I’m interested in jazz, but I’m afraid it will give me bad habits when playing the piano normally.
What are your long-term goals? I have never met a person with classical training who regret learning jazz theory on their instrument. Besides simply learning jazz theory and technique like chords, changes and rhythm, you will learn to better develop your collaboration, intuition and own creativity. It will also provide you with more professional opportunities.
If you are seeking to become strictly a professional classical pianist, I suppose it could distract you from your practice routine or maybe interfere with muscle memory? I’ll let the informed musicians speak to that.
I agree with @Melodyminor but then I have a D that is “doing it backwards” (I guess) and is primarily a vocalist not pianist. So, I also don’t know if there are specific reasons why Jazz piano techniques would somehow cause your classical skills to decline.
Do you have a teacher that maybe isn’t supportive of other pursuits…? I ask because D ran into that when trying to find voice instructors. It’s very frustrating.
As for voice (and guitar and minimal keys), my D had all formal training in Pop/Rock first and is now going thru the classical training in college. (She had been in traditional and Jazz choirs in middle / high school.) She had zero problems with auditions, admissions or her current curriculum. She says there is indeed a different technique for all styles, but you just have to be mindful of what you are singing / playing.
Are you a well established classical pianist? What are your goals? My piano kid did classical first and is now doing more contemporary art song/jazz and I think it’s only improved his playing over all. He’s taken lessons for 13 years.
I’ve taken classical piano lessons for 10 years. I guess it wouldn’t really hurt my classical piano playing that much. Thanks.