For Jazz Pianists and Piano Teachers

This plan of study is designed for serious jazz piano students and for piano teachers.

It provides instruction and support for pianists who are preparing to perform in middle school to college jazz combos and big bands, specialty schools such as Midwest Young Artists, community jazz bands, and college jazz studies programs.

It also helps more traditional piano teachers develop jazz piano skills and pedagogy, allowing them to support their students in jazz bands, to enrich their teaching with jazz chords and voicings, to learn applied jazz theory, and to develop their improvisational skills.

Topics of study include the following:

• Learning all chord types
• Mastering rootless and 2-handed voicings
• Interpreting big band jazz charts
• Memorizing and improvising over jazz standards
• Exploring all jazz styles: blues, swing, Latin, modal
• Studying jazz theory
• Transcribing and playing the solos of the masters
• Performing with proper jazz feel and time
• Developing solo jazz skills

Prerequisite: 5 years of piano study; ability to read music

For Instrumentalists

This plan is designed for horn players, vocalists, percussionists, guitarists, bassists–any non-pianists who want to study jazz piano to grow in their understanding of jazz theory and improvisation as well as to develop skills as a jazz pianist.

Topics of study mimic the jazz pianist plan. The plan starts with the knowledge the instrumentalist has already developed and then builds  the keyboard skills that all musicians need for college study, for composing and arranging, and for deeper understanding of how jazz works.

Prerequisite: 3 years of study on their instrument; ability to read music