Remembering school (including the march to it )

[Derek]

This is a silly name for this piece... but there's a part in it where I accidentally played a passage that sounds a little bit like quantum's march to school. And, most of the piece is much more experimental than I usually dare. I haven't till recently started to "feel" more outlandish colors like this in my improvisation.

[pianowolfi]

Hi Derek

I must say that I definitely like the more experimental and "outlandish" colours in your music! Not that I would have missed anything in your earlier works; but it's for sure an enlargement of your vocabulary which gives you a lot of additional possibilities to express yourself. It sounds like you've been exploring a lot in the meantime. And, as somebody who knows the functional aspect of traditional harmony as well as you do with all your experience, you're endeavouring these explorations from a very solid fundament. Really very good stuff!

[furtwaengler]

Derek, I really enjoyed this explosion...the happy intrusion of the exploration of sound invading your usually more readily tonal pallet. I like that you started this out as you normally would start your improvisations, the language we are accustomed to in your output marked but an astute ear for harmonic progression and direction. I don't like that you told us, however...why ruin the surprise?  But I, who am guilty of writing essays "explaining" improvisations I present,  understand why you did reveal the secret.

I love the nod to Quantum and his march. It's one of the reasons I love this forum, the ideas which bounce among the group, and the inspiration it abounds...

You have always be an excellent improviser, Derek. A new door has opened, and we shall all be interested to see how your mind treats this new exploration in the future. 

(because once you're there, you can't go back, muahahaha!)

[Derek]

Thanks for your comments, I appreciate it. I really must listen to some recent improvisations here for a while, I haven't been to this site in a bit. I'm so mania driven that I've been distracted by a hobby other than piano (GASP) for months. I'm trying to stay balanced though  

I think in general I still prefer tonal improvisation, but sometimes the crazier modern style can sound really cool so I'm sure I'll continue to enjoy it also---not to mention playing in between the two styles.

[chopinatic]

This is a very powerful piece of music derek. I really liked the first few deep notes; I think they set a great atmosphere for the piece. And the descending notes. Lots of great ideas and emotions.

Very experimental and I liked the experiments and the imagination they allow someone to use.

What piano are you playing on? Its got a fantastic sound.

[Derek]

Its my Roland F-100 digital. One of the lower end ones from a few years ago, but it sounds really good. And for some reason, it seems to stimulate improvisation more than an acoustic piano does. I'm not sure if it is because of the freer action or because it is very easy to start recording without much preparation--seems to take the pressure off. 

[chopinatic]

Its my Roland F-100 digital. One of the lower end ones from a few years ago, but it sounds really good. And for some reason, it seems to stimulate improvisation more than an acoustic piano does. I'm not sure if it is because of the freer action or because it is very easy to start recording without much preparation--seems to take the pressure off. 

Yes i find with my digital it takes me about 30 seconds and im ready to record pretty much, far better than using mics and all sorts of things! -  I though it was digital, still nice though