Jazz Tutorial: Creating an Artistic Interpretation of a Song with Piano. Someday My Prince Will Come – Pro LevelYou can check level 3 (Advanced level) in this post here: Jazz Tutorial: Advanced Arrangement of Someday My Prince Will Come

Jazz music is known for its improvisational nature and artistic interpretation of songs. In this tutorial, we’ll explore how to create an artistic interpretation of a song on the piano, using the example of a dreamy and impressionistic version of a jazz standard.

First, it’s important to adopt the perspective of an artist. Think of yourself as a painter, using colors and textures to create a unique version of the song. The piano has a wide range of dynamics and articulations that can be used to create a broad spectrum of sound.

In this version of the song, the intro is a departure from the original arrangement, but it still has elements of the original melody and harmony. The intro showcases the versatility of the piano, using sudden moments of loud and soft, and gradual crescendos and diminuendos.

To create an artistic interpretation of the song, it’s important to keep in mind the tools available to us, including the piano’s range and articulations. In the intro, we see a nice long legato run in measure 6, followed by a nice implementation of separated and detached staccato notes. There’s also a good illustration of subtle dynamics in the B/D7 chord in the second measure, which pops out of nowhere and fades into a softer dynamic in the Ebmaj7#11 chord.

Throughout the intro, we see examples of how the melody is present, even if it’s not super obvious. For example, the F note is the 5th of the F chord, and then it jumps up to an A# (Bb), the #11 of the F#/E7#11 chord. Then it jumps down to be the F#, the 3rd of the D7 chord. The melody is also present in the voicings of the chords, sometimes as the highest note and other times as an interior note.

One way to create an artistic interpretation of a song is to re-harmonize it. In this version, the only reharmonized chord is the F#/E7#11. One way to approach re-harmonization is to consider what chord tone the melody note could be, and plug that chord in.

Upper structures are also a great tool for creating new colors and textures in jazz music. In this version, we see examples of upper structure triads, upper structure quartals, and upper structure pentatonic voicings.

To create your own artistic interpretation of a song, experiment with different chords, voicings, dynamics, and articulations. Remember that the piano is a versatile instrument, and there are countless ways to paint your picture with sound.

In conclusion, creating an artistic interpretation of a song on the piano requires a perspective of an artist, a deep understanding of the piano’s range and articulations, and a willingness to experiment with different chords and voicings. Keep the melody in mind, even if it’s not super obvious, and use tools like reharmonization and upper structures to create new colors and textures. With these tools and techniques, you can create a unique and beautiful version of any song.

If you want access to all of these arrangements (Beginner’s • Intermediate • Advanced • Pro) you can download them here: Someday My Prince Will Come in 4 levels