Stage 0 | Lesson: 01 | Step 1 – (Theory) Whole and half steps are the building blocks of our tonal language. With the help of these basic musical units, you will go on to form scales, chords, and more!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 01 | Step 2 – (Theory) An interval is the difference in pitch between two sounds. These can be made up of a distance as small as a half step, or as wide as a major seventh. The knowledge of intervals will give you the freedom to create new chords and melodies!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 01 | Step 3 – (Technique) Major scales are a series of notes in ascending or descending order. After mastering these fundamental scales, you will go on to learn variations such as minor scales, jazz-specific scales, and others.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 01 | Step 4 – (Technique) A key signature is a collection of sharps and flats found in each major scale. Familiarity with each key signature will inform you of what notes make up any given tonality.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 01 | Step 5 – (Technique) Proper fingerings are crucial to executing any technical passagework on the keyboard. First you will learn major scale fingerings, which will then give you the freedom to tackle more sophisticated jazz lines.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 01 | Step 6 – (Repertoire) This step will cover the method for learning jazz standards. This method will allow you to learn tunes quickly and effectively, in a way so that you will never forget them!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 02 | Step 1 – (Theory) Major triads are 3-note chords made up of a root, major third, and perfect fifth. These chords serve as the foundation of many popular songs. As you progress further into the jazz idiom, you will build on these chords by adding extensions in order to achieve a true jazz sound!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 02 | Step 2 – (Theory) Each major triad is comprised of two intervals: one major and minor third. The arrangement of these intervals determines the quality of the triad to be major, minor, or other.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 02 | Step 3 – (Theory) There are multiple ways to label a major triad using chord symbols. By familiarizing ourselves with each of these variations, we can be ready to play the right chord at the right time!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 02 | Step 4 – (Theory) A root is the foundation of any harmony and determines the bass note used in a chord. As these lessons progress, you will start using more complex chords in various shapes and inversions. As long as you know which note is the root, you can’t go wrong!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 02 | Step 5 – (Technique) The circle of fourths is a system used to indicate the number of sharps or flats in each key. As the circle moves in either direction, the key center moves up or down the interval of a fourth. This cycle serves a variety of functions, and is a useful tool for every developing musician.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 02 | Step 6 – (Repertoire) Charts and forms can be like reading a treasure map. It can get really confusing! In this step we’ll go over everything you need to know to understand charts.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 02 | Step 7 – (Repertoire) Chord symbols are the framework that allow us to express ourselves as musicians. After becoming familiar with various chord symbols, you will place the given melody note from the chart at the top of each of your chord voicings. You will be on your way to playing your favorite tunes in no time at all!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 02 | Step 8 – (Repertoire) The first step in our process of learning tunes is learning the melody. The melody is the essence of a tune. In fact, it is the most important part! After learning the melody, you will be able to go on to learn the harmony, form, etc. Remembering the melody will help you to never forget that tune!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 02 | Step 9 – (Repertoire) In the second step of learning tunes, you will learn the bass motion by playing the roots. Learning the bass motion will allow you to understand the harmony of a tune and how it fits with the melody. Many tunes have similar bass motion, so the more tunes you learn, the easier this will get!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 03 | Step 1 – (Theory) Minor triads are 3-note chords made up of a root, minor third, and perfect fifth. These chords serve as the foundation of many popular songs. As you progress further into the jazz idiom, you will build on these chords by adding extensions in order to achieve a true jazz sound!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 03 | Step 2 – (Theory) Each minor triad is comprised of two intervals: one minor and major third. The arrangement of these intervals determines the quality of the triad to be minor, major, or other.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 03 | Step 3 – (Theory) There are multiple ways to label a minor triad using chord symbols. By familiarizing ourselves with each of these variations, we can be ready to play the right chord at the right time!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 03 | Step 4 – (Technique)Chords can be broken into a series of notes in ascending or descending order, known by the musical term “arpeggio.” Arpeggios are an essential element of piano technique and will help you to build your technical foundation while practicing chords on the piano.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 03 | Step 5 – (Repertoire) In this step of the tune-learning process, we will combine the first two components of the melody and bass notes. By playing the melody and the bass line of a tune together, we can gain a sense of how the melody and harmony function in tandem. After mastering the melody and bass line, you will be ready to add the finishing touches!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 03 | Step 6 – (Repertoire) In the fourth step of the tune-learning process, you will begin to explore the harmony of a tune with LH (left hand) chords. This step is the beginning of discovering a two-handed approach to playing tunes on the piano, and is an essential part of jazz piano technique.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 04 | Step 1 – (Theory) A triad inversion is a combination of the same 3 notes of a triad in a different order. For the piano, this takes the form of various shapes made up of notes on the keyboard. By becoming familiar with the various inversions of each chord on the keyboard, you are on your way to piano mastery!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 04 | Step 2 – (Technique) They say it’s not WHAT you say, but HOW you say it. By practicing phrasing on the keyboard, you will have a broader spectrum of expression on your instrument. This will allow you to breathe life into your music!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 04 | Step 3 – (Repertoire) In step 5 of the 6-step tune learning process, we are putting the pieces you have learned together in the form of RH chords and LH bass notes. With these elements of the harmony and the bass motion, you have almost everything you need for a complete rendition of the tune. Only one more step to go!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 04 | Step 5 – (Repertoire) The feeling of rhythm is what makes music come to life. The beauty of playing jazz and improvised music is that you can create your own rhythms! By experimenting with various rhythms, you will be on your way to discovering your personal approach to making music.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 05 | Step 1 – (Theory) Welcome to our introduction to jazz harmony! Whereas most popular music uses triads and three-part chords, jazz harmony extends upwards to use four-part chords and seventh chords. This may seem daunting at first, but we will be building on your previous knowledge of triads by just adding one new note.

