The beauty of JazzPianoOnline.com is that it let's you satisfy your intellectual curiosity by browsing the lessons to learn about any topic without having to worry about a teacher telling you "you aren't ready for that yet."
But when it comes down to really learning the material it's also nice to have a progressive curriculum in place to direct your study.
Use this guide to chart your course through the lessons.
1. Prerequisites
You should know how to read treble and bass clef notation and you should be able to play all 12 major scales with both hands at 80 bpm. Don't have that? Here is a major scale warm up practice session to help get you in shape.
2. Five Essential Seventh Chords FREE
Everything in jazz originates with these five groups of chords. This lesson will show you how to build and play the five essential seventh chords in all twelve keys. These sixty chords comprise >95% of the chords used in jazz.
Working through this lesson will also help to familiarize you with the lesson interface and student dashboard. It is also a committment-free way to test the waters of online learning to see if it works for you.
3. Major ii-V-I Progression FREE
Once you know how to build the five essential seventh chords, learn how they function in progressions with this lesson.
4. Minor ii-V-i Progression
Along with major ii-V-I progressions, minor ii-V-I progressions constitute the majority of chord changes to any given standard tune.
5. Voice Leading Root-Based Chords
Watch this lesson to learn how to smoothly voice chords in major ii-V-I progressions, minor ii-V-i progressions and over the chord changes to the tune "Autumn Leaves."
6.How to Read Lead Sheets
You are almost ready to be unleashed into the Real Book wilderness. In this lesson, learn how to interpret notation and chord symbols common to jazz lead sheets.
7.Rootless Voicings with Added Tension
This series of lessons shows you how to drop the root, add rich sounding tensions (9, 11 and 13) and voice lead your chords to help you create a true jazz sound. This is how the pros play!
8. Diversify Your Study
Once you know your chords, progressions and basic voicings you have a good foundation in jazz harmony. From here you can begin to diversify your study into one of four tracks: Jazz Theory & Composition, Improvisation & Licks, Chords & Voicings and Styles, Arranging & More
A. Jazz Theory & Composition
The Four Components of Melodic Construction are the basic structures that comprise the bebop melodic line. Work on Diatonic Interval Ear Training, Chromatic Interval Ear Training or Tendency Tone Ear Training to develop your ability to hear melodies and root movement. Introduction to Chordscale Theory will help you understand the reciprocal relationship of scales and chords.
B. Improvisation & Licks
Improvisation - The Concept (FREE) provides a conceptual framework for applying The Four Components of Melodic Construction to improvisation. The Improvising Over series examines, in depth, transcriptions of master improvisors soloing over the chord changes to important tunes in the jazz repertoire. When you are ready to delve into the art of improvisation, check out the Improv Drill series of lessons which show you how to gain control of each element of melodic construction.
C. Chords & Voicings
Develop your Two-Handed Voicings or study Comping to work in ensembles and support soloists. Playing Solo Jazz Piano is one of the supreme joys of being a pianist. Harmonizing with Block Chords is an incredibly versatile technique that will inform your soloing, comping and arranging skills.
D. Styles, Arranging & More
Learn to play Stride Piano, Gospel Blues or add Three Oscar Peterson Intros or the Lydian Ending (FREE) to your arranging arsenal. Learn to play any of the fully realized Lead Sheet to Arrangement pieces, (all of them gig-worthy).