What do George Gershwin's "Summertime" and Bobby Hebb's "Sunny" have in common?
Different composers. Different generations. Different musical styles.
Yet both compositions draw upon the same fundamental melodic vocabulary: the minor pentatonic scale.
In this Jazz Piano Skills podcast episode, Dr. Bob Lawrence explores how familiar melodic shapes, sounds, and movements connect jazz standards—and how understanding those relationships can strengthen your jazz piano playing.
Discover why learning a new jazz standard doesn't necessarily mean learning new musical material. Often, it means recognizing and creatively applying musical vocabulary you already know.
This YouTube presentation features the free portion of the Jazz Piano Skills podcast episode. To continue your study, explore the complete lesson and accompanying educational materials available to Jazz Piano Skills members at https://jazzpianoskills.com.
Summertime: Melodic Analysis
Five Notes. Two Composers. Two Musical Masterpieces.
In this episode, you'll discover, learn, and play:
• The surprising minor pentatonic connection between Summertime and Sunny
• How scale motion, arpeggiated movement, and rhythm shape memorable melodies
• A practical five-step approach to melodic analysis
• How to identify melodic phrases and target notes
• Why listening, imitation, and internal singing are essential to musical expression
• How to interpret the same melody using ballad, swing, and bossa nova treatments
Plus, in this week's Question of the Week, Dr. Lawrence explores why changing a groove doesn't automatically change your melodic interpretation—and how to develop the ability to truly express a melody rather than simply reproduce its notes.
Jazz Piano Skills members continue the lesson at the piano with seven lead sheets, educational illustrations, and play-along tracks designed to develop melodic understanding, musical phrasing, and practical jazz piano skills.
The music must exist in your musical imagination before it can exist in your hands.
Remember, the goal isn't to collect more musical information. It's to become more musical with the information you already possess.
Discover • Learn • Play
Visit JazzPianoSkills.com to explore membership and continue your jazz piano journey with Dr. Bob Lawrence.