16 Best 「jaz piano」 Books of 2024| Books Explorer

In this article, we will rank the recommended books for jaz piano. The list is compiled and ranked by our own score based on reviews and reputation on the Internet.
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Table of Contents
  1. Playing Solo Jazz Piano: A New Approach for Creative Pianists
  2. Jazz Exercises, Minuets, Etudes & Pieces For Piano
  3. The Jazz Piano Book
  4. Intro to Jazz Piano (Hal Leonard Keyboard Style)
  5. How to Play Boogie Woogie Piano
  6. Jerry Coker's Jazz Keyboard for Pianists and Non-Pianists
  7. Berklee Jazz Piano: Piano: Jazz
  8. The Jazz Theory Book
  9. Dick Hyman's Century of Jazz Piano Transcribed!
  10. Essential Techniques of Jazz and Contemporary Piano
Other 6 books
No.1
100

Playing Solo Jazz Piano is an essential new book for creative jazz pianists.Readers will learn essential solo jazz piano concepts like stride piano, one-handed shell voicings, comping, using basslines, shared-hand voicings, leaving out the bass, and playing ballads. Plus, the book explores modern approaches to solo jazz piano including perpetual motion, counterpoint, and borrowing from classical music. With over 200 musical examples, references to over 100 jazz pianists, and numerous hands-on exercises, Playing Solo Jazz Piano is the perfect how-to for passionate, innovative pianists.[NOTE: 2nd Edition is now available! It includes two new chapters and links for videos for all musical examples. Search "Playing Solo Jazz Piano, 2nd Edition"]" Jeremy has done a remarkable job of organizing the whole history of jazz piano in the book you now hold. It is concise and yet open-ended simultaneously. All of the important concepts and historical styles are here, and presented in a way that is thorough and that will also stimulate you to investigate, listen, experiment and have fun with the world of solo jazz piano."- Fred Hersch, jazz pianist, fifteen-time Grammy nominee"Jeremy Siskind’s book takes solo pianistson a journey from basic concepts to a real musical conversation: between both hands, across jazz tradition, with textures and rhythms, counterpoint and new harmonies. There’s a wealth of musical ideas here: how to efficiently practice, creatively delveinto a song, and musically tell a story."- Tamir Hendelman, pianist (Jeff Hamilton Trio, UCLA lecturer, recording artist)“ I’ve been waiting for this book! Jeremy Siskind presents a cogent and stimulating series of techniques and approaches to creative solo piano playing, rooted in the tradition while inviting both students and professionals to find their own voice and musical personality. The material is historically informed, well-organized, and specific, yet quite open-ended and fun to read and practice. Early and often, the book provides excellent guidance on how to develop the oft-neglected left hand. Finally, the lists of recommended recorded examples from the music’s solo piano masters are an invaluable asset.”- Jason Yeager, Assistant Professor of Piano, Berklee College of Music“ Playing Solo Jazz Piano is an extraordinarily comprehensive text on a complex subject. Jeremy expertly covers a breadth of techniques and styles while introducing fresh concepts drawn from his own unique artistic experience. This book is an invaluable resource for the beginner and advanced student alike."- David Meder, Assistant Professor of Piano, University of North TexasAuthor Jeremy Siskind is the student of Fred Hersch and the teacher of widely-hailed prodigy Justin-Lee Schultz. A top finisher in several national and international jazz piano competitions, Siskind is a two-time laureate of the American Pianists Association and the winner of the Nottingham International Jazz Piano Competition. Besides a performance career in which he has been praised as “a genuine visionary” (Indianapolis Star) who “seems to defy all boundaries” (JazzInk), Siskind is an active teacher, including as a faculty member at Western Michigan University and Fullerton College. The author of over fifteen pedagogical books, Siskind chairs the Creative Track for the National Conference for Keyboard Pedagogy and serves as a regular clinician for Yamaha Music Education. He regularly travels too spread peace through music in places like Lebanon, Cyprus, Thailand, China, India, Colombia, and Tunisia with the organization Jazz Education Abroad.

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No.2
100
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No.3
86

The Jazz Piano Book

Levine, Mark
Sher Music Co

Endorsed by Kenny Barron, Jamey Aebersold, Richie Beirach, and more, this book presents all the information a student of jazz piano needs in an easy-to-understand, yet thorough, manner. For intermediate to advanced pianists, written by one of the acknowledged masters of jazz piano playing.

