“Body & Soul” Full Walk Through
Welcome to the final lesson in our module on the jazz standard “Body & Soul” for beginners. In this concluding session, we bring together everything we’ve learned, playing through the entire song while discussing key insights into how to approach the tune as both a performer and arranger.
Playing Through the Entire Song
This lesson begins with a full play through of “Body & Soul”. As we progress through the piece, Hayden shares his thought process on the chord progressions, transitions between sections, and the overall structure of the tune.
This will help you understand how to think about the music from the perspective of a jazz pianist and not simply in terms of the notes on the page.
Chord Voicings & Modulations
As we move through the tune, several important concepts are emphasised:
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Voicing Choices: How the melody and underlying harmony often dictate the type of voicings we can use.
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Chord Progressions: Special focus on the 2-5-1 progressions, which are essential in jazz harmony, and how to navigate them smoothly.
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Handling Modulations: The tune’s modulations from Db major to D major and then to C major present unique challenges. We discuss how to make these modulations sound seamless and natural.
Reflecting On Your Jazz Piano Journey
In the 2nd part of the lesson, we delve into how to view jazz standards like “Body and Soul” as part of your broader jazz piano education. We discuss how our jazz standard arrangements should be seen as fluid, evolving works. The arrangement you learn today will grow and change as you progress in your studies, incorporating more advanced techniques and theory over time.
Demonstrating Advanced Techniques
We briefly touch upon some advanced arranging techniques covered in our “Elegant Stride Piano” course which focuses on “Body & Soul”. This sneak peek into more sophisticated voicings and stride techniques shows how the foundational skills you’re developing now will pave the way for more complex and expressive playing in the future.
By the end of this lesson, you’ll not only have the tools to play “Body and Soul” confidently but also the mindset to continue evolving your interpretation of this classic jazz standard as you advance in your jazz piano journey.
Practice Tips
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Focus on Continuity: When playing through the entire piece, prioritise keeping the flow of the music, even if you make small mistakes, don't stop playing.
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Master the Modulations: Pay particular attention to the song's key changes. Practice transitioning smoothly from Db major, to D major, and C major to ensure a seamless performance.
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Reinforce 2-5-1 Progressions: These progressions are central to the song’s structure. Work on voicing them in different registers to add variety and depth to your playing.
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Evolution: Remember that our interpretation of "Body & Soul" should evolve over time. As you learn more advanced techniques, revisit the song and apply new concepts to continually enhance your arrangement.