- Level: Early to Mid Intermediate
- Pages: 4 pages, 2 pages of music, cover included!
- Style: Driving, Jazzy
- Series: Jazz Shorts
- Format: PDF instant download + Performance mp3 included
Audacious is a driving jazz piano solo that will be especially loved by any student who loves jazz or bold, driving music. And although the music sounds audacious and surprising, the way it’s composed falls easily under students hands. The repeated thirds and sevenths, and also the fact that the right hand can maintain a 2nd inversion shape, makes it easy to play.
Part of what gives this jazzy piece its sophistication is the chromaticism used between most of the chords in the right hand. If you’ve ever played Vince Guaraldi’s music, it is very reminiscent of his style – and therefore gives it that “Joe Cool” feeling he always gave to Snoopy from The Peanuts!
Leveling of Audacious
Audacious is an early intermediate jazz solo. It is written in C major with lots of modal inflection. The chromatic movement in this piece makes for a lot of accidentals and is a great opportunity for students to practice seeing the music by intervals, not just notes. Second inversion chords are used in much of the piece along with thirds and sevenths in succession, making this piece easy to digest and move about the keyboard. Many of the interval patterns simply move up or down a half step.
The smallest note value in this piece is an eighth note. There is one brief area of pedaling, with markings written in. Helpful fingerings are written throughout. Dynamic markings are written throughout, and add to the spirit of the piece. There are grace notes throughout the piece as well.
More Jazz Shorts + Discount Opportunity
Jazz Short is a set of jazz, early to mid intermediate pieces composed by Wendy Stevens. These pieces fall naturally under the hands and are even appropriate for students with small hands. This set comes as a discounted bundle here and includes:
- Audacious (that’s this piece)
- Diddly-squat
- Hoodwinked
- Zigzaggedy
Bonus recording included!
This Audacious piano solo comes with a bonus mp3 recording performed by Wendy Stevens. You are permitted to send this example performance track to your students to help them learn the piece.
What is the Studio License?
Audacious is delivered digitally (through your email receipt) and is studio licensed. This means that you can print and use this for any student that you directly teach for your entire lifetime of teaching.
Hope –
Two students have started Audacious and Diddlysquat. I went over the piece with practice suggestions and noticed in both cases the students were reluctant to leave, curious about how different sections were going to sound. That is a good sign that practice will not be a problem.
Kelly –
Even though I just got this piece a month ago, it is already a favorite among my students! Two particular winning situations: Shay is a thirteen year old student who LOVES jazz but is still working on her site reading skills – wants to play intermediate works but reads at mid/late elementary. She loved the sound of this piece when I played it for her, but was daunted at the look of it. Once we analyzed the first few lines, and found the similarity with all the right hand chords and left hand ascending patterns, she was delighted! It felt so easy to play such a cool, groovy jazz piece!
Second story: my adult student, Ron, was having one of those lessons where he needed a “pick me up”. He was ready for a new song, and when he wanted something in a jazzy styles, I showed him Audacious. Right away he was taken by the sound, and immediately liked how playable it was. His response, after working on it for a few minutes: “this really made my day”. ☺️
Teresa –
My students love the pieces I get from Wendy Stevens. The current favorites are Audacious and Hoodwinked. Such pieces make technique and theory easy to teach. You know: “Just a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down.” Keep up the great work!
Diane Hidy –
My student cannot WAIT to play Audacious on our recital in a few weeks. He LOVES it and he sounds incredible playing it😊
Corinne –
My students are LOVING audacious! Fair warning: You’ll have to dance along—it’s impossible to stop yourself. Just try not to embarrass yourself too much in front of students. 😊 We’ve had whole families dancing along with their pianist.