Saturdays 1:30–3 pm, 9/26–12/5; No class 11/28
| Age | Adult |
| Event Type | Class |
| Department | Piano and Keys |
| Day | Sat |
| Instructor | Jeanne Walpole |
| Status | inperson event |
Bridge the gap between classical and jazz piano. This class is designed for pianists ready to move beyond traditional notation and begin interpreting chord symbols, playing from lead sheets, and exploring improvisation.
Students develop harmonic literacy by learning to recognize and play tonic–dominant progressions and common turnarounds, develop fluency with chord inversions in all keys, and understand how chords function within a tune. Along the way, the course introduces the fundamentals of improvisation in a clear and accessible way, helping students grow more confident making musical decisions in real time.
Ideal for those with a classical background who want to become less dependent on fully notated scores and more comfortable navigating harmony independently, this class also provides strong preparation for Jazz Piano 1.
Saturdays 1:30–3 pm
9/26–12/5
No class 11/28
Jeanne Walpole, $450
(in-person)
Prerequisite
Basic functional piano skills.
Materials
Handouts provided.
About Jeanne Walpole
Jeanne Walpole holds an M.A. in Music Theory from San Francisco State University and pursued graduate piano studies at the Manhattan School of Music. She earned her B.A. from Smith College and studied with renowned jazz pianist Dick Hindman from 1990 to 2003.
In addition to teaching, Jeanne has performed extensively as a pianist, including a long-standing engagement at Nordstrom.
Student Reviews
“Jeanne shows a mastery of teaching pedagogy and expert knowledge about the music content.”
“Jeanne is a really good teacher! Funny, supportive, and really good at connecting the dots. I wish she was teaching more classes—I’d love to take something else from her.”