To create a major seventh chord, you will take a major triad and simply add a major third on top, also known as the 7th degree in the major scale of that key.

With the addition of this more sophisticated harmony, you will be sounding like your favorite jazz greats in no time!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 05 | Step 2 – (Theory) Seventh chords are four-part chords made up of stacked major and minor thirds. They are characterized by the outer interval of a seventh: either major, minor, or diminished. If some iteration of a major seventh interval exists, we call it a “major seventh chord.”

Stage 0 | Lesson: 05 | Step 3 – (Theory) There are multiple ways to label a major seventh chord using chord symbols. By familiarizing ourselves with each of these variations, we can be ready to play the right chord at the right time!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 05 | Step 4 – (Theory) “Voice-leading” refers to optimum motion between individual voices within a chord or musical phrase. A primary example of this is employing the use of chord inversions so no voice jumps by more than a minor third interval. By understanding voiceleading between triads, you will learn the rules which govern most of Western harmony and become one step closer to mastering the keyboard!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 05 | Step 5 – (Technique) Minor scales are the next progression of fundamental keyboard technique. For each major scale within a given key center, there is an associated minor scale which is its relative. This scale, also known as the “natural minor,” has a lowered 3rd, 6th, and 7th scale degree.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 05 | Step 6 – (Technique) “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!”

Swing eighth notes are essential to capturing the feeling of jazz. In this lesson, we will cover how to create a “swing” feel by using a triplet subdivision of eighth notes in a jazz style. By listening to and emulating the swing feel of jazz greats, you will have your audience on their feet dancing in no time!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 05 | Step 7 – (Repertoire) In this lesson you will begin to explore fundamental forms and structures found in jazz music. This includes AABA form, 1st and 2nd endings, and bar numbers. By understanding various forms and structures in the jazz style, you will be better prepared to learn the repertoire.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 05 | Step 8 – (Repertoire) In this lesson you will practice developing your ear by listening for instances of Major 7th chords. While reading the lead sheet of “How High the Moon,” follow along with the provided audio track and notice when you hear a Major 7th chord sound. By practicing your ability to hear certain chord qualities, you will improve your ear training and boost your overall musicality!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 05 | Step 9 – (Repertoire) Congratulations, you have everything you need to study your first jazz tune!