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No.4
79

This comprehensive book/CD is the perfect Intro to Jazz Piano. If you want to learn how to play the enduring standards that make up the Great American Songbook, then you've come to the right place! Whether comping, playing the melody, or soloing, you'll learn the theory, the tools and the techniques used by the pros. The accompanying CD demonstrates almost all of the music examples in the book. The full band tracks feature the rhythm section on the left channel and the piano on the right channel, so that you can play along with the band!

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No.5
71

How to Play Boogie Woogie Piano

Migliazza, Arthur
Hal Leonard Corp

(Keyboard Instruction). This comprehensive instructional book takes students through a step-by-step process of learning both the basics and the more advanced techniques of the style so that they can eventually become their own teachers. Based on Arthur Migliazza's uniquely systematic method of instruction, and over 19 years of experience teaching students of all skill levels, this book covers everything from left-hand bass patterns, right-hand licks and essential chords, to turnarounds, intros, endings, and even a chapter on how to play by ear.

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No.6
69

A new book from the man who has set the standard for jazz and improvisation learning materials. A compilation of 15 years of teaching jazz keyboard at several universities. The book also contains a Teacher's Supplement. Usable for classroom or individual study. If you are a pianist, or arrange, compose, accompany, play any instrument, read fake books, coach groups, teach, or earn a living in the music field, you need this 64-page book.

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No.7
69

(Berklee Guide). Play jazz piano with new facility and expression as Ray Santisi, one of the most revered educators at the Berklee College of Music and mentor to Keith Jarrett, Diana Krall, Joe Zawinul, and thousands of others reveals the pedagogy at the core of Berklee's jazz piano curriculum. From beginning through advanced levels, Berklee Jazz Piano maps the school's curriculum: a unique blend of theory and application that gives you a deep, practical understanding of how to play jazz. Concepts are illustrated by the accompanying practice audio, accessed online for streaming or download, where you'll hear how one of the great jazz pianists and educators of our time applies these concepts to both jazz standards and original compositions, and how you can do the same. You will learn: * Jazz chords and their characteristic tension substitutions, in many voicings and configurations * Modes and scales common in jazz * Techniques for comping, developing bass lines, harmonizing melodies, melodizing harmonies, and improvisation * Practice techniques for committing these concepts to your muscle memory * Variations for solo and ensemble playing * Advanced concepts, such as rhythmic displacement, approach-chord harmonization, and jazz counterpoint

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No.8
68

The Jazz Theory Book

Levine, Mark
Sher Music Co
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No.9
68

(Keyboard Instruction). This book presents a concise history, or "survey" of jazz piano. In 13 hands-on lessons and 4 bonus performances, Dick Hyman explores the styles, musical vocabulary, and performers who have defined and shaped this elusive American art form over the last century. Starting with the pre-ragtime music of Louis Moreau Gottschalk and ragtime of Scott Joplin, and ending with the advanced scale types of Nicholas Slonimsky and music of McCoy Tyner, Mr. Hyman discusses and demonstrates the astonishing variety of jazz piano improvisation and the people and techniques that have shaped its evolution. The included DVD, showing all 13 lessons and 4 bonus performances, is filled with closeups of Mr. Hyman's hands as he plays and discusses these techniques. This fascinating package also features a preface and autobiography of Hyman. "From the pre-ragtime genesis of Louis Moreau Gottschalk to the modal post-bop of the great McCoy Tyner, this may be the finest lesson book not only in depth of material but in ease of use ... when you combine the publishing genius of Hal Leonard with the artistic brilliance of Dick Hyman then a five star recommendation is easy!" Critical Jazz

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No.10
68

Looking for that definitive text that covers improvisation in all its diversity with clarity and ease? Are you ready to put in the time and effort required to be a complete musician? Are you unable to afford huge tuitions for your education, but want the careful guidance that a private teacher with the right text can give you? Your search has ended! This book covers "Essential" materials for a thorough study of improvisation and Jazz piano in two parts: Techniques and Styles. Part 1 includes studies of chord voicings, (how to arrange chord notes in your hands), harmonic and linear approaches to soloing, keyboard bass, rhythmic phrasing, and the "free areas" of introductions, endings, and turnarounds. Part 2 covers a chronological study of style from early Stride techniques, through Swing, Be-Bop, modal harmony, Latin "montuno" techniques and thoughts on soloing in general. Serious amateurs and young professionals alike will learn basic concepts, enabling a deeper pursuit of each subject, opening the door to a personal repertoire and individual style for a lifetime of enjoyment.

