Creative Improvisation

Improvisation is the art of creating something quickly, with limited time to plan and with limited materials. To improvise, you need to make quick decisions and see relationships quickly, while you’re creating.

Can Improvisation Be Pre-Determined?
By definition, improvisation is not pre-determined. For example, if you plan out all the notes of a solo and then play them, it’s a composition, not an improvisation. (In some cases that may be OK, such as for very short solos or recordings where a specific result is needed.) Here’s what you should study and plan ahead of time:


• The elements of the song to improvise to (chords, scales, rhythmic style, etc.)


• The basic mood and feeling of the song

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Five Barriers to Creativity

Sometimes we stifle our creativity by limiting the way we think. Here are five common barriers to creativity:
1) “There’s just one way to solve a problem.”
2) “I need a new and unique solution, not one that’s borrowed or adapted.”
3) “I don’t really understand the tools and materials.”
4) “I just build, without planning or visualizing.”
5) “My fears or ego interfere with creativity.”

Below are some ways to overcome these five barriers.

Barrier 1: Only One Way to Solve a Problem
When we try to solve a problem, sometimes our solution clicks and sometimes it doesn’t. When it doesn’t work, we should ask ourselves:
• Are we trying to solving the right problem? We often try to solve the first problem we see or the easiest first.

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Learning Values through Improvisation

Learning to improvise and interact musically can build rich experiences and positive values
in your daily life. Here are five of life’s values that the art of improvisation can strengthen:

1) Discernment and wisdom
2) Integrity
3) Leadership
4) Informed risks
5) Diversity

#1: Discernment and Wisdom
Improvising opens up a potential floodgate of notes and ideas. Exploring and controlling these musical ideas requires discernment and wisdom. First, you use discernment to recognize chords, rhythms, melodic shapes, and other elements as they emerge in the music. Then you develop wisdom as you learn:
• When to speak up musically and when to be silent
• When and how to copy, change, or support the ideas of other players
• How to fully develop musical ideas to interesting conclusions

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The Seven Elements of Improvisation

The Seven Elements of jazz improvisation have initials that conveniently spell out “MR. ED, CPA:”

1) M elody
2) R hythm
3) E xpression
4) D evelopment
5) C hord progressions
6) P erformance
7) A nalysis

These initials should be pretty easy to remember. As you work on the seven elements in your daily practice, you’ll create exciting, artistic solos. These Seven Elements are the foundation of each of the Five Levels of improvisation
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Classical Composition, language, comedy and Improvisation

Traditional (“classical”) musical composition and jazz improv have interesting similarities and contrasts.


Classical Composition
1) Write pitches and rhythms before a performance.
2) Use chromatic scale pitches and duple- and triple-meter rhythms.
3) Develop melodies using specific techniques.
4) Have the musical skills to hear and perform the written notes.
5) Use common forms, structures (4-bar, 8-bar, etc.).


Jazz Improvisation
1) Select pitches and rhythms during a performance.
2) Use chromatic scale pitches and triple- and duple-meter rhythms.
3) Develop melodies using specific techniques.
4) Have the musical skills to hear and perform the notes you imagine.
5) Use common forms, structures (4-bar, 8-bar, etc.).


Language and Improvisation
Jazz improv is like impromptu speaking, so improv and spoken language have many similarities:

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Definitions of Improvisation

Musicians have been improvising jazz for a long time. Below are some typical definitions of jazz improv, with some common questions raised by each definition.

Definition A: Jazz improv is making up music as you go.

Question 1: So how do you make it up?

Question 2: What makes it sound good or bad?

Definition B: Jazz improv is choosing notes to fit chords.

Question 3: What are notes?

Question 4: What are wrong notes?

Definition C: Jazz improv is musical communication.

Question 5: Who communicates?

Question 6: What do you communicate and how?

Q1: How Do You Make It Up?

Improvising is creating music on the spot, but you don’t improvise

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Jazz Improvisation Myths

Let’s begin by discussing what jazz improvisation isn’t. Here are four common myths about

jazz improv:

1) “Jazz improv is something you’re born with, not something you learn.”

2) “Jazz improv requires perfect pitch.”

3) “You can’t practice without an instrument.”

4) “Classical and jazz have little in common.”

Myth #1: You’re Born With It

Although jazz improv is a universal language, we’re not born with it. But almost anyone can learn basic improv skills (listening, ear training, theory, instrumental or voice techniques); some people learn faster than others. Some very good improvisers start later in life, but all good improvisers pay their dues by studying the works of the

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