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I have had a chance to read and experience your new book and CD entitled Modern Jazz Piano and can say it is a terrific resource for jazz pianists. You have presented the information very cleanly and skillfully. The concepts are well-defined and explained thoroughly without unnecessary time consuming tangents. The highlight for me was the section on solo transcription and the accompanying CD, this will truly be a fantastic resource for many aspiring jazz pianists. Congratulations on a first-rate contribution to the literature available, Modern Jazz Piano will be extremely useful for jazz pianists everywhere!
-Jim Carlson- Director of Jazz Studies at University of Minnesota, Morris
As a pianist, I've gained tons of knowledge from this book. As a publisher, I wish I had it in our catalog of published books. As a jazz fan, I can only say that Sarah Jane's CDs are on my most-listened-to shelf. If she is ever playing in your area, drop everything and go!
-Ed Shanaphie, Editor Piano Today Magazine
Sarah Jane Cion has written a book which is clear, concise, easy to understand, practical and most of all, fun to use.
-Kenny Barron
This book is fantastic. Extremely well thought-out, academically logical, and to the point. Sarah's original compositions really bring each chapter concept to the
' table ' of jazz piano playing. The Rhythm changes melody of " Olivio " is worth the price alone. The book is great!
Sarah Jane has performed the impossible. She has managed to translate the learning of jazz piano technique into a logical, systematic, and ' to the point ' approach of understanding. Her original compositions throughout the book support each concept exceptionally well. This book is a new frontier in jazz piano pedagogy.
I'm still looking through it on a repeat basis. It makes you want to re-read and check it out again. The book LOOKS friendly. The print invites you in. The concepts are presented in a non-imposing way. I have heard from students at UNLV that is the one thing that keeps them from many jazz books that are out there. I really think this book bridges that.
-Tony Branco, Head of University of Nevada Jazz Department
Wow, what a book. I have buried myself in the book since Monday and have learned lots myself. The theory process in the first half is worth the $20 alone. And the transcriptions are great. I’m pretty close on a couple of them already. They’re worth another $20 alone. And then the CD. What a bargain!
One of the hardest things I have ever had to do was give up that book to my student today so he could take it to his piano lesson tonight. I am really anxious to see where the book takes him. I am also anxious to hear the reaction of his teacher who is a friend of mine and a self-proclaimed “non-jazz musician.” I’ll bet he gets lots out of it.
Thanks for providing a great tool for training new jazz musicians. Sarah Jane Cion has a special gift.
-John Herdan, Jazz Director, St. Cloud, Minnesota
I absolutely love this book! What a resource! Any student with an interest in getting inside the fundamentals of jazz piano will love this book!
Sarah has created an extremely well crafted and comprehensive text that is just as thoughtful and engaging as her playing.
Sarah presents the building blocks of jazz keyboard harmony in such a clear and easy-to-follow style! I am going to require this text for all of my students in the bebop theory course at the university!
She also provides the student with a thorough explanation of such crucial accompanying concepts as two-handed comping, left-hand comping used to accompany a right-hand improvised solo, and how to create walking bass lines in the left hand.
Ms. Cion takes great care in discussing the all-important technique of harmonization and walks the student, step by step, through the thought process behind harmonizing a melody with wonderful examples taken from her own compositions.
The student is also treated to performances of Sarah’s infectious compositions and soulful playing that feature her trio and which spotlight her gifts as an improviser and stylist. If that wasn’t enough, Sarah also includes transcriptions of 15 of her works along with transcriptions of her improvised solos!
-Anthony Branker, Director of Jazz Program & Fulbright Scholar, Princeton University
Imagine my surprise as I was perusing the jazz piano book section
at the local music store here in Memphis, TN! Suddenly I found your jazz piano book! I spent quite a lot of time looking at this book and proceeded to buy myself a copy. I am now using it with my students (they have to buy their own copy!). I think you wrote a GREAT BOOK! Actually it is very much like I would have imagined my own book (if I had ever written one). Sarah, you did a terrific job. Seriously, it is a very clear and precise book with wonderful information. Thanks for your great effort.
