The Keyboard Style Resource: Keyboard/Piano Book & CD

Opening this book feels like being given permission to explore. You're not locked into one sound or approach; instead, you're building a personal toolkit that spans decades of keyboard innovation. The CD reinforces that these styles are alive and playable now, not historical artifacts.

Keyboard players who've mastered basic technique and want to expand their stylistic range across rock, funk, jazz, reggae, and classical contexts. This works well for intermediate players in private lessons, group keyboard classes, or self-directed learners preparing for more specialized study in a particular genre.

• Listen to the CD demonstrations multiple times before attempting each style. Absorb the rhythmic feel and articulation choices first; the mechanics follow naturally from understanding the sound.
• When learning accompaniment patterns, isolate the left hand first. Once that anchor is solid, layer the right-hand soloing concepts separately.
• Record yourself playing the rhythm patterns without soloing, then play along with those recordings as a way to develop independence and confidence.
• Study the pioneering players mentioned for each style. Watch videos or listen to their recordings to understand how history shapes the techniques you're learning.

Assign chapters aligned with concert programming or ensemble needs. If you're preparing a rock-focused concert, assign the rock chapter several weeks ahead. Use the soloing techniques to help students transcend reading-only skills and develop improvisation confidence in rehearsal settings.

• Identifying and executing style-specific rhythmic feels (funk grooves, reggae skank, jazz swing)
• Constructing accompaniment patterns using scales, chords, and arpeggios across multiple genres
• Soloing over chord changes using style-appropriate vocabulary and phrasing
• Recognizing the influence of pioneering keyboard players and translating their techniques into personal practice
• Reading and applying music theory concepts in applied, real-world contexts rather than abstract ones