Cocktail Piano 5

Learn how to play and improvise over faster-tempo songs with this advanced cocktail piano course. Using Duke Jordan’s Jordu as the foundation, this course guides you through creating a complete arrangement, incorporating stride-like left-hand techniques, shell voicings, and rhythmic variations.

Beyond arranging, you’ll also explore improvisation techniques, including how to choose the right notes and scales for soloing. The lessons provide a structured approach to developing a fluid and expressive jazz solo, helping you build confidence in your improvisational skills.

This course is perfect for intermediate to advanced pianists looking to expand their cocktail piano repertoire and enhance their ability to play and improvise over upbeat jazz standards.

Mastering Cocktail Piano at Faster Tempos

Cocktail piano isn’t just about slow, smooth ballads—it can also include lively, energetic pieces that require a different approach to arranging and improvisation. In this course, you’ll learn how to handle faster-tempo songs like Jordu by Duke Jordan, focusing on rhythm, left-hand movement, and soloing techniques.

One of the key challenges of faster tunes is maintaining a solid rhythmic foundation while keeping the melody smooth. This course helps you develop left-hand patterns, including stride and shell-based voicings, that provide both movement and stability. You’ll also learn how to approach improvisation, selecting scales and note choices that fit the harmonic structure of the song.

By the end of the course, you’ll have a fully arranged version of Jordu and the skills to improvise with confidence over up-tempo jazz pieces. These techniques can be applied to many other fast-paced cocktail piano tunes, helping you become a more versatile player.

Is this course suitable for beginners?

No, this course is designed for intermediate to advanced pianists with some experience in cocktail piano and jazz improvisation.

Will I learn a full arrangement of Jordu?

Yes! The course teaches a complete arrangement, including left-hand techniques and rhythmic variations.

Do I need to know how to improvise?

Some experience with improvisation is helpful, but the course provides step-by-step guidance on how to develop a solo.

Can these techniques be applied to other jazz standards?

Absolutely! The skills learned in this course can be used to arrange and improvise over many other up-tempo jazz and cocktail piano pieces.