A Receptive Attitude: Necessary for Successful Improvisation

After you learn technique and theory and a little bit of improvisation skill, you will be able to grow and create in proportion to your ability to get out of the way and let the music take over. To do this requires a listening ability somewhat similar to meditation. That is, you must be open and receptive to what comes next - never forcing, never trying to come up with something.

When you are in this frame of mind, wonderful things begin to happen. When you try to create, you set yourself up for blocks. Why? Because the trying blocks the listening, receptive attitude necessary for improvisation. The key to getting around this is to walk away and come back later. Believe me, you can try and try but if nothing is coming, it probably won't come at this moment.

So, just get up and come back later when you are in a more meditative, receptive mood. Try to improvise in the new age style when you're angry or upset and what comes out might not sound that good. Art appears when you are in the moment. The Art of New Age piano, like any other art requies you to learn the skills and techniques - then forget about them and begin to play.