THE BOUNCE by Zoe Rahman | ABRSM 2025 & 2026 Grade 6 C2 Piano Tutorial

Описание: C:2 – The Bounce by Zoe Rahman (*1971)

Note from ABRSM
Zoe Rahman is a jazz pianist and composer of British Bengali and Irish heritage. She studied classical piano at the Royal Academy of Music, London, and Oxford University before winning a scholarship to study jazz performance at Berklee College of Music, Boston.

The 'bounce' of the title is reflected in the interesting syncopations, the bluesy feel further reinforced by the use of open fourths and fifths. It's a piece with attitude: angular and edgy, ranging across the keyboard with infectious drive.

Note from channel
Difficulty evaluation (for Grade 6): 9/10

The Bounce captures a bold, rhythmic energy with its bluesy syncopations and open intervals. Focus on maintaining a steady groove, even when the rhythms become complex or off-beat. Tap through the rhythms with a metronome before playing to build a strong internal pulse and feel the underlying quaver beat.

Pay particular attention to accents – they are crucial for the character of the piece but difficult to place with precision. Be patient and practise slowly to build rhythmic accuracy and confidence. The section from bars 25 to 37 presents particular rhythmic challenges, so isolate and repeat tricky passages until they feel natural.

Throughout, the flow of the music should remain uninterrupted – try to avoid a mechanical feel by shaping the phrases and keeping the energy alive. In the final five bars, the mood broadens and opens out. Keep counting carefully in bar 49 to avoid rushing through the longer note values, allowing the piece to end with clarity and presence.

#pianogradepathway #abrsmpiano #jazzpiano