Spotlight on Jazz Style: Piano Book

Rollin writes jazz that sounds authentic without demanding the harmonic or rhythmic complexity that can derail early intermediate players. Each of the seven pieces sits comfortably in the early-to-intermediate zone, giving students genuine access to swing, blues, and contemporary jazz idioms they actually want to play. The variety across the collection means you can choose what fits your student's interests and energy on any given week.

Walking into a small jazz club on a Saturday night. The music swings with genuine groove, bounces with blues vocabulary, and carries the relaxed sophistication of players who know the language. There's energy and accessibility here, not studied complexity.

Early intermediate to intermediate pianists ready to venture into jazz styles beyond classical foundations. These pieces work equally well for students seeking variety within their solo repertoire and for those exploring jazz as a gateway to improvisation and contemporary playing.

• Listen to recordings of the jazz styles represented in each piece before diving into the sheet music. Hearing how the idiom breathes helps students internalize swing feel and phrasing naturally.
• Work the comping figures (especially left-hand voicings) separately from the melodic line so students can build independence between hands without feeling rushed.
• Pay attention to syncopation landing points rather than counting rigidly. Tap the rhythm on the keyboard lid first to let the syncopated feel settle in the body.
• Experiment with touch and articulation at a slower tempo to discover where the music wants to breathe versus where it should drive forward.

Perfect for spring recitals where you want to showcase student versatility and let them perform music that feels current and cool. Mix individual pieces throughout the year as rewards for students who finish classical pieces early, or program several of them back-to-back in a dedicated jazz segment within a formal concert.

• Jazz swing feel and syncopation
• Left-hand comping patterns and jazz voicings
• Blues form and harmonic language
• Reading slash chords and jazz notation
• Phrasing and articulation in jazz contexts
• Independence between hands in syncopated rhythms