Learning how to improvise is confusing for most. The sheer number
of choices becomes a burden. Should I play this note? What chord
next? Where do I go from here? All valid questions newbies (and
oldbies) at improvisation sometimes ask themselves.
The number one reason people have problems creating in the moment
is that they won't let up on themselves and just play. They knew how
to do it once as children but now that memory is gone and with it, a
void has taken its place.
Fortunately, there is a solution. It's really a
two-pronged solution because once we do learn how to ease up and
just play, we are left with another problem and that is, what game
are we playing.
The game of improvisation is a game like any other. We have a few
rules, some guidelines, and then the game is played. You see,
we must have some kind of structure to play the
game of improvisation. Why? Because without it there would be way
too many choices and this would prevent most people from even
beginning.
Here's a perfect example. In Lesson 5: "Winter Scene" we have 2 chords, a
scale, and a way to play these chords. With these choices out of the
way, we can now focus on and enjoy the act of improvisation. We can
play around with the music and feel good about our play.
Some think working within a set of limitations is uncreative. I
thought so too once until I realized that until I learned how to do
this by following the examples of others, I couldn't be free to
create my own set of limitations
