Piano: Classical Before Jazz?

[saxymanzach]

So, I have been on and off for about a year now trying to teach myself piano. i have sat down and tried to figure out voicings and i can play a blues at about 20 bpm. :D
Do you think that perhaps my lack of improvment is due to not having a technical backgroud? Should I learn to play some classical first to build up some chops or will the fluency come with time if I skip the classical part?
Thanks in advance!

[gary]

So, I have been on and off for about a year now trying to teach myself piano...Do you think that perhaps my lack of improvment is due to not having a technical backgroud? Should I learn to play some classical first to build up some chops or will the fluency come with time if I skip the classical part?
Zach, Zach my man. You keep asking questions you know the answer to. ;)
On sax, did you learn to improvise and play jazz without working on your fundamental techniques?

You don't have to work on Chopin, per se, to play decent jazz piano but a decent familiarity (and trips to the woodshed) with Czerny or similar technical studies would be in order, don't you think?

[hgiles]

If piano is a second instrument, I would suggest just playing what you want to play on it. Copy records, learn tunes from fake books. Learn a couple of cool voicings and just have fun with the piano.

[saxymanzach]

On sax, did you learn to improvise and play jazz without working on your fundamental techniques?

I never thought about it that way, Gary. I think tou might have something there. I see the light! :angel4: :sunny:

Thanks.

[gary]

I see the light! :angel4: :sunny:
LOL!

[feefifofum]

Definitely. Don't try to run, before you can walk :p

[Robaldo]

Czerny argh!

Don't do it!!!

Play what you want to play and you won't end up giving it up cos it's dull as dishwater (which Czerny certainly is!)

[jaysne]

I think your lack of improvement is due to not having a teacher. Sure you gots to lay out bread for a mentor, but you will improve much more quickly and will receive invaluable advice that you could never figure out for yourself. (For example, you may be using incorrect fingering patterns which are hindering your development. A teacher would correct this in an instant.)

[Al Stevens]

I took a few piano lessons as a kid, abandoned them for jazz piano, and never looked back. I've played jazz piano professionally since I was 18.

If you are sufficiently motivated, you can do it. And the literature today for jazz piano is much more than we had in the 1950s—which was zilch.