Improvisation: How To Color Without Crayons

Improvisation -- Coloring Without Crayons

Improvisation (also known as improvising) is the act of making something up as you go along -- an act with which we all have a little experience. Remember playing House or Doctor as a child, letting the game go wherever your mind would take you? That was improvisation. No rules, no boundaries, just the limitless potential of your imagination.

Similarly, musical improvisation is the act of writing a song while performing it, a technique found most often in jazz and bluegrass (but can be traced back to renowned classical improvisers like Handel and Bach). Of course, it's a little more complicated than an imaginative children's game. Though improvisation is a highly creative and flexible technique, it requires great skill on the part of the musician. A musician involved in an improvisation must have a detailed knowledge of chord structure and complicated scales and modes. The musician must also have an intuitive ability to structure a song on the fly; great improvisation thrives on its ability to sound not improvised but rather wholly composed. That illusion, the ability of a song to seem anything but spontaneously made up, is part of improvisation's allure.



There are two basic forms of improvisation: structured improvisation and free improvisation. Structured improvisation, though a contradiction in terms, is the most common of the two. In this form, musicians will use a pre-determined series of chord changes, usually held down by the rhythm section, as the song's base. The lead instruments in the improvisation (also pre-determined) then have the freedom to create new melodies and harmonies from these pre-determined chords. The flexibility of this improvisation form is dependent on the flexibility of the chord changes, and the musicians involved must be able to play exactly what they hear in their heads, as some complicated changes may not allow for large deviations.


Free improvisation, on the other hand, is far more like a game of House or Doctor -- it has no rules. Instead of focusing on harmony or melody, free improvisation focuses on the feeling and texture of the music and the way the instruments complement each other. This form tends to be far more experimental and rarely adheres to one style or genre or music -- it is, quite simply, what it is. Notable musicians who play free improvisation include Conny Bauer, Evan Parker and Hans Reichel.

How many notes does it take to make a chord?

One note played at a time is termed a unison; two notes together form an interval; three or more notes form a chord.


Chords are at the very crux of music theory -- or music alone, for that matter. Chords are three or more notes (or pitch classes; strictly speaking, notes are the written form of pitches) played together. But these notes don't necessarily have to be played simultaneously. Broken chords, or arpeggios, are three or more notes that aren't played at the same time but closely enough to be heard as a group or whole. And even the three-note rule is open to exception. Power chords, frequently used in rock music, consist of only two notes, but they still function as chords because they work, diatonically, in the same way that a major or minor chord would.



Chords are most often named based on their number of notes or the type of intervals involved. Chords classified by note number are given names such as trichord (three notes), tetrachord (five notes), and hexachord (six notes). Chords classified by interval are given names such as tertian (third chords), secundal (second chords), and quartal (fourth chords). Sometimes chords are named based on both qualities. Tertian trichords, for example, are chords with three notes, each a third above each other. These type of chords are actually the most common in western music, found frequently in rock and pop.



These chords aren't the only chords possible, however. There are several specialized chord types that seem to defy strict categorization. Inverted chords are created by adding a bass note that is not the root note. Seventh chords can be made by adding a fourth to a triad -- a third above the chord's fifth -- which makes the highest note a seventh from the root. Extended chords are those with notes that extend above a seventh, such as a ninth or an eleventh. But it's important to mention that no extended chord can go above a thirteenth. By that point, the notes included will have already been played somewhere in the chord, taking it back down to an eleventh or thirteenth.

What's the Difference Between a Regular Piano & an Electric Piano?

An electric piano (also known as an electronic piano) is an electronic, keyboard-based instrument made to sound like a piano; in fact, the instrument was created to provide musicians with a more portable version of the hefty upright or grand pianos. The sound of an electric piano, however, is not an exact replica. All versions of electric piano carry their own unique sound, which has made many of them extremely sought after (even though some types are extremely rare). An electric piano falls somewhere between an acoustic piano and an organ, but defies the sound properties of both. While it carries the same basic features as a piano -- full 88 key keyboard, various pedals and weighted keys -- the sound is more comparable to an organ than to any type of piano. An electric piano is actually a rudimentary, un-evolved version of the modern digital piano -- it was created with the same concepts of portability and function in mind -- but it's hardly seen in that light. Like many rudimentary, vintage things, the electric piano has only grown in popularity with its age; the electric piano, like early video game systems, is now a cherished and highly used piece of pop culture.

