Hi folks,

I've just taken my Grade 2 Piano exam and I'm thinking now might be a good time to do Grade 1 Jazz piano.

I'm just wondering what most people think is best - to do one "normal" grade, then a jazz, back to "normal" etc or to study for Grade 3 Piano and Grade 1 Jazz simultaneously?

Hi,

I have asked myself this qusetion as well. Is it really necessary to do Jazz exams since we can also play jazz music during our normal lessons.

Does your teacher has additional Jazz Music Teaching certificate or she is just a normal teacher?

Rgds
Janice

Whether to do them simultaneously or not, i'd say it probably depends on how you work. If doing them one after the other, it means you can have some fun with the one you're not taking an exam on and concentrate really hard on the exam. Then again, if exams help you or you'd prefer to get them 'out the way' and then have some fun on jazz and classical together, then why not!?!
I've just bought the grade 7 'normal' pieces book and am starting the grade 4 jazz stuff. I had a trial jazz lesson last week and the teacher said that grade 4 jazz is about 'normal' grade 6. So jazz is probably 1 or 2 grades behind classical.

Really. I thought jazz was harder.

Yeh, that's what i think i meant-if you're say, grade 4 classical then you'll probably only be about grade2/3 jazz. At least, that's what i believe but obviously for each individual it varies - this is just a general application of a rule.

People will have their opinions but I think jazz is a totally different ball game to classical and I think that it's hard to say that one is harder than the other. I think it may seem easier for some people, doing jazz, but it is a different skill. When I first saw the jazz piano syllabus, I was really intrigued. I got the books and I thought it would be relatively easy but I learnt that it is not so easy as I thought it might be. Learning to improvise and "feel" the chord changes in the music is something that develops and I would say doesn't just happen over night. I was grade 8 piano (classical) before I delved into the jazz syllabus but I never looked back once I had bought the "Jazz Piano from Scratch" book. I thought I might be able to do about grade 3, but I looked at the book and the improvising looked a bit daunting, so to grade 1 I went!

I find it great to be able to play both classical and jazz... although I need to develop my improvising skills some more! The main thing is to have fun, that's the feeling I got with the pieces.

Anyway, good luck with your jazz piano journey... it is a lot of fun!

I would definately agree - they are different styles. however on my flute I mixed the grades up with my classical. I'm not a pianist so I can't tell you but you need to have a good feel for the style first. Listen around to lots of jazz stuff and you'll soon be away!

Thanks Guys

I've decided to work through my "Jazz Piano from Scratch" book and look at the Grade 1 syllabus and I'll take the exam when I'm ready.

I'll continue to work on the classical stuff, and that will be my main focus.

Can't wait to get started - gotta love all that jazzin' about!

I'm sure you'll have loads of fun! Happy jazzin'

I agree - some people will suit jazz better and find jazz grades easier, I'm sure!

Have fun, Knew Bee!