You will start by learning the melody to “Take the A Train,” a famous standard by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. After you have learned the melody, you will be able to cover more advanced concepts such as chord voicings and improvisation.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 06 | Step 1 – (Theory) To create a dominant seventh chord, you will take a major seventh chord and simply lower the top note, also known as the lowered 7th degree in the major scale of that key. Compared to major seventh chords which are static, dominant seventh chords are unstable and need to resolve somewhere. We will explore dominant seventh chords and their functionality more in subsequent lessons.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 06 | Step 2 – (Theory) Dominant seventh chords are four-part chords made up of stacked major and minor thirds. They are characterized by the inner interval of a major third, and the outer interval of a minor seventh.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 06 | Step 3 – (Theory) There are multiple ways to label a dominant seventh chord using chord symbols, the most common is “7.” By familiarizing ourselves with these variations, we can be ready to play the right chord at the right time!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 06 | Step 4 – (Theory) A seventh chord inversion is a combination of the same 4 notes of a four-part chord in a different order. By mastering each chord’s inversions in all 12 keys, you will gain proficiency in using these chords on the keyboard, and will be ready to play more complex chord progressions.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 06 | Step 5 – (Technique) In this lesson you will practice arpeggiating seventh chords in a jazz style. By using a swing eighth note feel in this exercise, you will get accustomed to incorporating jazz rhythm into your playing. At the same time, you will be working towards mastery of these essential chords.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 06 | Step 6 – (Repertoire) In this step of the tune-learning process, you will learn the bass notes to “Take the A Train.” This step will start you out with a simple bass line, but opens up new possibilities for expanding a new left hand texture of bass accompaniment. This translates to walking bass lines, solo piano, and more!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 06 | Step 7 – (Repertoire) In this lesson you will practice developing your ear by listening for instances of Dominant 7th chords. While reading the lead sheet of “Blue Monk,” follow along with the provided audio track and notice when you hear a Dominant 7th chord sound. By practicing your ability to hear certain chord qualities, you will improve your ear training and boost your overall musicality!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 07 | Step 1 – (Theory) To create a minor seventh chord, you will take a dominant seventh chord and lower the third, also known as the lowered 3rd degree in the major scale of that key. We will explore minor seventh chords and their functionality more in subsequent lessons.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 07 | Step 2 – (Theory) Minor seventh chords are four-part chords made up of stacked major and minor thirds. They are characterized by the inner interval of a minor third, and the outer interval of a minor seventh.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 08 | Step 1 – (Theory) The 3rd and the 7th are the defining chord tones in any seventh chord. Together, they form an array of notes known as “shells.” They also provide the color in any given seventh chord’s tonality, and as a result we will be giving special attention to learning these seventh chord “shells.”

These tones will become increasingly significant as you progress further into your jazz study, which is why they are highlighted so early on in this course.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 08 | Step 2 – (Theory) We will continue to cover all types of seventh chord inversions, this time minor sevenths. By practicing dominant seventh inversions in all 12 keys, you will gain proficiency in using these chords on the keyboard, and will be ready to play more complex chord progressions.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 08 | Step 3 – (Technique) In this lesson you will explore another technical exercise derived from classical training. In the spirit of the great pianist Vladimir Horowitz, this exercise is designed to give you the utmost control over your dynamics and phrasing at the keyboard. By practicing this exercise, you are developing coordination and dexterity which will propel your technique to the next level!

Stage 0 | Lesson: 08 | Step 4 – (Repertoire) Practicing the “shells” of the seventh chords is an essential part of understanding the chord progressions in a tune. By doing so, it allows you to observe the inner workings of the harmony, which informs not only your chords, but also your melodies.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 08 | Step 5 – (Repertoire) In step 4, you will use your knowledge of seventh chords and their inversions to play through the chord progressions of “Take the A Train.” You can experiment with these inversions by starting on one chord, and moving to the next with logical voice leading.

This means that instead of jumping from a root position D-7 chord to another root position G7 chord, you will use an appropriate inversion for the G7 chord such as 2nd inversion.

Stage 0 | Lesson: 08 | Step 6 – (Repertoire) In step 5, you will use your chords from step 4 and add in the bass notes with the LH. You will start to hear all of these steps coming together in the form of a rich, full representation of the harmony of “Take the A Train.” Mastering this step will lay the foundation for accompanying, as well as more advanced solo piano techniques.