For a classically trained pianist, creating music spontaneously can be challenging to say the least. However, all the technique needed for playing improv is hidden within Beethoven and Mozart. The only things left to learn are a few basic steps to help you find your hidden creativity. With classical music, you learn bass notes and melody lines. These ideas will help you begin to step past what's been written for you and help you to create your own music.
Start by finding a left hand pattern that is simple and easily repeatable. This can be taken from a classical or pre-written song. Something similar to an Alberti Bass or a pattern between the 5th and 1st fingers of the left hand. Know the notes in the key you're playing in. It's easiest to start in the key of C as there are no sharps or flats and you can press any white key without fear of playing a wrong note.
Repeat the left hand pattern until you become quite bored with it. I tell my students that if you don't become bored with the pattern, then you're not playing it correctly. The goal is to become very comfortable with the left hand pattern so that a right hand melody may be added.
Once your left hand is playing without extensive aid from your brain, try adding a simple 2-3 (or 4, 5 or 6) note melody or phrase to your continuing bass-note pattern. Keep playing until this is easy. Switch up your right hand when the notes become too repetitive. As you continue, this process will become easy and your brain will finally be able to pass the threshold into the world of creativity
The notes that will sound best in the right hand are melodies that start on the tonic (1st), dominant (5th) or 3rd note of the scale. After starting on one of these notes, any notes can be played in succession to create a melody pleasing (or not pleasing) to the ear. Play around with the idea of rhythm, repetitive melody, and song melody (creating a "singing" phrase).
Playing in one key sounds fine, but the most pleasing music comes when you learn to play in a chord progression. Many classical composers utilize chord progressions without the musician ever noticing. Adding these to your improv will create a true song rather than a simple ditty. A chord progression is a set of chords that all work together in one key. A great and easy way to find a good chord progression is to print the chords to a song of your choice and use them as a basis for this improv exercise.
The Ultimate Guitar website has chord progressions to many songs - just check to make sure the song is written in chord form rather than guitar tabs.
Hopefully these tips will help you get started playing improv with ease. Always remember, unlike classical music, there is never a wrong note. Simply keep playing and incorporate it into your song. My final tip is to find someone who already plays improv and ask them to simplify what they do so that you may watch. This has extreme worth in the music world.If you have any questions on the topic of playing/teaching improv for the piano, please ask.
Join the Conversation