Sitting In: Jazz Piano: Backing Tracks and Improv Lessons: Piano
Backing Tracks and Improv Lessons
By Noah Baerman and Jen Allen
Item: 00-PB-0002450
$19.99
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Description
Sit in with the band and bring your playing to life
Soloing is an important part of your playing, but practicing on your own doesn't always get the creative juices flowing---there is nothing like the experience of sitting in with a full band. Though playing with a group isn't possible every time you want to jam, Sitting In: Jazz Piano brings the band to you anytime so you can practice comping patterns and soloing with the same energy as playing live. The book offers tips and techniques from veteran jazz educators Noah Baerman and Jen Allen to give life to your practice sessions and inspire you to add new sounds to your jazz vocabulary.
Features:
* High-quality studio play-along recordings performed by a live band
* Progressions in the most important jazz styles including standards, modern jazz, bebop, Latin jazz, ballads, and more
* Recordings include sample solos, and the progressions are repeated so you can jam freely
* Soloing tips feature scales, modes, comping patterns, and other ideas to develop your jazz vocabulary
* Each tune includes an overview and listening suggestions
About the Authors
Noah Baerman earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in jazz studies from Rutgers University, studying under Kenny Barron. To date, Noah has released nine jazz albums under his own name. Noah is active as an educator, directing the Jazz Ensemble at Wesleyan University and teaching at numerous other institutions. He has written nine other instructional books for Alfred Music, including the three-volume Complete Jazz Keyboard Method and The Big Book of Jazz Piano Improvisation.
Jen Allen received her bachelor's degree in 2000 from The Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School, where she studied under McLean and other jazz luminaries, including Steve Davis, Nat Reeves, Andy Laverne, and Harold Danko. She regularly appears as a bandleader and sideman at major jazz venues throughout New York City and the Northeastern United States. Jen is a visiting lecturer at Trinity College and is also on the faculty of the University of Hartford.
Soloing is an important part of your playing, but practicing on your own doesn't always get the creative juices flowing---there is nothing like the experience of sitting in with a full band. Though playing with a group isn't possible every time you want to jam, Sitting In: Jazz Piano brings the band to you anytime so you can practice comping patterns and soloing with the same energy as playing live. The book offers tips and techniques from veteran jazz educators Noah Baerman and Jen Allen to give life to your practice sessions and inspire you to add new sounds to your jazz vocabulary.
Features:
* High-quality studio play-along recordings performed by a live band
* Progressions in the most important jazz styles including standards, modern jazz, bebop, Latin jazz, ballads, and more
* Recordings include sample solos, and the progressions are repeated so you can jam freely
* Soloing tips feature scales, modes, comping patterns, and other ideas to develop your jazz vocabulary
* Each tune includes an overview and listening suggestions
About the Authors
Noah Baerman earned his bachelor's and master's degrees in jazz studies from Rutgers University, studying under Kenny Barron. To date, Noah has released nine jazz albums under his own name. Noah is active as an educator, directing the Jazz Ensemble at Wesleyan University and teaching at numerous other institutions. He has written nine other instructional books for Alfred Music, including the three-volume Complete Jazz Keyboard Method and The Big Book of Jazz Piano Improvisation.
Jen Allen received her bachelor's degree in 2000 from The Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz at the Hartt School, where she studied under McLean and other jazz luminaries, including Steve Davis, Nat Reeves, Andy Laverne, and Harold Danko. She regularly appears as a bandleader and sideman at major jazz venues throughout New York City and the Northeastern United States. Jen is a visiting lecturer at Trinity College and is also on the faculty of the University of Hartford.
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Sample Audio
1
Track 03 (without piano)
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2
Track 10 (with piano)
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3
Track 15 (without piano)
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Track 03 (without piano)
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Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series:
Sitting In Series
Publisher:
Alfred Music
Page Count:
80
SKU:
00-PB-0002450
More about this title
About the Composer: Noah Baerman
Noah Baerman holds degrees in jazz studies from Rutgers University, where he studied under the legendary Kenny Barron. As both a recording artist with nine albums to his name and an active educator, Baerman directs the Jazz Ensemble at Wesleyan University while teaching at institutions across the country, bringing real bandstand experience into every lesson he creates.
His approach to jazz pedagogy centers on the practical realities of ensemble playing. Rather than treating improvisation as an isolated skill, Baerman designs instruction around what actually happens when musicians sit down together, making his educational materials invaluable for students preparing to play in real jazz contexts.
Why we love this
Students often hit a wall practicing changes alone, and this resource removes that isolation without requiring a rhythm section to show up. The pairing of studio recordings with thoughtful pedagogy means players develop their improvisation vocabulary while learning exactly how to apply it in context, which is where most self-study jazz materials fall short.
What to expect
Playing with a live band even when you're practicing alone. The recordings have the pocket, responsiveness, and musical conversation of actual ensemble playing, creating pressure and inspiration that practice books simply cannot provide.
Who it's for
Pianists with solid harmonic knowledge who are ready to move beyond static chord charts and develop real improvisational fluency. This is equally valuable for conservatory students broadening their jazz skills and working musicians preparing for jam sessions and gigs.
How to get the most out of it
- Listen to the sample solo first, then play through the progression without soloing to build comfort with the harmonic movement before attempting your own lines.
- Start by comping through the entire tune, focusing on comp patterns that complement the recorded bass and drums rather than jumping straight into solo mode.
- Isolate a single scale or mode from the lesson material and restrict your soloing to that sound for one complete chorus, building mastery rather than frantically covering the changes.
- Record yourself over the tracks so you can listen back and hear exactly where your phrasing aligns or conflicts with the rhythm section's pocket.
How to use it
Assign specific tunes as weekly homework aligned with your jazz curriculum, building a student's vocabulary in progressively more challenging styles from standards through modern jazz. The flexibility of the recording format also makes this ideal for independent study projects, allowing advanced students to work at their own pace while developing their ears for different jazz contexts.
Skills your students will build
- Comping patterns across standards, bebop, Latin jazz, and ballads
- Soloing over jazz changes with appropriate scales and modes
- Listening and responding to rhythm section in real time
- Building and executing solo choruses within harmonic structures
- Developing a personal jazz vocabulary across multiple styles