Review: Pronto Pizazz

Lesson resources, Reviews

What is better than some great piano solo’s? Great solos that have pizazz of course!

Jennifer Eklund of Piano Pronto has a book for your students that if you don’t already have you will want to grab it now! Pronto Pizazz is written for your early elementary to elementary students. First, the cover is absolutely beautiful with exciting colors and design that pop with pizazz! Inside your students will be able to enjoy 16 easy contemporary solos. You will find fun rhythms and various styles of music.

These solos are so fun to play but what makes Pronto Pizazz the book to have is truly the teacher duets that are included with every piece. Jennifer understands that the accompaniments are just as important as the solos. They can help the solos sound even more rich and stylistic. As Jennifer has said in different showcases that I’ve attended “I want to open young ears up to fresh, contemporary harmonies beyond the standard primary triads found in a lot of beginning level teacher accompaniments and also to syncopated rhythms so they can start internalizing common beat patterns.”

No more ‘oom-pah-pah’ accompaniments. Students can now play along with rich melodies and harmonies! Matter of fact, these teacher accompaniments can stand totally on their own as well. I have even used one with a student to learn as a supplementary solo piece for fun. There is another piece that I’m seriously thinking of having a student play the teacher part as their solo for the spring recital! Jennifer has even mentioned the teacher accompaniments are also great sight-reading material for intermediate students.

Who knew that you can get so much bang for your buck? Seriously! It’s pretty amazing! As with all of Jennifer Eklund’s music, you can see every page of Pronto Pizazz and listen to every piece in the book at PianoPronto.com.

83 Comments

  1. annafagan

    LOVE Jennifer’s music, and excited about this new collection for my early level students!

    Reply
  2. Amy Sadler

    I would be thrilled to win a copy of this book. Looks fun!

    Reply
  3. earthsong2013

    I have heard so much about Jennifer’s music, but haven’t had the opportunity to try it yet. Would love to win this music!

    Reply
    • Mary loncharte

      I haven’t used this book yet but I would love too. Please pick me if you can. I am fast becoming a fan of the Jennifer music and have been introducing it to my students in Cincinnati. I would love a copy of this book. Thank you so much!!

      Reply
  4. Shirlee

    My students love the piano pronto opportunities provided by Jennifer!

    Reply
  5. Brenda P

    I would love to try out these creative and appealing pieces!

    Reply
  6. Rachel

    I need this book! I’ve been looking at it and it is perfect for my beginners!

    Reply
  7. Dorothy Mullikin

    I love playing duets with my students! It really helps them to keep a steady beat and enriches the sound. It would be a perfect addition to my music library!

    Reply
  8. Marina

    I would love to have a copy of this book and try it out in my studio!

    Reply
  9. mycgrimsby

    I once gained a transfer student who told me that her previous teacher *never* played the teacher duet. Ever since then, I’ve committed to play nearly every teacher duet part with my students. This book looks like it has wonderful teacher parts that would sound even better than what’s out there now. Thanks!

    Reply
  10. lbula

    i love Jennier Eklund’s music. Her teacher duet parts help even my newest students play with more musical expression. I’d love to win her new book!

    Reply
  11. holora

    I would love to receive a copy of this, had bought the value pack lesson books.

    Reply
  12. Laurie Lightbody

    I just listened to some of these songs and they sound so fun! I would love to win a copy to use with my beginner students who get bored with their other songs.

    Reply
  13. Karen

    I would love to explore this book with my students!

    Reply
  14. Lisa

    Would love to have this with one particular student in mind but I’m sure many would enjoy it.

    Reply
  15. syrinx0813

    My students would love this!

    Reply
  16. Marg

    I’ve heard so much about Piano Pronto! Would love to win a copy and find out what all the buzz is about!

    Reply
  17. Lindsey

    Can’t get enough Pronto in my studio!

    Reply
  18. Susan

    This will be so fun to try with students!

    Reply
  19. Evelyn

    Love Piano Pizazz! Need to get more!

    Reply
  20. Crystal

    Jennifer knows how to write excellent duet accompaniments and student pleasers! Bring on the Pizzazz!

    Reply
  21. Marion

    I love Jennifer’s music and would love to have this book.

