Jazz-Classical duality

[indespair]

I like both jazz and classical music. I would like to both play like Oscar Peterson and play Liszt at some point of time in my life. Is it a wise goal? Do I compromise one for the other? Or is there some way to do both?

[andreslr6]

I'm sure it's possible, there's one teacher in my school who was known for playing jazz and also for giving classical concerts once in a while, and now he teaches classical music. Then, one of his ex-students, he even went to piano competitions but now he's known as a jazz pianist. I believe the advantage is that classical music gives you a good technical foundation, besides all of the musical knowledge of centuries of practice, and if you apply or combine it with jazz you'll get a lot of more possibilities. The more resources you have, the better. Of course, it will take a lot of hard work and even more discipline than just dedicating in one type of music, but if you are willing to do it then do it.

[lloyd_cdb]

Learning different styles is much more likely to help than hurt (as long as you don't have severe ADD).  You'll end up sacrificing time learning one for time learning the other, but you do the same anyway when learning two pieces in the same musical category.  Stylistically you'll be splitting time but you'll be learning piano nonetheless.  Having multiple musical interests will most likely improve your 'musician's ear'.

[dcstudio]

I have tried my whole life..  I would say I am closer to Oscar than Franz--but I obsessively practice classical piano, too--though I am rarely called upon to perform it here lately. anyway, YES YES YES you can do both.   Learning to think like a jazzer will make the classical so much easier and your traditional foundation will support some mighty quick chops for some great improv!.

My husband and I playing Jazz

and if you still haven't seen enough--here is my "work in progress" on the 3rd mvmt of the moonlight.  Like I said more Oscar than Franz...
[/youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7F9NaHoNW4&feature=share&list=UU_NYixjIj9IKzT7xDvCTrzg[/youtube]

[indespair]

Thank you all. This certainly gives me a sense of direction.

[japzz]

herbie hancock does it,joe jackson does it,bill evans did it,Vladimir Horowitz was a great fan of art tatum (who did it) and would have done it himself(or maybe did) if he'd had more time I suppose.