Sneakin' 'Round - Piano Solo: Piano Solo

Alexander writes jazz that doesn't condescend. This collection respects early intermediate players while delivering grooves, harmonic colors, and rhythmic textures that sound genuinely musical, not simplified. Each piece in this series carries his signature balance between immediate playability and the kind of detail that rewards careful listening and repeat performances.

Stepping into a room where the music shifts around you. One moment you're in a cool, understated blues; the next, a Latin rhythm takes over. The melodies are memorable enough to hum, but the harmonies underneath keep surprising you. Playing these pieces feels like being let in on something real.

Early intermediate students ready to move beyond classical repertoire and discover jazz on their own terms. Teachers looking for a curated collection where every piece delivers on the promise of fun without sacrificing musicality or variety.

• Study the harmonic movement separate from the melody. Alexander layers sophisticated chord changes underneath accessible melodic lines, so understanding the harmony gives you the architecture the piece is built on.
• Let the rhythmic figures breathe. These aren't meant to be rushed; the infectious quality comes from clarity and pocket, not tempo.
• Listen to jazz piano recordings of the pieces you're learning. Alexander writes in recognizable styles; hearing how professionals interpret similar grooves deepens your instinct for phrasing and dynamics.
• Experiment with swing on the eighth notes where the style suggests it. Alexander's notation provides the framework, but your feel makes it live.

Scatter these throughout the year as bridges between classical studies and improvisation. A piece like this works beautifully on a mixed recital, signaling to audiences that jazz is a legitimate language, not a detour. You might also use the collection as a source for student showcase programs where variety and style range matter as much as technical display.

• Reading and interpreting jazz articulations and phrasing marks
• Swing eighth notes and jazz rhythmic feel
• Chord symbol reading and jazz harmony recognition
• Left-hand comping patterns and stride figures
• Stylistic variety within a single genre
• Rubato and flexible pulse in jazz contexts