    Reply
  22. Lori

    I would love to win this to share with one of my students!

    Reply
  23. Heather

    I would love to explore this book.

    Reply
  24. Geri Miller

    I have been impressed with Jennifer’s music and would love to have “Pronto Pizazz”! Looks like lots of fun!

    Reply
  25. leeannelane@gmail.com

    I’m using Piano Pronto with some of my students now and absolutely love it! I would love to win this book!

    Reply
  26. Fran

    Sounds Great, new jazz book!

    Reply
  27. tbjslocum

    Yes….this book is being enjoyed by one of my students. I could use another one.

    Reply
  28. Carla

    I just started using this book and love it! Could definitely use another one.

    Reply
  29. Rebecca

    My students love her music – I could use another copy for sure!

    Reply
  30. Lasanthie

    I love to use this with my beginners. We enjoy duets so much.

    Reply
  31. Tami Fields

    All of my students will love this! Thanks!:)

    Reply
  32. Karen C

    I love Jennifer Eklunds’ books! Would love to add this to my collection.

    Reply
  33. Jean Rock

    These pieces sound delightful. I would love to win a copy to add to my studio library. Thanks for the opportunity!

    Reply
  34. Carrie Lindsay

    I would love to be entered in the giveaway. Thank you, Jennifer!

    Reply
  35. Nancy

    Using her Pronto series and love it!

    Reply
  36. Gwyn Goertzen

    I too would love to win this book. It would be a good resource
    for me.

    Reply
  37. Carla Faye

    I have Kickoff thru Book 4 and use her constantly.

    Reply
  38. Suzanne

    Been wanting to try some of these…and we love duets in my studio!

    Reply
  39. Jeannie

    I use the Piano Pronto series. I like the progression of what is being taught and when it is being taught.

    Reply
  40. Kimberly

    I love this book! The teacher parts make the solo sound fantastic… definitely not your run of the mill duets!

    Reply
  41. Brad Garner

    Love Jennifer’s music

    Reply
  42. Anita

    Love Piano Pronto! This book is pizazz-tastic!

    Reply
  43. robynfehrenbacher

    Love the Pizzaz book. I look forward to lessons more when I can play great music like this with my students. And so do they!

    Reply
  44. Misty

    Can’t wait to try Pronto Pizazz! Switching my entire piano studio over this summer.

    Reply
  45. Cortney Toumayan

    I started switching my students over to Piano Pronto, and I’m having tremendous success! Yesterday, one little boy told a prospective student’s grandfather, “There’s just so many fun songs in here that I love to play!”.
    I’d love to add this book to my studio… Wait, no… I NEEEED to add this book to my studio. 😉

    Reply
  46. Sarah

    I love this book, and so do my students! It would be GREAT to win a copy!

    Reply
  47. Kim Propp

    Getting ready to switch three more students over to Pronto. 🙂

    Reply
  48. Kelly Koch

    I am so excited to try Pronto Pizzazz! I want to pair-up some of my more advanced students with my little ones. I’ve heard SO many good things about this book!!

    Reply
  49. Hope Noar

    Pronto Pizazz has really rocked my piano studio! Finally there are duets that project the kind of songs I love to teach my students…..funky, upbeat, and exciting duets! In all my years of teaching, I have never seen such excitement in my studio. Thank you Jennifer Eklund! These songs could have been written for me because they are my style of music!

    Reply
  50. Amy Murphy

    I love this book! It has made a difference in my students abilities to count rhythm and have so much fun . Even a beginner sounds amazing! A great additon to recitals. Love the teacher parts. My advanced students are amazing when they learn the teacher duet parts. Thank you Jennifer! Piano pronto is the best!

    Reply
  51. Alecia Toner Russell

    Can’t wait to try Pronto Pizzazz! My students always love Jennifer’s music.

    Reply
  52. Janelle

    Love the duets in this book!

    Reply
  53. Mark Paulson

    In my opinion, if I was only going to buy one Pronto book, this is the one I would buy. It is the best of the best

    Reply
  54. Karen T

    Going to use this book during summer lessons.

    Reply
  55. Marilyn

    Just started pizzazz and find it a good place to count and listen. My little gal loves it!

