Improvisation

The Long Way Home is an easy pop ballad in lead sheet format with structured improvisation. This serves as a great introduction to chart-playing for late beginners of all ages. Music and materials by Jennifer Eklund.

Swing ’n’ Sway in lead sheet format with structured improvisation. This serves as a great introduction to chart-playing for late beginners of all ages. Music and materials by Jennifer Eklund.

Let’s Rock is an upbeat rock tune in lead sheet format with structured improvisation. This serves as a great introduction to chart-playing for late beginners of all ages. Music and materials by Jennifer Eklund.

Someday is an easy pop ballad in lead sheet format that also includes structured improvisation. This serves as a great introduction to chart-playing for late beginners of all ages. Music and materials by Jennifer Eklund.

The Return is an easy pop ballad in lead sheet format that also includes structured improvisation. This serves as a great introduction to chart-playing for late beginners of all ages. Music and materials by Jennifer Eklund.

On My Way is an easy pop ballad in lead sheet format that also includes structured improvisation. This serves as a great introduction to chart-playing for late beginners of all ages. Music and materials by Jennifer Eklund.

Out of the Blue is an easy minor-key lyrical ballad in lead sheet format that also includes structured improvisation. This serves as a great introduction to chart-playing for late beginners of all ages. Music and materials by Jennifer Eklund.

Jazzy showcase solo version of When the Saints Go Marching In arranged for late beginners by Jennifer Eklund. This upbeat jazz solo includes MIDI and Mp3 backing tracks for full-time fun for all ages!

Blue Berries is an upbeat 12-bar blues solo composed by Ron Levy. Features walking bass lines, written-out solo section, and an optional improv section. Make sure to check out the teaching demo video included with this listing highlighting key performance elements. This piece is part of the Jazz Salad songbook.

A Spell for Focus, composed by Stacy Fahrion, is in 7/4, and is inspired by Raag Jog from Indian classical music. Pianists can count “1 2 3 4 1 2 3” throughout to help them stay focused. In bars 5-8 and 13-16, pianists are encouraged to improvise using the suggested rhythm and the notes C, E, F, G, and B-flat.

A Spell to Find Balance, composed by Stacy Fahrion, is an intermediate piece in A minor designed to ease pianists into improvising. The left-hand part is a two-bar ostinato, and keeping with the theme of balance, all of the right-hand rhythms are palindromic, the same forwards as they are backwards over two bars. The structure of the piece is also mirror-like.

A meditative ambient solo and improvisation exercise for early intermediates by Stacy Fahrion that will set a relaxed and creative tone before, during, or after lessons.

Innuendo is a Latin-flavored jazz piece in a minor key composed by Gary Johnston. The chord symbols are included for those who wish to improvise.

Picking Daisies, composed by Travis Lohmann, is a light-hearted and jovial jazz-influenced waltz appropriate for mid-intermediate to advanced pianists, and focuses on such concepts as: cantabile legato lines, syncopated rhythms, dynamic expressivity, left and right hand leaps, triplet passage work and rolled chords. Best suited as a showcase solo, the highlight of this piece is the written-out solo over the chord changes, sure to dazzle the audience. With dexterous phrases, catchy melodic segments, and infectious rhythms, this piece is certain to brighten your day and those nearby!

Easy latin duet for beginners and a teacher or intermediate player with a solo improv section included. Music composed by Jennifer Eklund. This piece is part of the Pronto Pizazz songbook.

Sideways Blues is a strange blues by Stacy Fahrion based on an eight-note scale containing these notes: E-F-G-A#-B-C-C#-D-E. Since it’s based only on that scale, most of the chords are not typical blues chords, although it follows a typical 12-bar structure. Students have the option to repeat measures 13-24 and improvise with the right hand over the chords that are already there.

Minor Blues for Two by Stacy Fahrion gives the first pianist an opportunity to improvise over a 12-bar blues progression. If played on a grand piano, the pianist can also mute strings inside the piano for an interesting change of tone color.