Crucial Mindsets If You Have a Classical Background

5 minute read

It doesn’t take much time after starting that pianists coming from a Classical background realize that Jazz is, well, REALLY HARD!

And not what they’re used to AT ALL.

But shouldn’t it be an easy transition because we already know how to play the piano??

Unfortunately, it’s not the same! It’s literally like starting over again with learning your instrument and learning a new, difficult foreign language.

Why is this??

It’s because many of the rhythms, chords and voicings, harmony, progressions and general techniques simply don’t occur in Classical music. Especially improvising/soloing!

The biggest thing is that progress is not and can’t be measured in the same way: It’s much more gradual, slower and not nearly as tangible or noticeable as progress with Classical music.

Progress is not linear, as Jazz is so vast that it can’t be learned in a systematic, orderly way. You learn as you go along.

This lack of structure, seemingly unnoticeable progress and new, challenging ways of playing that we’re not used to and have never done before, can be incredibly frustrating for Classical pianists. I know it most certainly was for me.

Even though Jazz tunes are typically short and deceivingly easy in terms of length or how they look on a lead sheet, they take just as much work as learning a Classical piece, in different ways.

I see it very commonly with my students, they try a new tune and after a few days get overwhelmed or frustrated that they’re “Not making progress”, even though it’s only been a few days! It’s equivalent to learning a Classical piece that would take 1–2 months to get down and feeling like you won’t get it after only a few days.

Another incredibly common aspect of learning Jazz piano is there’s literally an endless amount of things to practice and work on. It’s very easy to become overwhelmed with what you should be learning as well as knowing the sheer amount of just how much there is to practice.

So knowing all those things, how do we address them? How do we deal with the overwhelm, confusion and inevitable frustration?

How can we best keep positive mindsets and set ourselves up with success, especially when the going gets tough and just starting out?

Here’s the thing(s):

Jazz takes time to learn and get better at. A long time. It’s a long term investment. It’s about the journey, not the destination. It will take much longer than you think or want it to take.

It’s vitally important to realize and accept that you cannot practice everything in Jazz. It would take more than one lifetime to achieve the thundering Blues lines of Oscar Peterson, the harmonic complexity of Bill Evans or the modal mastery of McCoy Tyner.

You are learning a difficult foreign language. It’s the exact same thing. Much like it takes years to become fluent, Jazz is similar. You will learn as you go along. Acceptance that it will take time and learning to enjoy the process is critical.

Enjoy and be more curious about the process, rather than the end product. It’s music, so have fun with it! Take risks. Experiment. Try things out. EMBRACE mistakes. Be curious. Play what you HEAR. Hear what you want to play.

Listen to Jazz and Jazz piano regularly. Religiously, even. I find that listening is the single biggest motivator for learning Jazz and is a key factor in staying curious, staying motivated and absorbing the Jazz language.

Listening is probably the single most important thing you could do, as Jazz is an aural art form. Just like learning a language, you need to immerse yourself in to understand the subtleties, vocabulary, inflections, phrasing, how Jazz musicians communicate and conversate with each other, how people speak (improvise), everything.

Know and accept it’s going to take time, consistent practice and hard work. There’s no getting around the work and there really are no shortcuts. Anyone who is any good at jazz has worked their tails off. Just like learning Classical piano, the first 5 years are the hardest. Just know that it does get easier with time and practice!

Stay positive, open minded and find others to play and connect with for a positive and supportive environment. Engage with online forums, Discord channels or local music communities to connect with fellow musicians. Share your progress and setbacks with your musical peers, fostering a supportive network.

Improvising is about trying things, exploring, experimenting. Always be asking yourself “What would happen if I do _____?” What will it sound like if I play it in ____ way?” Let’s find out.

Write out very specific goals. Do you want to get good at: Blues? Bebop? Ballads? Solo piano? Playing in a group/band? Accompanying singers? Soloing? Comping? Modal playing? Fusion? Neo Soul?

Write down a list of your strengths in one column and weaknesses in another. Be very honest with yourself! Always work on your weaknesses in your practice. You should not try to sound good when you’re practicing. You should always focus on one thing in your practice that you really suck at.

Devise a regular and consistent time to practice, as well as a practice plan for each session. It’s better to focus on one specific goal you have, or work on one tune for an entire practice season, than to try and do too many things at once or try and learn 5 tunes in one practice session. Less is more as they say.

It can be easy to get overwhelmed or discouraged. It’s critically important to devise a practice plan where you’re not working on too many different things and also working on things that are challenging yet achievable. You want to feel good about what you practice!

If you’re getting burned out or deeply discouraged, it’s perfectly fine to take a small break! Play other styles of piano. Do non-music hobbies. Be kind to yourself.

Practice talking to yourself, and thinking about your progress and practice POSITIVELY. This is SUPER important! You’re at where you’re at and you have to just keep going and focus on yourself and getting better for yourself. Not what other players think of you, or “how far you have to go.” You have to learn to ENJOY THE PROCESS.

Why? You will form stronger memory bonds by focusing on less things, even just one thing and practicing it repetitively. The great jazz pianist Harold Mabern once said, “It’s not what you gain. It’s what you retain.”

By implementing these tailored approaches, you’re not just learning jazz piano — you’re embarking on a transformative journey of growth and self-discovery. If you keep the right mindsets, work hard, practice and study diligently and play with others, it WILL happen for you! It might not happen right away or for a long time, but I promise one day everything will just “click.”

Are you a Classically trained pianist or new to Jazz piano and don’t know where to start or how to structure your practice? Check out my comprehensive 75+ page ebook for exactly where to start and what to focus on and how to get started right away!

And for for structuring and organizing your practice, check out my free 8-page guide and learn the 5 Steps.

Check out my YouTube Channel for Tutorials and more!