So which one is better to learn? Is it jazz? Is it modern? Or is it classical? Well the simple answer is – it depends. I know its not much of an answer yet, but it really depends on which one you like the best. For me, it is classical piano, simply because it is what I like playing the best. I have played quite a lot of modern stuff, but I don’t find it as satisfying, enjoyable or thrilling as classical music. I must confess that I don’t play jazz because it doesn’t satisfy me or makes me happy the way classical music does. Actually, just in the last few years I have decided that unless there is a need because of my teaching that I need to learn something, I’m just going to play classical music because of how happy it makes me.
Should you just play only one style of piano? Only if you really want to. You should play what style makes you happy and what you really want to learn. So if jazz piano excites you, then do jazz piano. If modern music is more to liking, then do modern. If you want to learn a combination of jazz, modern or classical, then do it.
While my personal preference is indeed classical piano. Jazz and modern styles of piano are equally valid styles of piano playing. All three though need a slightly different skill set. Classical piano needs a high level of reading musical notation and interpreting the written notation with a high level of accuracy of interpretation. Jazz music still relies on reading the music, although to a lesser degree, but needs a high level knowledge of chords and their structure. Jazz music in general also requires the ability to improvise on the spot, which is simply not a part of classical music. I think modern music may be the easiest of the three categories, but you still need to read music and also have a decent knowledge of chords and their structures, to make the most of modern music.
Sometimes, just sometimes there will be some snobbery about which type of music is better and which requires the higher skill level. I have heard particularly jazz musicians and classical musicians have this debate. I think this debate is totally irrelevant. I think a person should play what style they truly enjoy and try to improve that skill level over a period of time. I personally have witnessed a number of wonderful musicians playing classical piano and fabulous musicians playing jazz piano. On each of these occasions it has been really clear that the piano player has worked very hard over many, many years to obtain a very high skill level.
Make your choices on what you really want to play and if it is something a bit too hard for you at this stage, then work on other pieces to gradually bring you up to a skill level where you can play what your heart truly desires. As I mentioned earlier I prefer classical to modern and I have never played jazz, but when it comes to guitar, I only play modern. Classical and Jazz guitar are beyond my current skill level and I actually don’t have any desire to change this. When it comes to singing, I prefer modern but I have done some classical, which I have enjoyed. I wouldn’t mind learning some jazz from a jazz singing teacher, but at this time in my life, I just don’t have the time. I’ve already decided that when my kids are fully grown, I’m learning the ukulele just because I think it sounds nice. As far as listening to music my preferences are, in order, modern, classical, jazz, traditional Japanese music and maybe just a little of hard rock. As you can see my musical preferences maybe somewhat unique. Depending on what instrument I’m playing determines how much I enjoy playing a certain style and I’m fine with that. My point is know what style or styles you want to play and go for it!
No matter what style of music you want to play, unless you can play the piano by ear, you will benefit greatly from learning to read music. I would go so far to say that it’s a must! If learning to read music terrifies you just a little, then take your time and learn as slowly as you need to go. When I am teaching the piano to someone who has never played before, in their first lesson I only teach them three notes in the right hand and three notes in the left hand and that’s it. After that first lesson, it might be literally adding just one new note every lesson. For some students, this suits them very well and for others they can go a little faster. Reading musical notation is important, no matter what style of music you want to play.
So what style of music is your heart’s desire? Whatever it is I strongly encourage you to set yourself on that path and don’t let anyone try and sway you, or worse, tell you that your chosen style is not worthwhile or real piano music.