Spaghetti Junction – Dixieland Swing – Beginner (Grade 0-1)

Description

Spaghetti Junction is an easygoing Dixieland swing solo in C major, ideal for beginner pianists who are working towards the Grade 1 standard (ABRSM, AMEB or RCM).

This piece features swung eighth notes quavers in three simple patterns, and is a great way to help develop a relaxed jazz swing feel. To begin with, try listening to the performance recording whilst tapping the swing rhythms of the melody in each hand. Notice how the hands alternate as if they are answering each other.

Then try playing each hand separately on the piano, listening to the other hand's 'reply' in the performance recording (watch out in bar 9 though, as the left hand takes the lead!).

At the time of writing this piece, many piano teachers across the world have had to teach their students via online video, which I have discovered is certainly a challenge! A fun way to work with Spaghetti Junction in an online lesson is when the teacher and student play one hand each in a 'call and response' manner. This approach provides an interactive approach to learning the piece despite the video call time lag.

This piano sheet music also provides plenty of opportunities to introduce legato phrasing, dynamics and staccato articulations. It's also really useful for counting practice - try playing each hand separately again, but this time using a metronome to provide a steady beat.

As a final spaghetti twist, the right hand ends the piece by crossing over the left hand to play the last beat of the bar.

Spaghetti Junction comes with the following free audio downloads:

• Performance recording (with piano and backing).
• Play-along backing track (with tuba, drums and guitar).
• Slow tempo practice backing track.