The term electric piano isn't always used in this specific a fashion, however. Often, electric piano describes the more modern digital pianos or synthesizers; it has similarities to both. Like a digital piano, an electric piano focuses on portability and piano-like qualities. It includes pedals and weighted keys, two very piano-like elements, and strives to create the same vibrant sound. And like a synthesizer, it is strikingly electronic and easily distinguishable from any type of acoustic instrument. But unlike either the digital piano or synthesizer, the electric piano produces a very rich, vivid sound. Audiophiles sometimes cite the electric piano as the best-sounding electronic instrument ever made; it maintains it's electronic qualities without sounding tinny or canned, like some modern electronic instruments. For that reason, it is often used where an electronic element doesn't need to be overwhelming; the electric piano makes its electronic point without compromising the richness of the ensemble.

What are the functions of "rests?"

Rests are musical notations that mark a fixed period of silence. The silence, or open space, in a piece of music is equally important to the placement of the notes. A system of carefully placed rests has the ability to make or break a song and to completely alter the its mood or theme. The types of rests and their values mirror that of the notes they are replacing and can be used in a multitude of ways.

Multi-measure rests last for several measures. They are marked as whole rests with the number of silent measures noted above them. Multi-measure rests are typically only used when the piece requires more than eight whole rests in a row.
Four-measure rests last for four measures and are occasionally marked as multi-measure rests. Though it is generally considered more correct to use a multi-measure rest with only eight rested measures, it's not at all uncommon to find four-measure rests marked as such.
Double-whole rests (or breve rests) last twice as long as a whole note. They are represented by a black vertical rectangle between the second and third lines of a musical staff.
Whole rests (or semibreve rests) represent one whole note. This is usually meant as four beats, but whole rests are often used in 3/4 time as well. In this case, whole rests represent a whole measure as opposed to a whole note. They are notated as a black horizontal rectangle under the second line from the top of a staff.
Half rests (or minim rests) are half as long as a whole note. They are represented by a black horizontal rectangle above the third line from the top of a staff.
Quarter rests (or crochet rests) last for a quarter of a whole note. Their notation is the most distinctive and commonly used; it's a nearly indescribable curvy line stretching over the staff's middle three lines.
Rests continue to be notated up to one sixty-fourth of a whole note and can also have their value shifted by placing a dot next to the notation. Dotted rests last the length of the original rest, plus one half. For example, dotted half rests last three beats and dotted quarter rests last one and one-half beats.

What is "Composing?"

In the simplest terms possible, composing is the act of writing a song. Composing is the most vital part of music, and while most musicians are able to read the music written by a composer, few actually believe themselves to be proficient in composing. It's a tricky form, especially when a composer is given the task of composing for an entire orchestra or band as opposed to simply one instrument, such as individual piano or cello compositions.

Strictly speaking, the terms composing and songwriting are completely interchangeable. They do, after all, mean exactly the same thing: writing a song, or a part of a song, from start to finish. But the words' connotations are radically different. While songwriting is an informal practice, confined mostly to the popular musical genres, composing is the province of the classical musician. Those interested in composing must not only be able to perfectly read music, they must be able to notate it equally as well. Songwriting, while a valuable form in its own right, is rarely used as a means to write down music for others to read; those writing the songs are frequently writing for themselves or for others to whom they can simply play the song. Composing, on the other hand, is usually intended for an individual other than the composer -- and for widespread consumption, at that. Great compositions will migrate from orchestra to orchestra, eliminating the possibility of the person composing the music to physically play the song for other musicians.

Composing often requires formal training (though it in no way has to; several great composers have had no formal training at all) and many would-be composers attend music school for years prior to the start of their careers. A music school focused on composing will educate its students in massive amounts of music theory as well as individual instruments. Most composing students are encouraged, if not required, to study and proficiently play more than one or two instruments aside from piano, which is a given.

