What do you do if you need to adjust your performance style for different music genres?

In my experience, if you need to adjust your performance style, one of the thing that I found it unique and valuable is to understand genres. each genres has different history, cultures and expectations. For example, jazz is often about improvisation and interaction, while pop focuses on catchy melodies and a strong backbeat. Classical Music is focused mainly for relaxation while rock music is focus mainly on becoming exciting and happyness.

It is critical that you understand various performing traditions. You should not play Scarlatti the same way you play Chopin or Prokofiev, and yet most pianists do. Take a deep dive and learn the composer's style by researching their operas, orchestral, and chamber music. Understand their POV -- do they emphasis melody, harmony, structure, atmosphere, or something else? Are they about elegance (which is often the case with Mozart and Chopin), or soulful earthiness, like Rachmaninoff? Bach is often profoundly religious, even in his keyboard works. Each composer is unique in their approach to music. When you understand that, your program will be quite varied.

Always advance shows in a way that let's you know what the venue or client wants. Then be yourself. It is easy to find your voice and stay true to that.

Understanding genres is crucial for adjusting performance styles. Dive into each genre's history, culture, and expectations. For instance, jazz emphasizes improvisation, while pop focuses on catchy melodies. Study genre-defining artists and live performances to inform vocal, instrumental, and stage adjustments.

Comprender el idioma del género que quieras aprender, sumergirte de lleno en ese estilo, para volverte proficiente en cualquier estilo, es necesario dedicarle mucho tiempo al mismo, es un proceso que puede llevar mucho tiempo. Por ejemplo, tengo muchos alumnos que vienen de una escuela clásica muy sólida y quieren aprender jazz pero no tienen las herramientas necesarias porque no saben por donde empezar, entonces mi recomendación es dejar de lado todo el resto y sumergirte de lleno en ese estilo, entender aspectos musicales como forma, ritmo, formación de acordes, inversiones, extensiones, relación escala-acorde, técnicas de improvisación, técnicas de composición, etc, y por supuesto escuchar mucho, la guía de un buen profesor es muy útil.

Vocal adaptations is another important aspects of adjusting performance styles. Your voice is an incredibly adaptable instrument that can be tailored to fit various genres. For rock, you might add a gritty edge, while classical or operatic styles require precise control and clarity.

It's super super important to be proficient in your instrument. Practicing makes it a significant improvments and will more likely to adjust the performance

Another valuable thing that I found is to be able to present in stage with high energetic and excitement. The way you present yourself on stage should align with the genre you're performing. A punk rock show thrives on high energy and audience interaction, whereas a classical concert is more about poise and elegance.

Genres have a history behind them, culturally and in music theory. To arrange authentically in a different genre you need to dive headfirst into everything. Listen to the genre whenever possible and relate it to the next points. Research what instruments are used for what purpose. Research the culture and meaning behind the genre and its specifications. Research the music theory. Is it western, eastern, or another culture's theory? 12 vs 24 tone, scales, melody, chords, structure. Take notes and apply everything. With an arrangement of another song consider the most important parts of the original and new genre. What isn't needed to keep the identity of both?

In my 35 years of experience I've learned that practice makes perfect. Also patience is a virtue. Roll with the artistic movement of every song you can possibly be apart of

In the classical piano world, I find that nearly every pianist falls into one of two categories -- either they are musically a standout, or they are a technical standout, but almost never both. Unfortunately, if you want a career in the classical music world, you must be a technical standout. No the musical geniuses rarely win competitions, or wow audiences and critics. So most pianists aim to play as fast and as loudly as they can. They have two tempos -- moderately fast, and as fast as they can play. They have two dynamics -- loud, and as loud as they can play. This serves them well in 20th and 21st century music, which often requires a fiendish technique and a piano the size of a football field, but not so much playing Mozart.