to audiences; 'Walkin' Jazz' is particularly strong as a festival or community performance piece. Integrate the pieces chronologically with the corresponding Lesson Book 2B pages to ensure technical readiness and reinforce harmonic concepts as they emerge in the primary curriculum.

• Swing eighth-note feel and jazz articulation
• Blues scales and blue note intonation
• Syncopated rhythms and tied notes across beat boundaries
• Left-hand stride and boogie patterns
• Reading chord symbols and harmonic awareness
• Playing from a duet score and ensemble listening