Tons of Runs: Keyboard/Piano Book

LaVerne's philosophy here is refreshingly direct: give pianists the phrases themselves, transposed into three keys, without lengthy explanation. You're not waiting for students to derive these lines from chord theory; they can start using them immediately in their own playing and improvisation.

Practical, direct, and immediately usable. These are the musical phrases you hear in great jazz performances, now isolated and organized so you can claim them as your own. There's no pretense here; just material that works.

Pianists and keyboard players working at the intermediate to advanced level who want to build their improvisational vocabulary without getting bogged down in theory. This is especially useful for musicians in small ensembles, combo settings, or those developing soloistic independence.

• Start by learning each run in one key thoroughly before transposing. Muscle memory and harmonic familiarity matter more than rote speed.
• Sing the lines first. Your voice will reveal the shape and logic of each phrase in ways that fingers alone won't.
• Embed these fragments into tunes you already know. Try substituting a run for a passage you normally play straight; this builds ownership and spontaneity.
• Record yourself playing the same phrase in all three keys back-to-back. You'll spot inconsistencies in tempo, articulation, or feel that reading alone misses.

Use this as an ongoing reference during your jazz ensemble or combo rehearsals. Have soloists study a new section each month and bring their interpretations to the group; it becomes a shared vocabulary that deepens ensemble conversation.

• Transposition across multiple keys
• Recognition of chord-tone and passing-tone functions within phrases
• Incorporation of scale-based vocabulary into melodic improvisation
• Building muscle memory for jazz phraseology through repetition
• Developing independence and spontaneity in solo playing