October 16th Improvisation

[Derek]

Here's some improv on my freshly tuned grand piano. Hope you like it!

https://www.personal.psu.edu/dga112/october162005.mp3

[tocca]

I envy you! 
Improvisation has never been my stronger side, would love to be able to just sit down and express myself.
When i'm away from the Piano, it often feels like i could do it. I can think up really nice tunes in my head, but they are never there when i sit at the Piano.
Or rather, i can't get them from my head to the Piano. 

It's a very "moody" piece, lots of feeling. Nice to listen to, must be even nicer when playing it!

[Derek]

Hey I'm really glad you like it.  If it feels like you can do it and you have tunes in your head, then you definitely can do it. You have the creative impulse, you merely need to find a means by which to build a keyboard vocabulary to act as a channel for that impulse.

I built the ability to improvise from the ground up. I had very little ability to play the piano at all when I began. I actually only started to learn classical repertoire after I had begun creating my own things on the piano. (and trust me, when I began, it barely sounded like a half baked version of George Winston) If you want to learn more please do not hesitate to personal message me and I'll be happy to help you get started.,

sincerely,
-Derek Andrews.

[pipples]

I'm in the same boat as you tocca, i have the tunes in my head, but can't get them to the piano
So any help would be greatly recieved
Thanks

[ted]

I feel the lyricism in your playing has shown a marked improvement in this one. Your melodic phrasing is much more natural, probably because you are letting it flow and the compulsion to push things is no longer in evidence. You could very possibly be experiencing a surge of romantic melody and I would tend to give it free rein. Simple tonal melody will always be a potent musical force. It possesses a wonderful power over the unconscious and the emotions. Whether people term it old-fashioned does not matter in the slightest. I have always written ordinary tonal melody and intend to continue doing so until I peg out.

As far as the nuts and bolts go you could probably afford to spread the melody over the keyboard more and allow such counterpoint - in the sense of two or more melodies going at once - as you hear, to flow freely.

Overall though there is a new confidence there precisely because you no longer feel compelled to keep moving and keep playing notes. This is a very big step forward and you would be wise to make sure that, once acquired, it cannot be lost. Just repeat the process half a dozen times over the next couple of weeks and rethink the sensations - that should capture it for good.

You may be well aware of underlying forces at work, but of course I couldn't possibly comment. Either way, this one is definitely a watershed, of that I am certain.