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Do any ABers "major," or concentrate, in a particular style of music while still "minoring" in others? (Hey, cool! An education *and* music reference all-in-one!) As I'm exposed to playing more different styles, the more I want to learn them all. Of course, my limited practice time makes it impossible to spend what I feel is adequate time on each of them.

I recently sort of redirected my lessons by weaning away from some method books and starting some classical pieces and popular music studies. I even got a jazz book, which, although early on, I'm really enjoying. I feel like, if I want to get anywhere near proficient on piano, it would most likely be in a particular music style (or maybe related styles). Otherwise, my time on this here planet may run out before I feel like I've accomplished what I would like to.

So, I'm thinking of redirecting my lessons even more, with a real emphasis on one style while being very selective with what I work on in others. If anyone else has done this, I'd be interested to hear how it worked out.

Breaking Away

I looked for a teacher that could teach me jazz/blues with some classical sprinkled in for the sight reading aspect.

I do all the scale exercises and the Hanon so I can get my fingers untied, but I would say my major is mainstream jazz and my minor classical.

At least that's how it stands right now.

Ermo- It took me a minute to figure that one out. I believe the answer was "soc".

Sorry. I saw the title to the thread and I thought we were still doing movie quotes.

Ultimately I would like to play jazz/blues. But I thought that starting from scratch I should have a grounding in classical. My logic being that classical is a baseline (as opposed to a bass line) from which one can go on to learn whatever. Plus my teacher, whom I like a lot, is a classical teacher.

So for now I major in classical, but I would like to try to work in jazz and blues. So that's my minor, I guess. I would be curious to know if this logic does or doesn't make sense to you esteemed experts out there.

I'm thinking of majoring in popular/jazz and minoring in classical. In my limited experience, they seem different enough that, while there's obviously some crossover, you really need to delve into one or another in order to make decent progress.

Still waiting for those esteemed experts....

And Ermo, "REFUND?!"

Like Ermo my major was going to be jazz/blues but it didn't take long to figure out that classical study would be necessary to get where I wanted to go. Now I don't know, classical has so much to offer and is so rewarding to play, even the little that I am able to play. My teacher is teaching me both and some time in the near future we will be working on jazz improvisation. I don't know how that will all work yet but can't wait to find out. I'm so confused about what I really want to do now I don't know what to think. I'm just going to stay on course and see where it leads. Maybe classical, maybe jazz/blues, maybe standards or maybe all of it. Being an amateur, that's not a decision I will be forced to make. I can do whatever I like...... which is all of it.

I know that the extended practice time I have been putting in the last month or so has really been beneficial. I was always good at practicing every day but the many extra hours have really helped.

Frank R: "I'm so confused about what I really want to do now I don't know what to think."

That's pretty much how I feel. I do know, however, that I want to make a decision fairly soon. I hate floundering. In my past life, I had achieved a decent level in clarinet and drums, and I'm impatiently hoping to be able to at least get to those levels. It ain't going to happen by practicing 3 or 4 different styles for a total of an hour a day, and I can't expect to average much more than that much time. At least not in the near future.

G#

(working purposefully on black key stuff)

Classical is my favorite, probably. As in "Classical," as opposed to Renaissance, Romantic, Modern.

I am a huge fan of the H-men--Handel and Haydn.

My teacher is trying to loosen me up by having me play more Romantic and Modern music. I like it but it doesn't come as easily to me.

Nina,

I'm pretty sure The H-Men were the first Gangsta Rap Group circa 1740.

You really are HIP!

Majoring in ROmantic and Classical - would like to minor in blues improv. Really think that is cool stuff!

teachum, you spelled Romantic "ROmantic".

Ah! Such genius! What spark! What art! To convey your feelings with the capitalization of a single word is magical!

Classical, with a smidgen of Romantic. Baroque is not it for me.

Folk music on the guitar, but the guitar is just background for song.

Oh god, he's back again. Can't a chick even make a typo around here without getting jumped on?

major - classical (any style), minor - everything else except jazz.

Classical Major with a classical minor. I haven't asked to do any baroque and I haven't been asked to either. So no one suggest it to my teacher either.
I sight read easy anything, including a little blues.
CCM