Improvisation is one of the highest and most demanding forms of music composition. Many people try to learn how to improvise by studying scales, modes, licks and other "cheats". In my opinion, these mechanical cheats are not only intellectually and musically dishonest, but will also end up frustrating those of you who are truly talented, because they will not teach you how to improvise. They will merely turn you into monkeys who regurgitate licks, play scales super-fast other such non-musical garbage.
In this video I present a different philosophy to learning to improvise. In my view, mastering improvisation is comprised of three steps:
(1.) First, learn how to compose. Be able to say something "offline" before saying it "online"! If you can't come up with musical ideas without any pressure, how on earth are you going to do it on the fly? By training your composition skills you are building up a true musical vocabulary of ideas.
(2.) Once you can compose on the fly in your head, you must be able to recognize the notes your hear in your mind. If you hear a musical phrase in your imagination, you must be able to say which notes precisely it corresponds to.
This involves training your ear.
(3.) Finally, train your hands and master the technique necessary to play those notes you hear in your head in real time.
