Jazz/Improvisational Piano

[cadenza14224]

Simply put: Where to start?

[charmsjr94]

https://www.amazon.com/Jazz-Piano-Book-Mark-Levine/dp/0961470151

Here ya go

[makingmusicmag]

Here's a quick and fun animated 2-minute video on it!

https://www.makingmusicmag.com/forte/improvise-piano-blues-scale.html

[dcstudio]

start by saing to yourself--I CAN DO THIS and it is EASY...  even if you don't think so.  then get some blues records and play along--without sheet music...  learn a standard 12 bar blues form.

as an exercise try improvising on the black keys alone--they make up a pentatonic scale--you really can't "hit a sour note"  if you stick to the black keys...  You will also have a far greater understanding of why Chopin (known to improvise A LOT)  seemed to enjoy writing in C# minor...    
always keep in mind that rhythm and "swinging" is far more important in jazz than "correct" note usage. Actually that is true in classical as well--but you will have a hard time convincing some people of that.  lol  best of luck...

[lloyd_cdb]

I suggest sifting through many of the youtube tutorials.  I don't know a specific 'better' one, but check out some of the comments to see how helpful they are.  In improvisation, varying rhythm patterns is extremely important for not sounding dull.  I'd begin by simply playing one note on repeat in varying rhythms just to get a feel for the swing and flow of improv.

Beyond that I'd just start by simply learning the scales, practicing as you normally would for any other style of music.  Listen to as much as you can, observe progressions and especially the dissonance and resolution, and the frequent lack thereof.

dc hit the nail on the head with a lot of suggestions.  It definitely is easy, just make sure you start easy and don't try to overachieve.  The basics are simple and easy to expand on.  I'd argue starting on a Cm blues scale, for the ease of understanding the 12 bar blues basics for the left hand.

[betsyeyring]

The John mehegan books (there are four of them) are great references. The mark Levine book(s ?) are also helpful (I only have one, but I think there are a few?  Maybe?). 

As a classically trained pianist, I've found that jazz is much more difficult - primarily because you dont have the everything laid out for you (as you do in a classical score).  By definition, no one can teach you how to improvise - it requires that you already be SO FLUENT with every possible rudiment, that you can call on any of it, at any moment, without warning, and "say something" through it. 

That said, by studying the rudiments as you realistically have to in order to play jazz, you will unquestionably come out as a better musician.

And now.... I have to do all that stuff I just pontificated about.   

[cadenza14224]

Ordered Levines book online.

However a question to you all: when it comes to classical-style improvisation, how does your music sound (like just messing around with motives and intervals in a certain key); I tend to stick to C-Major; but everything turns out sounding like new age music....something i'm not fond of at all.

My apologies if the above makes no sense.

[dfrankjazz]

I humbly suggest you check out the video on YT "Breakthough to Improv". It as a step by step approach to blues improvisation, and it works)

Dave Frank