5 WAYS TO UNLOCK YOUR CREATIVITY WITH PIANO IMPROVISATION!
Giving your first steps into improvisation can be so fun when you are learning how to play piano. Improvisation consists of creating something on the spot. It is different from what we call ‘composition’ in the sense that the latter requires preparation, while improvisation is all about spontaneous creation! Some famous bands have even gone as far as improvising while they were in the recording studio. It’s the case of The Beatles, whose popular song “A Day in the Life” was partially improvised after Paul McCartney suggested the group to do so on the same day they recorded the song! This is living proof that amazing ideas can come from improvisation.
Whether you are a beginner or advanced student, here are some tips to make you shine at improv:
Choose a key and stick to it: Make sure you’re well familiar with scales! You can start improvising a melody on the key of C Major since this key doesn’t have any sharps or flats. Once you feel confident playing in C Major, you can move to another key with 1 or 2 sharps/flats in it, such as G Major or F Major. Set yourself little goals as you move forward.
Use a chord progression: There are so many possibilities, but the best thing to do is starting with a simple chord progression, such as I-V-vi-IV. If you are in the key of C Major, this would be C,G, Am and F. If you already have experience working with this chord progression and you are in need of a challenge, you can go for a iii-VI-ii-V, which will give you a more jazzy vibe. Don’t be scared to experiment with black keys as well (especially if you’re trying to improvise over a jazz chord progression).
Start with a simple phrase: Create a short idea first and develop it as you go. You can repeat that short phrase with slight changes every time. The changes can include different rhythmic patterns, added notes or inverted order, and maybe even different time signatures for advanced players!
Don’t be too self-critical: Be kind to yourself. You’re going to struggle at the beginning, but that will happen with every new thing that you try. Look back at your first week learning piano and look at how much you have achieved since then! Make sure you keep a positive mindset. If your creations are not sounding as good as you expected, try again and try again after that. Never give up on the first go just because it’s not sounding the way you wanted. You will find the right keys with time. Sometimes all you need is PATIENCE.
Record yourself: It is much easier to identify the areas where you can improve after listening to yourself. Track your progress and don’t forget to experiment with different genres. This is the only way to discover what works best for you and what style of music you enjoy playing the most. Uploading a video of yourself applying these piano improv tips to any of your social media is another great idea and can give you a huge confidence boost!
Written by Agustina Rivas