Wait out the Storm

[pankrpec]

Just another nature-inspired improvisation.

[ted]

An effective little piece, which again proves, through its simple, bare harmony, that phrase, rhythm and flow lie at the core of improvisation. The  ubiquitous preoccupation with rules about harmony and chords, I have always thought, hinders rather than helps the beginning improviser. 

[pankrpec]

Then that means, my complete lack of musical education actually helped me in improvising. I think it makes sense, any kind of training/schooling is bound to negatively affect the pupil's ability to innovate or be creative, because it gives them solutions in ready-made packages and makes no place for free exploration of the subject matter. This method then becomes so ingrained in the person's mind that they have to actually force themselves to think creatively and experiment, and not just wait until someone throws them a new scrap of knowledge. The fear of failure probably plays a big role here too. In traditional education, failure is punished. Thus experimeting, which inevitably brings more failed attempts than succesful, becomes even more difficult and unthinkable.

Phew, now I'm actually glad I opted to try learning the piano by myself! Even though that brings another set of problems...

[ted]

Good tuition for classical playing and physical technique, of course, never goes astray. Neither did I mean that an intimate playing knowledge of keyboard formations is superfluous to improvisation. Indeed, in that aspect the more the merrier. It is only the creative aspect itself I was referring to. The ideal is a teacher who can do everything, but they are very rare.

[pankrpec]

I agree, and I can appreciate that because I never had any formal lessons, my technique is severely lacking. I was also referring to the creative aspect.
I by no means dismiss classical education. On the contrary!