Classical Piano, Jazz Piano, Pop Piano, and Online Piano Lessons in San Jose

Piano Lessons San Jose: Styles

Though the essential building blocks of music are the same no matter what genre (melody, rhythm, and harmony), the most commonly practiced styles are classical piano, jazz piano, and contemporary or pop piano. San Jose piano lessons specializes in teaching all three of these styles. 

To learn more about each style, click the drop-down menu options under "What We Teach," but we will briefly explain each style here.

​While we teach all music in the piano repertoire (even styles like ragtime), these three are the most general and most sought-after styles for future musicians.

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​If Music is a Place -- then Jazz is the City, Folk is the Wilderness, Rock is the Road, Classical is a Temple.

- Vera Nazarian

Jazz, Classical, Pop Piano Teachers

Most of us can probably determine if a song is either jazz, classical, or contemporary. Jazz music is played with a different, funky scale and played in syncopated and swung rhythms. Classical relies on more obvious and "better-matched" relationships between notes; basically, this is why jazz can sometimes sound a bit "thrown together," and why classical sounds much more structured, regardless of how basic or advanced the piece is.

Rhythm is where the largest difference between jazz and classical lies. Classical pieces require rubato, which is slowing down or speeding up portions of the piece to express emotion, while jazz musicians carry out their expressions on top of an unchanging beat to keep a steady pace in a song but to also add groove. To put this another way, you can dance really easily to jazz, but not as easily to classical, due to the difference in rhythm.

Another huge difference is the sound that comes out of the piano for each piece. Dynamics are heavily used in classical music, where pieces must be loudened, softened, slowed, and sped up; contrast this with jazz, which is typically played at a fairly static volume.

​Contemporary and pop piano is simply defined as modern music, and typically consists of simple chord progressions and scales put together in varying tempos. ​

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​Shahin has been great with my two boys! (Ages 5 and 7 when they started). He's very patient and keeps them on task - and has really helped bring out their love of music! All my younger son wants to do all day is play the piano now!

Nancy

Classical Piano

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Submitted April 27th, 2019

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Call (408) 809-3626

Piano Instructors that care.

Our teachers are highly knowledgeable in music theory, piano performance, and the qualities of all three styles of piano music that we teach. However, expertise isn't all it takes to make a good teacher. We have years of experience tutoring students in all different styles of piano. So, whether you want to learn classical, ragtime, jazz, or that song that keeps playing on the radio, you will be taught your way, and at your pace, by San Jose Piano Lessons.

Recitals for Piano Class.

Our piano recitals are not style-oriented. Some of our students prefer to play classical, some of them prefer to play pop or jazz - our recitals are areas where we want our students to express their true musical character, however it comes out. Our recitals are a great way to ready yourself or your child for future performance.

​Our recitals include players from all levels, ages, and backgrounds, and are a great oppornplaces where students can see what they'll be able to do in the future and how they used to be before improvement by watching more and less skilled players, as well as start to become comfortable playing in front of people.

San Jose Piano Lessons: Start your journey into the world of music. Start from any level, from anywhere, and achieve mastery.

Call (408) 809-3626 now to schedule your first online or in-person lesson (+ redeem a free first trial lesson, all on us!)