Learn Jazz Piano: Improvising on Jazz Standards
Improve your jazz improvisation with this course on jazz piano, where you’ll learn to play along to bass and drum soundtracks.
Start improvising jazz piano
Good improvisation draws on a range of tools and techniques to respond to existing beats and music whilst adding your own unique interpretations.
Understand and apply the basics of jazz improvisation
This course will teach you the art of improvisation in modern jazz, and give you the skills to improvise over a minor blues sequence and through rhythm changes.
You’ll respond to different pieces of music, and build your confidence and fluency when improvising.
Explore blues and jazz theory
You’ll delve into both the practical and theoretical side of music as you study tracks by John Coltrane.
You’ll also discover modal jazz and its importance, with a specific focus on the songs ‘The Clock of Keys’ and its application in ‘All the Things You Are’.
Discover jazz standards
The final sections of the course will introduce you to, two jazz standards and develop your understanding of the inner workings of improvisation to a higher level.
By the end of the course, you’ll have a good understanding of how to improvise on jazz standards, through a mix of theory and practice. You’ll get to grips with improvising over rhythm changes and playing left hand voicings in three different ways.
What topics will you cover?
- Rhythm changes and the jazz standard “I Got Rhythm”
- Minor blues sequences and the examples “Equinox” and “Mr PC”
- Modal Jazz and the important example “So What”
- The nature of improvisation in modern jazz
- The Clock of Keys and its application to “All The Things You Are”
- Playing left hand voicings and its application to “Autumn Leaves”
Who is the course for?
This course requires a basic ability to read music, play the piano, and familiarity with scales. It may be of particular interest to university and college piano students studying music or jazz piano.
You’ll need access to a piano or keyboard, and have a computer, tablet or smartphone set up next to it.
What software or tools do you need?
You’ll need to have access to a piano or keyboard, and have a computer, tablet or smart phone set up next to it.
