When & Where

Quick Facts

  • Availability Yes
  • Tutor David Frankel
  • Course Code W24JPMB04B
  • Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

A course for jazz for pianists at around grade 3 (ABRSM) standard or higher, with around 1 year’s experience of playing jazz piano. A great opportunity to build on skills acquired in the first year of playing, including more advanced repertoire, further harmonic skills and comping strategies.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  • Use various methods to improvise over more complex jazz chord sequences, including minor harmony, chord substitution
  • Know how to play in a jazz style by employing typical rhythmic, melodic and harmonic ideas in a solo
  • Gain a knowledge of the differing jazz styles such as blues, swing and latin jazz
  • Learn Left-Hand / Right-Hand Jazz and Latin coordination exercises to increase independence of the hands at the piano
  • Gain a knowledge of how to ‘comp’ as part of a rhythm section, including two-handed voicings and rhythmic strategies

Class format and activities

You will be playing the piano on your own and will also be listening to other students and the tutor playing. You will also listen to musical examples and do some singing and clapping exercises. Information will be delivered verbally, backed up by handouts, videos and by practical demonstration and your own participation in the activities. Constructive and supportive feedback from your tutor will be given throughout the course to help you progress with your jazz piano studies.

Entry requirements

You must have grade 3 (ABRSM) or equivalent practical piano skills or above. The ability to read piano music notation would definitely be an advantage but if you can’t do that it will be necessary to at least be able to study the notated melody line and chord progressions on the handouts and / or by listening to recordings of the music at home. You will also need to have completed Morley Jazz Piano 2A or at least have equivalent experience in playing and improvising jazz piano.

What you need to know before you enrol

An ability to play piano music with both hands or an ability to play piano by ear with both hands or an ability to read a top melody line with chord symbols below.

What you need

A piano to practise at home. Manuscript paper, notebook and writing materials.

What you can do next

Students who successfully complete Morley Jazz Piano 2B will be eligible to progress to Morley Jazz Piano 2C in the following term (April 2024)