Diddly-Squat

• Level: Early Intermediate
• Pages: 5 pages, 3 pages of music, cover included!
• Style: Driving, Jazzy
• Series: Jazz Shorts
• Format: PDF instant download + Performance mp3 included

Picture a Hollywood musical, where the main character is taking a carefree stroll down the sidewalk – their hat is usually askew, there’s a spring in their step, and you can feel that they’re about to break out into song. That is a great visual for Diddy-Squat, a spring-in-your-step jazzy piano solo! The B section contains a quick whole tone scale that adds to the feeling of day-dreaminess. Plus the main motive uses staccato notes to really imitate that “spring in your step” quality those who care diddly-squat usually possess.

Leveling of Diddly-squat

Diddly-Squat is an early intermediate piano solo. It’s written in G major, but no key signature is written in (instead, accidentals are written throughout). As with most jazz pieces, there is a good deal of accidentals and chromaticism. Helpful fingerings are written in throughout, and the hand position doesn’t stray too far from its original place, making things like chromaticism and accidentals doable at this level. 

The smallest note value is an eighth note. There are just two pedal markings indicated in the piece. The right hand jumps back and forth between bass and treble clef a couple of times; the treble clef sections are for the B section, while the bass clef is for the A section. Repeating rhythms and patterns keep this piece doable, while giving students a chance to “feel the beat” in their body that can be tricky in jazz pieces. 

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
• Diddly-squat (that’s this piece)
• Hoodwinked
• Zigzaggedy

Bonus recording included!

This Diddly-squat 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?

Diddly-squat 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.