[Smt-talk] FW: [Smt-announce] OT -beginning jazz piano

Sun Feb 8 05:57:45 PST 2009

I also forgot to mention the Jamie Aebersold books and tapes (or CDs).  They 
are kind of a nice way to get started and practice with a rhythm section. 
the book entitled Maiden Voyage is pretty decent for the absolute beginner,

Also Jerry Coker's - Improvising Jazz is one I like to keep handy.

Sincerely,
K. Christian McGuire

Instructor of Electric Bass and Music History
Rock & Improv Ensemble Director
Augsburg College
Music Department
2211 Riverside Avenue
Mpls MN 55454
mcguire at augsburg.edu
http://www.augsburg.edu/music/

Instructor of Music History
McNally Smith College of Music
19 Exchange Street East
Saint Paul, MN 55101
651 291 0177
800 594 9500
cmcguire at mcnallysmith.edu
http://www.mcnallysmith.edu/academics/faculty/composition.aspx

International Society of
Hildegard von Bingen Studies, webmaster
http://www.hildegard-society.org/

Musicologist & Electric Bassist
http://www.grianeala.com
kmcguire at bitstream.net
cell: 651-270-5807

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gillespie, Jeffrey" <jgillesp at butler.edu>
To: <smt-talk at societymusictheory.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 1:52 PM
Subject: [Smt-talk] FW: [Smt-announce] OT -beginning jazz piano

> Dear Colleagues:
>
> Our jazz pianist at Butler has provided some input here, regarding this 
> inquiry.
>
> - Jeff Gillespie
> ________________________________________
> From: Walters, Gary
> Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 2:31 PM
> To: Gillespie, Jeffrey
> Subject: RE: [Smt-talk] [Smt-announce]  OT -beginning jazz piano
>
> Jeff -
>
> I use Mark Levine's The Jazz Piano Book also. It isn't perfect, but I 
> haven't had a student yet who didn't benefit from it. It is quite possible 
> to make it a 4 year text given that I always supplement with other 
> materials I've gleaned through the years. I'm familiar with Mantooth's 
> book and know several folks who find it valuable as well, but a true 
> beginner seems to find plenty to keep busy with Levine's book. His Jazz 
> theory book was used by Buselli when he taught here. I don't have personal 
> experience with it, but found it to contain most things that are in the 
> Piano book theory-wise, with the expansion of playing techniques in the 
> Piano book vs. style and analysis in the theory book.
>
> Jazz piano study is the study of jazz theory by and large. No one 
> struggles with issues of technique when they are first studying with me. 
> In fact, some of our better classical pianists have felt rather frustrated 
> in their first lessons because they don't get to use technique, but also 
> can't figure out how to play the chord symbols! But that is why I suggest 
> that early jazz piano study is theory-based. The student MUST learn to see 
> a chord symbol and then have varied approaches to voicing the notes in 
> that chord. I don't believe it helps the student to have things notated, 
> because it delays the internalization necessary to read chord symbols 
> efficiently.
>
> I have an extra copy of Levine's book that I'm happy to let you review. I 
> hope my points are helpful in your forum discussion.
>
> Gary A. Walters
> Jazz Department
> Butler University
>
>
> P Please consider the environment before printing this email.
> ________________________________________
> From: Gillespie, Jeffrey
> Sent: Thursday, February 05, 2009 1:25 PM
> To: Walters, Gary
> Subject: FW: [Smt-talk] [Smt-announce]  OT -beginning jazz piano
>
> Gary:
>
> Do you have thoughts on this?  I really should get myself a jazz keyboard 
> book as a reference.  Your advice would be appreciated.  Thanks!
>
> Jeff
> ________________________________________
> From: smt-talk-bounces at societymusictheory.org 
> [smt-talk-bounces at societymusictheory.org] On Behalf Of K. Christian 
> McGuire [kmcguire at bitstream.net]
> Sent: Tuesday, February 03, 2009 7:54 PM
> To: smt-talk at societymusictheory.org
> Subject: Re: [Smt-talk] [Smt-announce]  OT -beginning jazz piano
>
> I frequently use with my student's both Mark Levine's The Jazz Piano Book 
> as well as his Jazz Theory Workbook.  In fact I recommend most of the Sher 
> Music Co. publications.
>
> Frank Mantooth's Voicings for Jazz Keyboard is good for the same reasons 
> stated by Mike Rogers.
>
> Another neat book is John Valerio's intros, endings & turnarounds for 
> Keyboard (ISBN 0-634-02301-2).
>
> Sincerely,
> K. Christian McGuire
>
> Instructor of Electric Bass and Music History
> Rock & Improv Ensemble Director
> Augsburg College
> Music Department
> 2211 Riverside Avenue
> Mpls MN 55454
> mcguire at augsburg.edu<mailto:mcguire at augsburg.edu>
> http://www.augsburg.edu/music/
>
> Instructor of Music History
> McNally Smith College of Music
> 19 Exchange Street East
> Saint Paul, MN 55101
> 651 291 0177
> 800 594 9500
> cmcguire at mcnallysmith.edu<mailto:cmcguire at mcnallysmith.edu>
> http://www.mcnallysmith.edu/academics/faculty/composition.aspx
>
> International Society of
> Hildegard von Bingen Studies, webmaster
> http://www.hildegard-society.org/
>
> Musicologist & Electric Bassist
> http://www.grianeala.com
> kmcguire at bitstream.net<mailto:kmcguire at bitstream.net>
> cell: 651-270-5807
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Brian Kane<mailto:brian.kane at yale.edu>
> To: 
> smt-announce at societymusictheory.org<mailto:smt-announce at societymusictheory.org>
> Sent: Monday, February 02, 2009 11:39 PM
> Subject: Re: [Smt-announce] [Smt-talk] OT -beginning jazz piano
>
> Hi,
>
> It might be more than your student needs, but I highly recommend Mark 
> Levine's The Jazz Piano Book. It's practically oriented with plenty of 
> notated examples, good explanations of chord symbols, transcribed songs, 
> discographies, etc. It less a theory text and more in the spirit of a 
> "thoroughbass treatise" for jazz piano.
>
> Best,
> Brian
>
> _________________
> Brian Kane
> Assistant Professor
> Department of Music
> Yale University
> 143 Elm St., Rm. 208
>
>
>
>
>
> On Feb 2, 2009, at 8:50 AM, David Claman wrote:
>
> I'm off topic as usual but expect that the collective knowledge of the 
> list members will be helpful.
>
> I have a student who wants to learn a little about jazz piano. What I 
> think would be appropriate would be a book (or website?) that has an 
> explanation of chord symbols and chord voicings, but also has a few tunes 
> transcribed/notated. She is a foreign student with little knowledge of 
> jazz but is a good reader. I think the notated examples would give her 
> some satisfaction before she delves into complexities of chord voicings 
> and substutions and improvisation. The level of the material should be 
> introductory.
>
> Please let me know of your recommendations.
>
> Thank you,
> David Claman
> Lehman College CUNY
>
>
>
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