The Complete Jazz Keyboard Method: Beginning Jazz Keyboard: Keyboard/Piano CD

Baerman strips away the mystique that typically surrounds jazz instruction, replacing it with transparent pedagogy that respects both jazz tradition and student learning. Every concept lands alongside an actual tune or etude that demonstrates it in context, so students aren't decoding theory in a vacuum. The included recorded accompaniments mean your students can start improvising and playing real jazz from early on, not just reading about it.

Accessible without being condescending. Each section builds logically, and the tunes feel like real jazz standards simplified to meet you where you are, not dumbed-down exercises masquerading as jazz. You'll recognize the harmonic and melodic language of jazz from the first pages, and the recorded accompaniments pull you into an ensemble sound from day one.

Pianists and keyboardists who have completed early-intermediate classical or popular music training (around Alfred's Basic Piano, Lesson Book 2 level) and want a structured pathway into jazz without the confusion of traditional jazz texts. Self-teaching adults and motivated young students benefit equally from the clear progression and playable repertoire.

• Work through the CD demonstrations before each new section. Hearing the sound of each concept makes the written material land faster than reading alone.
• Use the provided etudes and tunes as performance vehicles, not just exercises. Students who see themselves as musicians playing songs (not studying) will engage more deeply with the underlying harmony.
• Play the recorded accompaniments at a comfortable tempo first. Speed comes naturally once the chord changes and melodic ideas are secure.
• Reference the major scale and triad foundations frequently as you move into 7th chords and pentatonics. Jazz relies on understanding how each new concept extends what came before.

Use this as the foundation for a jazz piano elective or as a supplement for students in your main music program who want to explore improvisation and jazz harmony without leaving the group context. The method's early chapters pair well with general musicianship curricula, while later sections on 7th chords and pentatonics align naturally with jazz ensemble preparation.

• Major scale construction and application to jazz contexts
• Basic triad theory and recognition (major, minor, diminished, augmented)
• 7th chord construction (major 7, minor 7, dominant 7) and voice leading
• Pentatonic scale application to improvisation
• Chord progression recognition and modulation
• Jazz melody and comping alongside recorded accompaniments
• Jazz phrasing and rhythmic interpretation