ELEMENTS OF IMPROVISATION

variety of articulations
short
long
staccato
no articulation
combinations of all

variety of rhythms
eight notes
triplets
sixteenths
polyrhythms
broken rhythms
smooth rhythms
combinations of all

motivic development
develop a rhythmic or melodic phrase
tension & release
using language as phrasing

unusual sounds/devices
growl
flutter tongue
bends
slap tongue
multiphonics
combinations

use your full range
start up high
start down low
start in the middle
play a solo in just one range

involve the rhythm section
leave space so they can answer to what you play. INTERACT!

dynamics
dynamics = emotion

trills
a nice device to add some spice!

straight tone/vibrato
when should you use vibrato and why? be sure you control it, not the other way around.

use the melody
it’s not just a great place to start…use it throughout

Tell a story…Be a builder.

humor/history/laugh/cry

communication/connectedness

Improvisation is about community.

Allow the people around you to be part of your community of music. Work together and help each other grow through the reinforcement of ideas and concepts.

Be involved in the PROCESS.

What’s in your musical garden?
Is it full of life and room to grow or is it full of weeds and neglect?

Imitation
Emulate your favorite player(s).

Experiment
Play something you have never played before during your solo.

Individuality
Play like yourself. Find your musical ideas and devices and rhythmic and melodic figures that appeal to your ears and those will make your playing unique. The only person you can ever truly sound like is YOU.
Try to get BEYOND your instrument.

Remember: You can never play exactly the same way twice! Make it count every time.

passion

color your tone/sound

try something you never have tried before

musical freedom is yours

you don’t need permission to express yourself

use space as part of your improvisation (Remember: Space is the Place!)

This list goes on and on and on and on…think of your own.