Choosing a Music Style

Today I want to discuss music styles and how that will impact your own musical direction.

A music style or idiom is a type of music with a specific set of characteristics that makes it unique and identifiable. Examples are Classical, Country, Bluegrass, Rock, Pop, Reggae, Ska, Folk, Rap, Hip Hop, Folk Rock, Heavy Metal, Blues, Jazz etc. Many people are drawn most strongly to one style while tolerating other styles. Others like almost everything.

They say that many Jazz fans are Jazz fans because they don’t like anything else. The two most famous “snob styles” are Jazz and Classical. Of course, it’s unfair to label them in that way but it’s common to do so. The fact is that both Classical and Jazz are considered art forms and not commercial forms. I suppose that’s what has led to this designation.

What does all of this have to do with you? Well, in order to choose a direction you need to settle on a direction. The idea that Classical music training leads to all musical directions is another fallacy common in educational circles. Classical training leads directly to Classical music and not to other styles. The only people that believe the myth about Classical training are Classical music teachers. The fact of the matter is that each music style requires different information, different training. Obviously, this impacts your choice of teacher.

So, how do you choose a style. That’s relatively simple. Every performer, every performance, every recording fits into some style. There can be hybrid styles but they all fit in to a style one way or another.

With the internet, you have a virtually unlimited opportunity to sample every style of music that exists. Radio stations also program along certain, specific lines. They play Oldies or Jazz or Classical or Country or…

Your choice is based simply on what you like. Don’t over think it. Just identify what you like and go for that direction. If you like multiple styles, that’s an answer as well. In that case, you’ll be looking for an unusually versatile teacher who can help you play in all those styles. If it takes more than one teacher to accomplish this, that’s OK as well.

Just listen to as much music as you can. Identify what that music is and go for it!

Don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions on these or related topics, or simply add a comment in the comment field below.

Keep pursuing your goals and don’t let anyone tell you that they are unreachable.