Jazz music

Why Every Jazz Pianist Should Study Bill Evans

2026-03-10T13:57:52+00:00

Few musicians have shaped the language of jazz piano as profoundly as Bill Evans. Emerging in the late 1950s, Evans transformed the role of the jazz pianist through lyrical touch and emotional harmony, as well as having great influence with his collaborative approach to ensemble playing. His influence extends far beyond his own recordings, and permeates modern jazz piano vocabulary, continuing to shape how pianists think about harmony, rhythm, and musical interaction. He is also considered one of the most influential pianists in developing modern solo piano language. For these reasons, every jazz pianist, regardless of style or experience, should study [...]

Why Every Jazz Pianist Should Study Bill Evans2026-03-10T13:57:52+00:00

Piano Music Picks Across Genres

2026-02-25T15:12:09+00:00

Listening is one of the most overlooked aspects of piano development. Students often focus understandably on technique, sight-reading and repertoire preparation, yet forget that the ear is the true guide of musical refinement. What you listen to shapes how you phrase, how you balance tone, and how you understand style. At the London Piano Institute, we encourage our students not only to practise thoughtfully, but to listen actively. Below is a curated selection of piano music across genres — classical, jazz, contemporary and film — with notes on what each can teach you as a developing pianist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvNsPyp5O2I Classical Depth: Frédéric [...]

Piano Music Picks Across Genres2026-02-25T15:12:09+00:00

Five Modern Jazz Pianists You Should Listen To

2026-02-12T08:56:59+00:00

In the last hundred years, jazz has undergone multiple revolutions on the piano, from stride right through to experimental fusions. In this time, a wide range of styles have been employed, drawing on influences from around the musical world. As a result, there are many jazz pianists today who are masters of the genre, and who can offer students a huge amount of inspiration. Here are five pianists I consider essential listening, and whose gigs I would recommend going to should the chance arise. Photo credit : "Robert Glasper - Leverkusener Jazztage 2016-AL5550" by Andreas Lawen, Fotandi. Licensed under CC BY-SA [...]

Five Modern Jazz Pianists You Should Listen To2026-02-12T08:56:59+00:00

5 Essential Piano Solos to Transcribe: 12-Bar Major Blues

2026-01-27T13:24:07+00:00

The 12-bar blues has been the most central and essential form used since the dawn of jazz. The short and harmonically simple nature of the form, combined with its potential for manipulation, makes it the ultimate vehicle for improvisation. Every great jazz pianist has recorded versions of a 12-bar blues, making it a very good way of bottling up an artist’s individual sound. The short form also allows for bitesize transcription, removing the potential necessity for hours of work. With all of this in mind, here are 5 solos that I would recommend for any pianist to transcribe. https://youtu.be/XSjWOTbL5ew?si=kh7ysfdFpaUKGesF Wynton Kelly [...]

5 Essential Piano Solos to Transcribe: 12-Bar Major Blues2026-01-27T13:24:07+00:00

The Origins of Jazz – The Birth of America’s Music

2025-03-17T10:35:38+00:00

Jazz, often hailed as "America’s music," is one of the most influential and distinctive genres of music to emerge in the 20th century. Known for its unique rhythms, improvisational style, and blending of various musical traditions, jazz has evolved into a global phenomenon. Its roots, however, are deeply embedded in the cultural, social, and musical landscapes of late 19th and early 20th-century America. Understanding the origins of jazz requires a look at the interplay of African rhythms, European musical traditions, and the socio-political context of the time. African Musical Traditions The foundations of jazz can be traced back to the African [...]

The Origins of Jazz – The Birth of America’s Music2025-03-17T10:35:38+00:00
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