The Associated Board's Jazz Piano series is a comprehensive introduction to the world of jazz. A pioneering set of publications and a rigorously planned syllabus provide the building blocks you need to play jazz with imagination, understanding and style and to improvise effectively right from the start.

The skill of playing unpreparedly in a lively, musical, creative and accurate way is at the very heart of every jazz performance. the quick study, requiring the recreation of a previously unseen or unheard short head followed by an improvised response, practices this crucial skill. It will give you the confidence to learn repertoire more effectively and to prepare for the very real demands of busking through those unrehearsed situations which are a regular feature in a jazz musician's life.

As an accompaniment to the Board's jazz piano syllabus, this book contains a set of practice quick studies for Grades 1 to 5. Covering a wide variety of jazz styles, the studies will require you to play in both swing and straight quavers from Grade 1, and to use swing, rock and latin grooves. An invaluable introduction to the book explains the concept behind quick study, useful ways to extend and develop activities related to it, details of the exam and what the examiner will be looking for.