The Jazzin' About Piano Anthology: Piano Book & Online Audio

Wedgwood has curated her strongest material into one resource, eliminating the need to hunt across multiple books. The progression from early elementary through grade 5 is genuinely thoughtful; each piece builds on the last without feeling repetitive. Six newly composed pieces keep the collection current while the duet options make this work equally well for solo practice, studio recitals, or ensemble settings.

Playful but purposeful. These pieces capture the lightness of jazz without the technical intimidation; there's room to breathe, improvise, and find your own voice. The grooves swing gently, the melodies are memorable, and the harmonic language feels modern and alive.

Students working through grades 1-5 who are ready to move beyond classical training and explore contemporary idioms with structure and purpose. Teachers seeking a cohesive path through jazz fundamentals without fragmenting their studio across multiple sources.

• Listen to the composer's recordings first, not to copy them exactly, but to hear where the swing lives. Jazz phrasing rarely sits metrically square.
• Practice the left-hand grooves as their own rhythmic entity before joining them with the melody. These bass patterns carry the pocket.
• Treat dynamic markings as conversation starters. The notation shows one interpretation; your touch and pedaling will reveal others.
• In duets, the accompanist sets the tempo and groove stability. Lock into that role whether you're playing roots or responding to the soloist.

Slot pieces throughout the year as seasonal palate cleansers between classical units, or dedicate a recital segment to showcasing how jazz literacy develops across the grades. The duets work beautifully on studio recitals or group performance nights, allowing students at different levels to share the stage together.

• Reading and executing swing rhythm and syncopation
• Understanding jazz chord symbols and voicings
• Playing comping patterns and left-hand grooves
• Recognizing blues, swing, and rock idioms by ear
• Collaborating in ensemble duets with rhythmic independence