Improvising on an existing tune or going out totally on your own can be exciting and frightening. It's important to do it well because music affects us at such a deep level. Thinking about experimenting with improvisation? Keep the following in mind:
- Begin with the End in Mind: Shape the song. Ask yourself, "What do you want to say with this arrangement?" We're asking the listener(s) to follow us on a musical path. Since this art really exists only in time, we can't visually show them where we're taking them. We're saying "trust me." It may help if you sculpt a high-level overview of what you want to do with a piece before you play, at least until you have a lot of experience at improvisation.
- Add Variety: Yes, it's the spice of life and our music. Remember, you're not locked into one type of variation or improvisation. Most pieces should have a variety of things going on - as long as the following point is considered.
- Everything Should Have a Purpose: Like a good playwright or novelist, every word and sentence has a reason for being there. It adds to the plot, sub-plot, or characterization. Same here. A bunch of extraneous variations does not necessarily make a good piece.
Want to learn more about improvisation on piano, harp, guitar, etc.? I'm now offering an online course on Improvisation containing 7 lessons, videos, and a student forum. Go to www.learn-to-improvise.com for more information.
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