[LAU] Re: What happens in the brain when improvising

On 12/30/25 22:59, Joel Roth wrote:
> Oh, you don't mean theater improvising?

No, sorry. Although my piano instructor supplemented his income by 
accompanying ballet practices and classes at the Sacramento Ballet, 
where the instructor/director would tell him the mood he wanted, and my 
instructor would improvise music around that.

My instructor also taught me something about music history. During the 
so-called Classical Period, now famous for musicians playing well-known 
pieces from printed music, every musician was expected to improvise. On 
demand. Someone might stand up in the audience and sing or whistle a 
melody line. And the musician was expected to improvise a piece (such as 
two-, three- or four-part counterpoint!) using it. We worked quite a bit 
on pursuing that skill; I used to be able to improvise 2 and 3 part 
inventions like that. Now only down to 2 part, unfortunately.

> Without reading the article, I think freedom means multiple
> pathways available, which is what many musicians spend a
> lifetime cultivating.
Yes. Being aware of different ways of playing things, styles. For 
keyboard players, changing voicing for example. Adding instruments a 
band might not have otherwise.
> A director wanting a stable result
> will of course have preferences,
Pesky directors! 😉
> for example the voicings
> to use. Perhaps he even has an approved list of register
> settings for a B3 (no leslies, please!!)
Sounds dull to me.
>
> As for who plays the melody lines and who plays harmony
> and fills, great if he can accommodate and find room for
> others' creative input.
Yes!
>
> On Tue, Dec 30, 2025 at 10:37:25PM -1000, David W. Jones wrote:
>> As a life-long (and annoying) improviser, this was interesting. I annoyed the lead guitarist in my old church band, because he'd practice and perfect things for hours. He never improvised, while I would show up and improvise my way through it.
>>
>> And I wouldn't necessarily play a song the same way twice - different instrumentation, style, etc. Maybe piano, then maybe contrapuntal synthesizer or flute or violin lines the next, or add a 'cello line for the bass. A few times, even change something verse-to-verse. (Keyboards can make so many different sounds, why not use them?)
>>
>> Maybe that's why he's happy I'm NOT in the church's current band! ;-)
>>
>> <https://nautil.us/heres-whats-happening-in-the-brain-when-youre-improvising-1258457/>
>>
>> Anyway, what do you think? Do you improvise or 'play it as written'?
>>
>> May the perfect note you need be there the moment you need it in 2026. Happymerrynewchristmasyear!
>>
>> ---
>> David W. Jones
>> [email protected]
>> exploring the landscape of god
>> http://dancingtreefrog.com
>>
>> Sent from my Android device with F/LOSS K-9 Mail.
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>

-- 
David W. Jones
[email protected]
authenticity, honesty, community
http://dancingtreefrog.com
"My password is the last 8 digits of π."
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