Much of this music was written for my students when I was teaching piano (exception:
). Some things are in jazz or related styles; these are completely written out and require no improvisation (though enterprising players are encouraged to try). Some would be suitable for playing clubs or parties, or as encores.
Shenandoah (1997)
| Instruments: |
Piano |
| Duration: |
3 minutes |
| Difficulty: |
Challenging |
| Price: |
$2 |
A pensive, rubato arrangement of this beautiful traditional American melody: intro, twice through the tune, coda; some jazz harmony, but not really a jazz arrangement. |
Just for You (1994)
| Instruments: |
Piano |
|
Optional Bass and Drums |
| Duration: |
4 minutes |
| Difficulty: |
|
| Price: |
$2 |
Slow, lush jazz balladin a written-out arrangement with chord symbols included. |
Jazz Suite for Two (1991)
| Instruments: |
1 Piano, 4 Hands |
| Duration: |
2-3 minute pieces |
| Difficulty: |
|
| Price: |
$10 |
"Bald-Faced Boogie" (a boogie, duh; 2:17), "Blue Tuesday" (a bluesy waltz, 2:32), "Sunnin' Spot" (Latin, 2:45), "Crescent City" (slow New Orleans-ish, 2:44), and "Riff Raff" (rock-ish, 3:02). Introductory pages include interpretive suggestions. Intermediate. Available from Manduca Music Publications (#10141). |
Jazzmatazz (1900)
| Instruments: |
Piano |
| Duration: |
2-3 minute pieces |
| Difficulty: |
Easy |
| Price: |
$5.50 |
8 short pieces in jazz and related styles for the intermediate piano student. Introductory pages include interpretive suggestions. This collection is similar to Jazzbag, but shorter and a bit easier. Published by Warner/Chappell Music, Inc. (Belwin Mills Publishing EL03629); officially out-of-print, but I know a few copies remain. Call 1-800-327-7643 to order. I'm looking for a new home for this one. |
Three Scats (1988)
| Instruments: |
Piano |
| Duration: |
2-3 minute pieces |
| Difficulty: |
Challenging |
| Price: |
$6 |
Three etudes in jazz, ("Bop-shoo-ee," in a subdued fusion style, "Fwee-loo," a ballad, and "Oop-a-doo-wah, ba-do-wah," a modern swing), based on motives suggestive of scat singing. Scores include chord symbols and suggestions for optional improvisation. A personal favorite. Available from Manduca Music Publications (#10059). |
Jack and Jill Get Hip (1984)
| Instruments: |
Piano |
| Duration: |
3 minutes |
| Difficulty: |
Intermediate |
| Price: |
$3 |
A written-out jazz arrangement of the traditional Jack & Jill nursery rhyme. Moderate tempo. Available from Manduca Music Publications (#10134). |
Cosmic Encounters (1984)
| Instruments: |
Piano |
| Duration: |
2-4 minute pieces |
| Difficulty: |
Intermediate |
| Price: |
$12 |
"Twelve Interplanetary Etudes on the Intervals for Intermediate Terrestrial Piano." Each piece emphasizes one of the 12 chromatic intervals and is followed by a page of simple theory exercises concerned with that interval. The pieces follow the story of an imagined future manned spaceflight that retraces the path of the Voyager probes to Saturn ("Countdown," "Weightless," etc.). The intervals get larger as the distance from Earth increases, concluding with a landing on Saturn's giant moon Titan that emphasizes octaves but includes all 11 of the previous intervals. The book can be played through in about 30 minutes, and would make a nice recital with students reading the narrations in between pieces. This collection is a personal favorite, released in 2000 by Manduca Music Publications (#10124). |
Nursery Riffs (1984)
| Instruments: |
Piano |
| Duration: |
5 minutes |
| Difficulty: |
Challenging |
| Price: |
$3.25 |
6 familiar nursery rhymes arranged in a variety of jazz styles ("The Bear Jogged Over the Mountain," "Bop Goes the Weasel," etc.). Available from Kjos Music Company (General Words and Music, GP347). |
Two by Four (1983)
| Instruments: |
2 Pianos, 4 Hands |
| Duration: |
12 minutes |
| Difficulty: |
Challenging |
| Price: |
$10 |
With The Ant Hill, commissioned by the Michigan Music Teachers Association. Four continuous movements, slow [3:27]-fast [2:24]-slow [2:34]-fast [2:30]-slow coda [:40]. Serialized, with interrelationships of all elements based on the numbers 2 and 4. Last movement a fugue in jazz rhythms. Some inside-the-piano techniques required, as well as an actual two-by-four for the playing of a tone cluster (exact measurements provided). |
The Ant Hill (1983)
| Instruments: |
1 or 2 Pianos |
| Duration: |
4 minutes |
| Difficulty: |
Intermediate |
| Price: |
$5 |
"A musical cartoon in sort-of-sonatina form for two pianos, 4 hands," but with a little elbow bumping, this could be squeezed onto one piano. A quirky march with occasional missing beats, suggesting industrious activity with a few mishaps. Moderate tempo; good counting a must. Package includes a complete score for each player. Available from Manduca Music Publications (#10057). |
Santa-ma-jazz (1981)
| Instruments: |
Piano |
| Duration: |
3 minute pieces |
| Difficulty: |
Challenging |
| Price: |
$4.45 |
10 familiar tunes of the season arranged in a variety of jazz styles, with most around 3 minutes duration ("Jingled Bells", "A Fat Man on the Roof", etc.). Good December gig music. Available from Kjos Music Company (General Words and Music, GP340). |
Jazzbag (1980)
| Instruments: |
Piano |
| Duration: |
short pieces |
| Difficulty: |
Intermediate |
| Price: |
$4.45 |
22 short pieces intended as an introduction to a variety of jazz and related styles for the intermediate piano student. Introductory pages include interpretive suggestions. Available from Kjos Music Company (General Words and Music, GP342) |