The Rewards Of Practicing Piano Playing

Playing piano is one of the most rewarding activities in existence -- and also one of the most difficult. Regardless of whether you aspire to be the next prodigy or just want to bang out a few family favorites at the next reunion, playing piano at the most rudimentary level is a time-consuming and sometimes frustrating task. And playing piano well -- well, that takes hours of endless practice and whole mountain ranges full of discipline. But the hard work is worth it in the end; the pay off is an amazing new skill that will last a lifetime.

Most students start piano lessons enthusiasticly and can't wait for the next lesson. But after a few months the trill wears off as the reality of daily practice sinks in. Most of us found practicing boring -- I certainly did until my goals were re-ignited by an opportunity to play in a group. The sooner a student can participate in playing in some public forum, the better, whether it is playing in Sunday School or at school or for a musical group or for friends -- whatever. It's important to put what you've learned into action as soon as possible to make those long boring days of practice pay off.

Playing piano, of course, is an art. And like any art, it can be learned in a multitude of ways. Some begin playing piano by picking up a book of sheet music and hammering it out in front of the keyboard for months on end. These people, however, generally have some working knowledge of music to begin with; playing piano will be slightly easier for them because they already understand the mechanics involved in the practice.

But for those who have never sat on a piano bench or set foot on a pedal, playing piano will usually start with lessons. Well-planned lessons taught by an experienced and knowledgeable instructor can set even those completely new to music on the road to playing piano. The lessons will cover a wide range of topics, usually starting with fingering and posture; knowing where on the keys to put your fingers and how to hold your hands is the first step to playing piano. Next comes the music theory basics. Playing piano, after all, can hardly be done without an understanding of notes, rhythms and chords. It's here that the reading of music will be introduced; instructors will start a student off with basic pieces in easy key signatures to allow them a feel for how the techniques work. As the student begins to show more proficiency in playing piano the pieces will get harder. This takes times, however. Playing piano well (and at an advanced level) doesn't happen overnight, and it's common for a student not to attempt advanced pieces until years after they've begun playing piano. But like anything else, hard work pays off, and the rewards of playing the piano can be huge.

The Vital Importance of Piano Instruction

Proper piano instruction is an element extremely vital to learning the instrument well. Though it's very possible to be a self-taught piano player, piano instruction can really increase the speed and efficiency with which one learns the instrument. That's not to say that great piano instruction makes great piano players overnight; even the most naturally talented pianists still play for years before they consider themselves advanced. But proper piano instruction will make maximize those years to the fullest and ensure that the student is learning the correct techniques.

Though teaching styles always vary from instructor to instructor, piano instruction generally covers the same basic areas: fingering, music theory, music reading and sight reading. The early lessons will cover fingering and posture, making sure the student knows how to hold his or her hands and where to put them on the keys; series of scales practiced repeatedly will be the basis of this area. Piano instruction will then move on to music theory essentials, starting with the basics of notes and chord structure and moving forward to advanced concepts in rhythm, tempo and dynamics.

Many of these concepts are introduced into the piano instruction while the student is learning to read music, a practice that runs through the entire course of the piano instruction. Teachers will assign short, easy pieces to kick start the student's music reading knowledge and eventually move forward to more advanced pieces. Sight reading, the ability to play a piece of music without ever having seen it, is sometimes placed sporadically throughout the piano instruction, after a student is fairly well-versed in reading music. All of the elements of piano instruction eventually begin to work hand in hand. Once the very early basics are covered, the advanced concepts are taught through practice of a separate concept in piano instruction; theory aids in the knowledge of reading, which in turn aids in the knowledge of both theory and sight reading. Piano instruction then becomes an intricate web of gaining bits of detailed knowledge without realizing that it's being gained.

What is "Rhythm and Blues?"

