Repertoire and Style

Repertoire is not a neutral choice.

The music we choose to work with shapes how we listen, how we practise, and how we understand ourselves as musicians. Over time, repertoire becomes one of the primary ways in which musical identity is formed. It reflects interests, values, and influences, often more clearly than anything we say about our intentions.

Style emerges through this engagement with repertoire. It is not something that can be applied from the outside, nor something that develops through imitation alone. Style grows through sustained contact with particular musical languages, through listening, repetition, and attention to detail. It is shaped by how musicians respond to phrasing, rhythm, harmony, and form within specific traditions.

In jazz and improvised music, questions of style are inseparable from questions of lineage. Working with repertoire involves encountering the work of others and recognising the historical and cultural contexts in which that music developed. This engagement carries responsibilities as well as opportunities. Understanding where music comes from supports more informed and respectful participation in it.

At the same time, repertoire is not static. Musicians bring their own experiences, sensibilities, and questions to the material they work with. Interpretation involves negotiation between what is given and what is possible. Individual voice does not emerge by rejecting tradition, but through a relationship with it that is attentive, curious, and responsive.

Choices about repertoire also influence learning. Different material places different demands on technique, musicianship, and imagination. Working across a range of repertoire can reveal strengths and limitations, while sustained focus on particular material can deepen understanding and refine judgement. Both approaches have value, depending on context and intention.

Style, in this sense, is not a fixed destination. It continues to evolve as repertoire changes, as listening broadens, and as musical priorities shift over time. Remaining open to this evolution allows musicians to grow without losing coherence or direction.

My interest in repertoire and style is closely tied to performance, teaching, and research. These questions recur whenever musicians are asked to make choices about what to play, how to play it, and why it matters. Engaging with them thoughtfully supports more grounded, responsive, and meaningful musical practice.