-Michael Jeffrey Stevens
I would like to recommend Sarah's "Modern Jazz Piano" as an intermediate guide for jazz concepts and improvisation. I run into a lot of kids that really need what's in this book so I will be recommending it all of my students.
-Dr. Billy Taylor
Just a quick note tell you that I think your book is excellent!
As I write this I have made it to about page 42 and am really
impressed with how well you have organized the concepts of
chord structure and voicings. I look through lots of
instructional materials every year, many of which are
"voicing" books. Your book is the best I have seen so far for
the age/experience level that I work with.
I will be requiring all of my HS pianists to buy this as both
reference and workbook. Thank you.
-Jim Cifelli-Jazz Director of Trinity HS, NYC
I just picked up your book Modern Jazz Piano last week. What a great, easy to read, how to manual. I sure wish I had this book 20 years ago. I would have got it together with a lot fewer wrong turns. I plan to use this book with my students. Thanks for the great resource. I received your Cd "Summer Night" as a year end gift from one of my students parents with great taste in jazz piano and I loved it. I was browsing through the collection of jazz books at my local music store and spotted the book with your name on it. What made me buy it was the logical layout. It is very easy to read and has many of the chord exercises I worked on over the years all in one book. It is easy enough for my students. This is also the first time in 23 years of searching that I have seen a book with drop 2 voicings and locked hand scales explained. You managed to get it all in there. If you are ever gigging in Vancouver look for me front row centre.
-Peter Friesen-Pianist and Teacher
Thank you for your WONDERFUL new Jazz Book !!!
It is absolutely fabulous!...so clearly presented....a pleasure to look at and think about..a great motivation to explore ideas, etc, etc !!! I will certainly use it for special students and recommend it to other teachers. It's certainly not only for jazz students. Every musician should know and understand all of this information. I'm sure the book will be a GREAT success !!! Brava to you !
I'm sooooooo proud of you !!!!!!!!
-Dianne Rahbee-teacher, composer, author
Modern Jazz Piano is a tool that can be used for reference and for supplementing lesson plans. Inside, one will find individual sections that cover listening, jazz harmony, theory, transcription and analysis. Many jazz instructors find success with a non-linear teaching approach that allows the use of resourses and materials from a wide variety of sources. Sarah Jane Cion's guide fits very well into this approach because it is a "go to" text that one could use to solidify weak areas in a student's skills, and it also can be used to supplement and reinforce newly introduced concepts.
It is evident throughout the guide that Cion has put her stamp of personal experience as a performer and educator on the included information and the pedagogical approach. This is in sharp contrast to other jazz method books that I have seen that are clearly not written by active "gigging" jazz musicians.
To me, the transcription section of the book and recorded compact disk are the most valuable. Many jazz teachers encourage students to play by ear, the recorded solos of well-known jazz piano players. The idea is to imitate and assimilate the style by ear, then move on the develp a personal style through innovation. For intermediate and early-advanced players, it is sometimes difficult to find satisfying solos that are not too difficult for the student to transcribe. This guide provides 15 intermediate/early-advanced recordings of original compositions that have historically informed and stylistically mainstream improvisations. The back of the guide also contains note-by-note transcriptions of these recordings for reference.
The Modern Jazz Piano Guide is a clear, concise tool that will help fill the gaps in many students' skills. The Guide will also help bridge the gap between beginning and advanced improvisors and will be especially useful for students who have progressed beyond the "get your feet wet" stage in jazz and are ready for intermediate-level concepts and training.
--David Roth, Music Teachers National Association
Just wanted to say a job well done. The book is concise and directly to the point taking the serious student through an actual step by step practice routine to get from point A to Z. It doesn't simply talk to the reader about jazz theory as so many of the other books do. It is as if you were seated beside the reader providing step by step guidance as any good teacher would. It appears your insight and talent know no bounds. Once again thanks for putting your talent out there for the world to benefit from.
-Alex Bohrer (Coolpianoteacher.com)
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