Syllabus Overview
Our Cocktail Piano Syllabus is a step-by-step syllabus to learn cocktail jazz piano using 3 jazz classic standards.
Who Is This Syllabus For?
- Students who are early-intermediate level players
- Students who want to create sophisticated solo piano arrangements
- Students who want to add improvised fills and runs to their playing
- Students who want to learn solo piano improvisation techniques
These 3 courses are mixed-level, starting with the most basic theory and gradually incorporating more advanced chord voicings and arranging techniques.
Learning Path
This is a very practical course where we apply a wide range of jazz theory areas in the context of actual jazz standards. Each course starts with diatonic harmony drills and as each lesson progresses we add an extra layer of sophistication into our arrangements.
Diatonic Harmony
We start by exploring the diatonic 7th chords of the key and perform a range of drills to familiarise yourself with the shapes and configurations of 3-note spread voicings and the common progressions such as 251 and 36251.
3-Note Spread Voicings
Next we apply the 3-note spread voicings to the jazz standards. We learn how to harmonise the lead sheet in the most basic way possible which is root in the left hand, melody in the right hand, and the 3rd and 7th in between.
Stride & Rootless Voicings
A key element of all 3 courses is left hand stride style with rootless voicings. This is a very common arranging technique for solo piano. Stride creates a steady pulse and it frees up our right hand for melodic decoration and improvisation.
Fills & Runs For Solo Piano
We explore a range of techniques for adding improvised runs and fills. This includes melodic embellishment using grace notes, turns, and enclosures. We also target alterations to add colour and texture to our playing.
Improvisation Drills & Exercises
Each course has a module on improvisation where we start with basic chord tone targeting drills. Chord tones are 'the glue' which holds together an improvisation and we then introduce more sophisticated improvisational concepts.
Courses
The Cocktail Piano Syllabus contains 3 courses which should be studied in the following order:
1. ‘Misty’ – Cocktail Piano Improv
2. ‘Georgia’ – Bluesy Stride Course
3. ‘Nearness Of You’ – Fills & Improv
Your Teachers
Hayden Hill
Hayden founded PianoGroove in 2015 with the goal of making the world a more musical place. He shares his love for jazz piano through his online courses and manages the community area of PianoGroove.
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Syllabuses provide a structured path to work through the lessons and courses. Step-by-step guides for voicings, improv, hand independence, and much more.
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