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No.11
67

Voicings for Jazz Keyboard

Mantooth, Frank
Hal Leonard Corp
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No.12
67

Essential Jazz Piano Exercises Every Piano Player Should Know is a book everyone can use to improve their understanding of jazz basics, blues scales, the ii-V-I chord progressions, modal jazz improv, other fun jazz chord progressions, and more. Essential Jazz Piano Exercises Every Piano Player Should Know was created as one of the resources for the members of the Essential Piano Exercises Course (https://www.essentialpianoexercises.com/). This book is dedicated to the many piano students, young and old, who have asked Jerald Simon over the years to release a book with all of the jazz piano exercises he feels are essential to help pianists learn how to improvise, arrange, and even compose in a jazz style. In this book, Jerald teaches the following: Key Signatures - page 6, Basic Music Intro/Review - page 12, Most Common Chords - page 22, Blues Pentascales - page 38, 12 Bar Blues - page 48, The Major Blues Scale - page 76, 2 - 5 - 1 (ii7 - V7 - I7) - page 88, Jazz Modes - page 98, Whole - Half - Half - page 105, Using the Chromatics Scale - page 110, Using Jazz Chords - page 116, The Boogie-Woogie - page 138, Using 7th Chords - page 170, Improv Lessons - page 198, Modal Jazz Improvisation - page 222, 9th Chords - page 237, Modulating from one Key to Another - page 244, Over 100 Measures of RH Riffs and Improv Patterns Created from the Minor Blues Scale - page 248, and Over 100 Measures of RH Riffs and Improv Patterns Created from the Major Blues Scale - page 252.The entire book follows a pattern of: 1. teaching the jazz music theory concept, 2. presenting exercises that focus on implementing and applying the jazz music theory concepts, and 3. demonstrating how the theory and and jazz exercises can be combined together to create actual jazz music by having the piano student play jazz music that was composed using the exact jazz theory concepts the student has just learned.

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No.13
67

(Educational Piano Library). A perfect primer for a middle-school or high-school age pianist interested in joining their local or school jazz ensemble, this book consists of step-by-step instruction, review exercises, and practice pieces, as well as accompanying audio featuring live jazz musicians. Through clear, unintimidating instruction and fun pieces composed by jazz pianist Jeremy Siskind, students learn how to read chord symbols, "comp," and form chord voicings. Online audio is accessed at halleonard.com/mylibrary

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No.14
66

AN APPROACH TO COMPING: THE ESSENTIALS by NY pianist Jeb Patton is the most comprehensive book ever publishing on how to accompany jazz soloists with supportive, propulsive 'comping.' Written by the long-time pianist for The Heath Brothers, An Approach to Comping starts with basic comping patterns and then uses transcriptions of the masters Horace Silver, Barry Harris, Bud Powell, etc. to dig deeply into how jazz pianists make the rhythm section cook. Endorsed by Benny Green, Renee Rosnes, Monty Alexander, etc., 272 pages, audio of the author's live group demonstrating the exercises available at shermusic.com.

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No.15
66

A practical and systematic method that teaches how to practice jazz piano voicings so that they become automatic and intuitive. The method progresses step-by-step from 2- to 7-voice chord structures with fourths and upper-structure triads. Each chapter presents essential harmonic progressions written and spelled out in all keys, along with fingerings to help non-keyboardists. Also provided are songs written out for both hands, which utilize the techniques and voicings just learned. Includes comping rhythms, bass line techniques, and practice strategies. Excellent for both classroom and individual study. Strongly endorsed by Mark Levine, Bobby Shew, Denis Diblasio, and many others. The included play-along audio allows you to practice the piano exercises in the book with bass and drum accompaniment. You can also practice comping along with a saxophone soloist. A demonstration piano track on one channel, played with a stylistic comping feel, gives you an idea of how the piano voicing exercises should sound. Large 248 page spiral-bound book and audio.

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No.16
66

The World's Best Piano Arrangements

Alfred Publishing Staff
Schaum Pubns

100 golden jazz standards arranged by greats such as Bill Evans, George Shearing, Art Tatum, Teddy Wilson, Dave Brubeck, "Fats" Waller, and Duke Ellington. Titles include: Blue Moon * C Jam Blues * Ebb Tide * I'm in the Mood for Love * Mood Indigo * Satin Doll * Take Five * Who's Sorry Now. Spiral-bound.

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