    Reply
  56. Kate

    I LOVE everything I’ve ever played or heard by Jennifer Eklund. How fantastic to have such a rich and interesting book of pieces for students who are just starting out!

    Reply
  57. Christine Danielewicz

    My first student to use Pizazz played “Out of the Fog” for our recent music festival and earned an Excellent rating! Looking forward to more of this!

    Reply
  58. Marcia K

    Have just started using Jennifer’s music and am looking forward to promoting more of it with my piano students.

    Reply
  59. Donna Reed

    I’m having GREAT success with Jennifer’s music in my studio! My students of all ages LOVE her music and I do, too!!!

    Reply
  60. Lisa Moore

    I love this book!

    Reply
  61. Vickie

    Love your phrase, no more oom-pah-pah!! That is so true for most supplemental parts!! I don’t have this book, would love to add it to my Jennifer basket! :). :).

    Reply
  62. Mallory

    This is by far THE best beginner level music I have some across. All of my students LOVE it!

    Reply
  63. Melinda Lise Pokorzynski

    I’m pretty new to the Piano Pronto books! I just recently began using them this year, and I so far have really loved each piece and so are my students!! We are having a ton of fun. I have lots more to share with my students as we continue to unfold all the music. We haven’t yet tried any of the duets, so this book would be a wonderful addition to the collection! Thanks Jennifer, for all you are doing every single week!

    Reply
  64. Kathy

    Jazzy Blog Candy….what could be better?

    Reply
  65. Jeanne

    All my beginning students have this book! Wonderful music with fun accompaniments. Good variety and every one of the pieces are great. A must have in my studio. Even beginners can sound amazing!

    Reply
  66. Mary Beth A. Keppel

    After months of searching of new method books that I can use for my studio as replacement for my old ones. I came across with Piano Pronto books and no idea how the music was arranged. Am superb attracted with the cover page and seing on the other hand was a beautiful arrangements. Just contacted Jennifer via email after a month or 2 and decided to purchased books. I got so excited and cant wait to have it on hand so I asked Jennifer to place an order for me since I’m a starter. Now, I got It and even place another order. 🙂

    Reply
  67. Noreen Fredriksen

    I love all of Jennifer’s music and so do my students!

    Reply
  68. Lisa

    Love this book!! And love Jennifer’s music!

    Reply
  69. Karen Lander

    Great to have more of Jennifer’s original solos. My students love them and I love an excuse to play with them!

    Reply
  70. Kay

    Last week one of my students, a 22 year old boy, came for his lesson and told me from the first second that he was so busy this week and forgot to bring all his stuff and books for our lesson. I tried to be positive and said him, “No problem, now relax and we will do sight reading for whole lesson.” First, let me tell you why he wanted to have lessons at his age. He really wanted to understand how to sight read music so that he will be able to play his favorite music ( from computer games, 80 -th pop, classical, etc). I put in front of him the Pizazz Book and from the first piece we began to sight reading and play duets. At the first moment when he saw how easy the Student parts were, he was a little disappointed. But when we started to play together, his interest and emotions increased more and more. Of course I gave him extra time, and at the end of our lesson he said me: “Wow, that was fun!” And I answered, “Maybe you should forget your stuff at home from time to time and we will do sight reading next time too”. So, this is the reason why I would like to win and present to my big boy student one of the first book by Jennifer Eklund.

    Reply
  71. Lavinia Livingston

    Students love Jennifer’s music. It’s energetic with patterns that fall easily under the hand and fingers.

    Reply
  72. Terri

    New to piano pronto! just bought the complete series few days ago and can’t wait for the package to come.

    Reply
  73. Julia T.

    I love the duets in this book!

    Reply
  74. Bernie

    I love Pronto Piano and would love to try Pronto Pizazz!

    Reply
  75. Kim

    Love, love, love Piano Pronto!! Looking forward to trying out Pizazz!:-)

    Reply
  76. Laurie McFarland

    I have a student with whom I’d LOVE to use this book! Love Piano Pronto!

    Reply
  77. Jean Rock

    I would love to try out this fun music. It would definitely perk up my studio!

    Reply

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