Rhythm and blues, influenced by jazz and gospel music, is often credited as being the originator of modern pop music; it has heavily influenced both rock and hip-hop music, two of the biggest music markets today. It came into popularity in America in the 1950s, just prior to rock and roll's thriving inception, and overlapped with the very popular jazz music of the time. As rock and roll grew in America, so did rhythm and blues; rock and roll fans often listened to rhythm and blues, just as rhythm and blues fans sometimes latched on to rock on roll.

Rhythm and blues hit big in the UK in the 1960s, as well; however, the distinction between rock and roll and rhythm and blues was far more pronounced. The UK rhythm and blues scene (which eventually morphed into soul) was largely embraced by a scene of mostly teenagers known as mods. These rhythm and blues fans differed greatly from the rockers, who listened only to rock and roll and held rhythm and blues (and the mods that went with it) in high disdain. The social dysfunction between these two groups caused large problems within the combined music scenes of rhythm and blues and rock and roll; the characteristic tension is documented in "Quadrophenia," a fictional movie depicting fairly non-fictional situations.

As decades passed and rhythm and blues grew in popularity in the United States and abroad, it shifted shapes and became known as simply R&B, a slower, more melodic version of the original rhythm and blues form that is often seen as the modern counterpart to hip-hop.

What is a Piano Concerto?

A piano concerto is a type of classical composition that features the piano accompanied by a group of instruments used to produce a full backing sound. The instrument group in a piano concerto is usually an orchestra (though smaller ensembles aren't at all uncommon), and the piano concerto is almost always written in sonata form. The best known examples of the piano concert are from the baroque and classical eras when Bach and Mozart, respectively, specialized in the form; it's important to note, however, that Bach's piano concertos were adapted to the piano only after the harpsichord fell out of favor.

Many, many piano performances are comprised of a piano concerto; it's a wonderfully melodic, magnetic form of composition made even more compelling by the orchestral accompaniment. But even though the orchestra is much larger than a singular pianist, the piano is truly the star of a piano concerto. The orchestra's music is composed carefully to showcase the instrument and makes the piano sound fuller and richer as a result.

As the piano concerto is written in sonata form, the piece usually contains three movements -- though these will often shift and change to reflect less of the sonata form on which they were based. The first movement of a piano concerto is the shortest part; it's upbeat and energetic, grabbing the listener with the first note. The second movement of a piano concerto is far slower, often with the orchestra dropping back to give the piano's melodies a fair amount of space. The last movement of a piano concerto returns to a dynamic similar to that of the first movement, sometimes larger; at times the third movement will re-introduce the original melody of the piano concerto, but it is by no means rote for the form.

What Are "Piano Tabs?"

Piano tabs, strictly speaking, are a form of sheet music that notates the music by showing where the fingers are to be placed instead of the notes themselves; the form is also known as tablature and is frequently used for guitar, as well. Technically, there is no such thing as piano tab. Tablature, though vast in its capabilities, is only intended for fretted string instruments, and while piano is certainly a string instrument, it isn't fretted. The term piano tab is actually used to refer to fingering charts (charts often used in instruction to aid in the correct placement of the fingers on the keys) or, most commonly, traditional sheet music.

Piano tab in terms of traditional sheet music is the written notation for a piece of music. It tells that musician what to play, for how long and in what sort of manner. Notes are dictated via a series of ovals, often stemmed, on a musical staff consisting of five lines and four spaces. Where the notes are located vertically on the staff indicates what pitch is to be played, and the note's physical appearance in the piano tab indicates its duration. Piano tab also includes other specifications like time signature (the song's meter), key signature (the key in which the song is played) and tempo (the speed at which the song is played).

Not all piano tab indicates the same things, however. Some piano tab, especially that found in jazz ensembles and popular music groups, is very limited, notating only the bare essentials of chord progression and tempo. In this case, piano tab is really just a quick reminder of what needs to be played; it certainly isn't relied on for the detailed nuance of the song. And some piano tab, often referred to as a score, is extremely detailed, including not only the piano parts, but the parts of every other instrument as well. This type of piano tab is intended mostly for conductors, though sometimes pianists use condensed versions as a guide to the overall melody.