Re:fyi-Introduction to Improvisation | Coursera free
2013/05/04 13:12:34
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Hi,
Even without being the more experienced or able musician, I would recommend this. Gary is not one of my favorite "improvisers", but he is a good one and worth it.
My favorite "improvisers" would be Mani Neumeier (drummer -- Guru Guru), Egberto Gismonti (specially early stuff on his accoustic guitars), Terje Rypdal (early trip stuff was more jazz oriented, with a classical tinge to them).
This is very similar a process that I posted elsewhere in a music board upon suggestion and the "knowledge" and "ability" is comparable to an actor's and the process is similar -- the only difference being that here it might give you a nice idea how to comb through the notes, and in directing actors in stage or film, I like to let the actors flow and fly, and anything they do can be used VERY WELL. Thus, wether you go left on this note or right on this note, works, depending on how you accentuate it. The only requirement, or I should state, the important requirement, is "listening" so you can be tuned to what is happening ... !!!
I am not sure that anyone can learn to do this "mentally" ... it's too much to process, and eventually you have to "let it go", and learn to work on the flow of things. The "flow" is NOT a DAW defined/designed thing, and it might not necessarily show you a scale, or set of notes that you recognize or are used to work with ... and this is the part that scares a lot of people when they stop and say ... is that music? ... all of it is music, and if you take that "mistake" and play it with a different accent ... it's no longer a mistake!
The greatest learning about "improvs"?
Stop worrying about something being "wrong", and stop criticizing yourself! The minute you learn that, you will become very good, and learn to be unafraid ... which is the greatest curse of all ... and fear ... specially when you are next to people that might know music better than you! ... but you might outflank them left and right with your moves and help direct the music!
As a wise Guy once stated from his holy chapala ... none of the hits, none of the time ... prevents you from becoming just another turkey in the middle of all the other turkeys!