Syllabus Overview
This learning path is designed for students who are completely new to jazz piano and want to move slowly to make sure that they build the correct foundations. These courses have a strong focus on the practical skills needed for reading and interpreting jazz lead sheets.
What Will You Learn In These Courses?
- Spread voicing technique for lead sheets
- 10 beginner-level jazz piano arrangements
- Scales, triads, 7th chords, and 251 progressions
After completing this learning path you will have expanded your repertoire of jazz standards to 10 tunes, and you will understand the basic skills needed to play from lead sheets.
Learning Path
The Lead Sheet Fundamentals learning path contains bite-sized theory studies and a heavy focus on practical skills needed for reading jazz lead sheets.
The Key Of C Major
This course focuses on the key of C Major. We start with drills and exercises to learn triads, 7th chords, and the 251 progression. We then arrange the tunes "Moon River" and "Fly Me To The Moon" with 2-handed spread voicings.
The Key Of Bb Major
The second course focuses on the key of Bb Major. You will learn the Bb major scale and the diatonic chords and progressions. We then apply this information to the tunes "My Foolish Heart" and "Autumn Leaves".
The Key of Eb Major
We start with a harmonic study to help you understand diatonic 7th chords, 2-handed spread voicings, and common chord progressions such as 251 and 36251. We then cover the tunes "Misty", "Tenderly", and "Over The Rainbow".
Jazz Modulation For Beginners
Discover the basics of key modulation in jazz standards. You will learn how to navigate key changes with confidence and improve your jazz piano modulation skills. We cover the tunes "Body & Soul" and "In A Sentimental Mood".
Jazz Piano Foundations Course
Learn the essential building blocks of jazz harmony: scales, intervals, triads, 7th chords, and the 251 progression. This theory takes time to learn and so study these lessons in combination with the jazz standard courses above.
Jazzy X-mas Songs For Beginners
This course introduces beginner jazzy X-mas songs in the key of C Major. We continue to apply the 2-handed spread voicing technique and we learn to connect these songs to create a continuous stream of music.
Courses
The Lead Sheet Fundamentals contains 5 courses which should be studied in the following order:
1. Reading Lead Sheets For Beginners
2. Reading Lead Sheets: Key of Bb
3. Reading Lead Sheets: Eb Major
4. Introduction to Jazz Modulations
5. Jazz Piano Foundations Course
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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Ask questions to get prompt replies from our team of teachers, participate in improvisation exercises and studies, and join in the discussion with students and teachers from around the globe:
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- Beginner Question For 251 Progression - Major & Minor II V I
- From Lessons To Lead Sheets
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