What is the best way to learn jazz piano?

What is the best way to learn to play jazz piano for a classical musican?

• I'm 13 years old and I've been seriously studying classical piano for the past 7 or 8 years. (I don't mean to sound pretentious, but it's true!) I would really like ...show more

• Answer:

  Music theory is the same regardless of what style you play. So you'll need to do minimal study in that department. The main thing you'll need to work on is touch and feel. The best way to learn this is by listening to great jazz pianists and learning to play like they do by ear- not music. This way you'll internalize the 2 and 4 feel and find out how different jazz musicians approach the keyboard. Pianists I can think of to study include: Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Keith Jarett, Kenny Baron, Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawvinul and Brad Mehldau. Good luck and have fun with it!