Classical habits, mindsets that are SABOTAGING your Jazz playing

5 minute read

It’s not long after getting into Jazz that pianists, especially those coming from a Classical background, come to the realization that Jazz piano is…really difficult! And not what they’re used to AT ALL.

This leads to questioning your musicality, confusion on what or how to practice, option paralysis, anxiety, and avoidance. The mind wants to revert back to the comfort zone of how we were taught and how to go about learning music.

The main issue is, we’re not used to thinking about how to practice improvisation and creativity in the moment. We don’t know exactly what to practice or what we should be practicing.

At least for me, this lack of structure and seemingly abstract process of getting too inside my own head used to drive me insane for a quite a long time.

The habits ingrained in Classical training can be both a blessing and a curse, as they form the very shackles that hinder your ascent into true Jazz piano growth.

In this post, we’ll dismantle the deep, detrimental practice habits that Classical pianists often find themsleves stuck in and unable to break out of, some without even realizing it:

• Strict Adherence to Sheet Music: In Classical piano, playing exactly as written is essential. Jazz requires creative improvisation and spontaneity. Over-reliance on sheet music can regress the development of improvisational skills in Jazz. The solution? LISTENING and developing your ears! You have to immerse yourself in it.

Jazz is a language. If you want to learn it, you have to listen to it all the time. It's how all the greats learned. They didn't have jazz schools, YouTube or books.

• Fear of Making Mistakes or Sounding “Bad”: Classical training often emphasizes perfection and minimizing mistakes. In Jazz, making mistakes is part of the learning process and can lead to exciting musical discoveries. Your mistakes become your style!

The fear of making mistakes can greatly stifle creativity and experimentation in Jazz playing, which is what being an improviser is all about: Experimenting.

The solution? EMBRACE mistakes and use them musically. Learn to accept and power through. It's absolutely crucial.

• Serious Lack of Ear Training: Classical pianists may have limited ear training experience, as Classical music often relies heavily on written notation. In Jazz, a well-developed ear is crucial for improvising, recognizing chord progressions, learning tunes and being able to play by ear.

What’s the best way to mitigate this? By LISTENING to Jazz, ALL THE TIME, learning forms and what common voicings and chord progressions sound like. You have to know the melody and be able to sing it by heart.

• Rigid Interpretation: In Classical piano, adhering to the composer’s intentions is essential. In Jazz, interpretation and personal expression are highly valued. The mindset of rigidly sticking to a prescribed interpretation or how a lead sheet notates a given melody is detrimental.

The solution? LISTEN to records and how the solist makes variations of the melody. Then try the same thing yourself!

• Relying on Technique Alone: Classical training places significant emphasis on technical skill and precision. While technique is essential in Jazz, relying solely on technical prowess can very much neglect other critical elements of Jazz such as improvisation, rhythm and swing feel, expressive phrasing, free playing and soloing. Just practicing exercises and scales without musicality or APPLICATION to real world situations, chord progressions and tunes is all for not.

• Lack of RHYTHM and Swing Feel: Classical pianists may struggle with internalizing and executing the swing feel and rhythmic nuances that define Jazz. Without a solid swing feel, jazz piano playing may sound stiff and mechanical. This is only natural because the rhythms and syncopations found in Jazz do not occur in Classical music and feel completely foreign and counterintuitive at first and for a while.

The solution? Just remember that i’ts about HOW you play, not WHAT you play. Keep working on your swing, articulation, rhythm and groove. Practice accenting every other note, the “Ands” of the beats, AKA offbeats, not the downbeats. The Blues and blues tunes are the best ways to develop your swing and rhythm.

• Avoidance of Improvisation: Classical pianists may be uncomfortable with the idea of improvising and some can avoid it altogether! Jazz is built on improvisation, and avoiding it limits a pianist’s ability to fully engage with the genre.

The part that sabotages this process is playing transcriptions only, playing a tune the same way every time and reverting back to the “Comfort Zone” of playing Classical music, or even practicing in a Classical way thinking scales, arpeggios and patterns will make you a better Jazz musician.

One MAJOR aspect that leads to avoiding improvisation is thinking you sound bad or that making a lot of mistakes makes you a bad player. We can’t stand to live with ourselves for our lack of ability to improvise effectively.

When we start out, our improv skills are limited. It’s a skill that takes a long time to develop and tons of refinement. I don’t know anyone who sounded great when they first started improvising. So what’s the solution?

The key is willing to try anything, whether it will work out to your expectations or NOT. To experiment and not be worried about if your playing is “good” or not.

In Jazz, you have to be a warrior. As an improviser, we want an EXPERIENCE. “What happens if I try _____?” “What will happen if I play _____ in ____ way? LET’S FIND OUT.”

Curiosity is the guiding light of being an improviser.

• Overemphasis on Classical Repertoire and Technique Exercises: Focusing solely on Classical repertoire can result in limited exposure to Jazz standards and the Jazz language. Exploring and learning Jazz repertoire is absolutely essential for developing your vocabulary and style.

You MUST be willing to break free from your comfort zone and explore something that is not completely laid out in front of you.

• Underestimating Harmony: Jazz piano heavily relies on an understanding of harmony and chord progressions. Classical pianists can underestimate the importance of mastering Jazz chords, substitutions, and progressions.

• Solo-Oriented Mindset: In Classical piano, solo performances are common. Jazz, however, is very much a collaborative art form with a focus on ensemble playing.

Thinking in a a solo-oriented mindset is perhaps THE GREATEST THING that hinders a pianist’s ability to interact and communicate effectively within a Jazz ensemble. You cannot practice Jazz alone in a vacuum. No Jazz musician, from any era, went about it alone. NONE.

The chasm between Classical and Jazz piano is bridged with determination, practice, and unlearning the habits and training we are taught.

YOU MUST BE OPEN TO NEW POSSIBILITIES AND WAYS OF LEARNING.

The habits engrained in the hallowed halls of classical training can either be roadblocks or stepping stones — your choice.

To overcome these harmful habits and mindsets, you need to prioritize ear training, embrace improvisation, study Jazz harmony, listen to Jazz recordings frequently and engage in collaborative playing with other Jazz musicians as much as you possibly can.

CALL TO ACTION: Be mindful of these Classical pitfalls, but also, be excited. Jazz is an adventure — a realm where rhythm, harmony, and improvisation merge. Dive into recordings, connect with experienced Jazz musicians, and learn to change your mindset.

Remember, it’s a journey of transformation and you have to reverse engineer much of what you were previously taught and be open to new and, admitedly, uncomfortable situations. Rest assured, you get used to it AND LEARN TO ACCEPT IT, over time.

Are you a Classically trained pianist and have no idea where to start with Jazz piano or what to focus on? Check out my ebook on exactly where to start and key steps for success.

Overwhelmed with what do practice, or how to organize your practice? Download my free practice structuring guide.