Newsletter for music lovers who want to gain confidence in and explore their inner musician.
Improvisation - It's Not Just For Jazzers Anymore
The idea of improvisation scares the beejeezus out of many musicians, especially those who learned to play their instrument side by side with learning how to read music. Knowing how to read music is a valuable skill. But when you stop and think about how you learned to speak your native language, you will realize that you learned to read well after you learned to speak the language.
This philosophy of learning is appropriate to learning the language of music as well. Today's edition of Musician's Motivator addresses how you can develop your musical speaking skills. For today, you can give your music reading skills a rest!
Benefits of Improvisation
It's not just for jazz musicians. Bringing improvisation into your regular practice will enhance your ability to listen. And not just to music. I have found that as a result of practicing improvisation, I bring another level of awareness to conversations I have with people.
Regular musical improvisation naturally increases your attention in musical settings as well; whether you are in a musical group as one of the players or in the audience listening. In symphonic band rehearsals, I hear more of the other instruments playing. I have been pleasantly surprised by the sound of the tuba and bass clarinet playing softly in unison while I was counting measures to my next entrance; or noticing the oboe trilling above a clarinet choir. As an audience member, listening to the recent Washington Wind Symphony performance of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D Minor was a treat, enriched by my own regular improvisation practice.
But Wait, There's More!
Another benefit to regular improvisation is enhanced creativity. You will find that a little bit of creativity, no matter how small, begets more creativity. It's like smiling at strangers on your morning walk. They usually smile back!
After establishing a regular improv practice, you may find yourself drawing more, re-arranging items on your dresser aesthetically, wearing more colorful clothing, climbing a tree, writing a short story for your children, or planning the planting of your front garden area. All this as a result of improvisation!
A habit of improvisation practice also leads to composing and arranging music. After all, improvising is just that – composing music. It just needs to be written down.
How To Practice Improvisation
Here are two exercises that anyone can do to develop the improvisation muscle. They are from my forthcoming book, Truly FUNdamentals – The Most FUN Musical Warmups Ever!- Take Three
- On The Air!
Take Three
Choose any three tones that you can play on your instrument. Play those tones using any rhythm and note values. Play only those three pitches. You may include the upper and lower octaves of those three tones. Remember to use rests in your rhythms! Long note values, short note values, various articulations - all are welcome. Give yourself plenty of time to explore these three notes.
On The Air!
Turn on your radio and play along. Many radio stations specialize in one genre of recorded music. You can chose from jazz, pop, oldies, classical, folk, rock, opera, and many others. I recommend that you start with a style of music you like and with which you are familiar.
- Pick your channel.
- Raise the volume sufficiently so you can hear the radio music over your own instrument.
- Listen!
- Match the predominant tones first. This will help you establish the key center.
- Play the melody (if it's a song you know) or play a blending melodic line.
Speak Up
Share your improv fun on my blog or drop me an email: meg@meggrace.com.
If you liked this, you may also want to read: Fueling Up At The Inspiration Station. A few months back I wrote about this exercise designed to get you playing and making music on a regular basis. Fifteen minutes of blowing into your horn, an experiment to make practice happen.
- Other recommended articles: Who, Me? Creative?
- Is There Music in The City Skyline?
- Drawing Down The Music
Read the next edition of Musician's Motivator February 10, 2010.
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