LearnJazzPiano.com archives: When is the right time to take jazz lessons?

jace -- 08/20/2006, 22:24:57 -- #29399

Do you need to have experience just playing the piano before taking jazz piano lessons?  I haven't been playing that long I've been playing for 2 years to be exact and i just learned how to play fur elise and moonlight sonata. I don't know if i will be prepared to take jazz lessons with my lack of playing experience. classical lessons teach you how to read off of paper and jazz teaches  you how to use chords and to how to play from fake books.

jazzwee -- 08/20/2006, 23:50:52 -- #29399

Now is the time. Go for it. There is no distinction in time between jazz and classical. The basic mechanics are the same and will both be taught in either genre. Things like reading music, technique training, and playing scales are the same basics. So once you know the basics (which you appear to have) of the instrument, you can begin jazz specific studies.

Jazz+ -- 08/21/2006, 10:39:16 -- #29399

After twoi years you should be ready. But do yourself and your teacher a favor and go online and learn the difference between a major, minor, diminished and augmented triad. Learn those four types of triads in all 12 keys. Then learn what the various 7th chords (C Maj7, C7, C-7 ) are and what a "ii V I" is.

CynBad -- 08/21/2006, 15:15:34 -- #29399

It depends on the teacher, but it sounds like you are ready. Some jazz teachers do not want to teach beginners the fundamentals of piano and music theory.  They want someone who already knows the names of the notes, reads notation, and knows how to play a bit.

nate_smith -- 08/21/2006, 19:08:05 -- #29399

i've been playing about the same amount of time, except i had no teacher for classical and was bored. so i started jazz. its fun and if u stick to it u can get results quick. well anyway thats my two cents. go for it!!! nate

jace -- 08/23/2006, 23:09:01 -- #29399

Do you have a jazz teacher nate?  Jazz teachers usually don't teach out of sheet music.  I want to learn how chords work and learn how to build chords.  Most sheet music have crappy arrangments so i want to learn chord theory so i can arrange my my way and make the song sound more interesting.

nate_smith -- 08/25/2006, 11:16:17 -- #29399

yep. i actually have a teacher, i've been taking lessons for about a year. while lessons are good. it requires me to do a lot of stuff outside of lessons. my teachers show me tunes and how to play them. but much of the theory i've got to learn on my own. i've taken theory in college so its has helped a lot. i might also recommend a few books. although my teacher does not like to teach out of books. you should try the jazz piano book by mark levine. its has great instruction for many styles of playing. its has great explanation but lacks in showing you ways to apply it. there is book that goes good with that and shows you application techniques is the Phil DeGreg's "Jazz Keyboard Harmony."  this is a great book for applying what your learning and put it to practical use. Well I hope this Helps, Nathan hope this helps. nate

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