1167. I. Cutting the Changes: Jazz Improvisation via Key Centers. Antonio J. García. Kjos Music. 2006. $19.95 for book, CD, and CD-ROM. II. MS/HS. III. Theory/Ear training/Rhythm patterns. IV. Play-along. V. Individual/Classroom.

Cutting the Changes: Jazz Improvisation via Key Centers is not only brand-new, it is “hot.” For classroom, private, or self-instruction, it offers simplicity for learning jazz improvisation at the middle and high school levels, as well as for music education and jazz pedagogy classes at the collegiate level. Its appeal is in its simplistic approach that eliminates chord symbols from soloing and encourages students to improvise over standard tunes by using only major scales.

Chord symbols inform you as to what key center you’re in at a given moment; but most improvisation methods make the chords the central focus of improvising—which can be quite complex. Instead in this text, chords indicate a progression of tension and release in a given key so that tonal centers with their corresponding major scales can holistically be applied for learning the overall tonality of jazz standards. This process actually makes standard tunes as easy to play as blues and modal tunes. This method is great for students who are just getting started with theory and for teachers who need pedagogical insight for teaching improvisation, without stress.

Cutting the Changes comes with a book of sheet music for improvisers struggling with standard tunes, a play-along CD with superb rhythm section accompaniment, and a CD-ROM full of theory instruction, listening examples, a discography, and printable accompaniment scores and parts for optional live rhythm section. The CD-ROM is literally a clinic on a CD with specific insight on why this approach works and how you can learn to apply it to other standard tunes of your choice. Not everyone wants to know more music theory, so that’s why the explanations are only on the CD-ROM. (A Windows or Macintosh computer running Adobe Reader 6.0 or greater and QuickTime 6.0 or greater is required to access the CD-ROM functions.)

With this text, it is possible to teach improvisation conveniently to all of your students. This book is about making things simpler, not complex, so that students can get maximum reward for their initial efforts in soloing. You will really like how each of the 13 tunes includes a stripped-down analysis of the primary key centers, making it possible for beginning improvisers to begin soloing right away with immediate success. The only prerequisite is knowing major scales. In conclusion, the methodology offered is a winner, well worth investigating.

Address: 4382 Jutland Drive, San Diego, CA 92117 USA. Web: www.kjos.com. Book, 64 pages plus 72 pages on CD-ROM.