New improvisation!

[ranjit]

I've been learning improvisation (on my own), since about a year and a half. I improvised this in C minor, and was quite happy with the result.

[ranjit]

How do you find it?

[ted]

If you are completely happy with it then pass on to something new; if there are aspects of you feel are lacking, then think about how those can be avoided in future. In either case, moving forward is essential. Each improvisation influences future ones, nothing is ever stationary. The two you have posted so far are each based on one particular subset of the keyboard, scale, mode or some similar group. These thought aggregates are not laws or prisons but are like elements of an artist's palette, colours which can be mixed, contrasted and juxtaposed at will. Don't worry too much, you are doing all right, it takes ages, but it's worth the effort.

[ranjit]

I've just been "playing around" on the keyboard all this time. I do not have any formal exposure to improvisation. So, I don't know what to "listen for". I was just hoping that someone here could tell me if I'm going in the right direction, as well as give some ideas/constructive criticism/resources in order to improve.

[Derek]

I've just been "playing around" on the keyboard all this time. I do not have any formal exposure to improvisation. So, I don't know what to "listen for". I was just hoping that someone here could tell me if I'm going in the right direction, as well as give some ideas/constructive criticism/resources in order to improve.

All directions are the right direction in improvisation! I personally think you're already doing what you need to do to improve, just keep doing it. Keep making recordings. Recordings help in a deep way I think because when you listen to your own playing, on some level you remember what you played, and parts you like better will get reinforced by the act of listening and your playing will naturally gain complexity and depth over time.

When you feel comfortable with it you could try throwing in some chromaticisms for color! (chroma, hehe) Or actually, do it when you're not comfortable with it, that's probably better advice...!