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Re: What About Playing 'Non-Music' ?

Author: abrogard
Date: 2019-11-12 00:20

Thanks for your comments.

I'd like to learn to properly tongue, etc and that, in fact, is what I sometimes think I'm learning during these 'free form' sessions.

When I'm reading everything is much more constrained. Even my head position - it has to be where I can see the page. And more than just see it but dwell on it and read.

Printed music actually is my thing. I play it all the time. (when I play, which isn't... etc.. )

And i play anything at all that I can play. Right now I have these books from the local library:

"150 of the most beautiful songs ever'
'Great Jazz Standards'
'75 light classical songs'
'Also sax 101 hit songs'
'Jazz Piano Standards for Dummies'
and
'The Frank Sinatra Centennial Songbook'

For instance. Just my most recent gleanings from the library system. They never have much.

All baby simple arrangements treble line only and some with even those enormously large notes with the name of the note in the head..

Very annoying, those, because it forces the music to take two or three or more pages and I have to stop and turn the page. Hate that.

But, yes, that's my fun. Working through those books. That's where I find melodies and lyrics that give me a boost.

And what somewhat amazes me is the vast difference between the way I can get about the instrument when extemporising freely and how constrained i am when trying to read.

For when reading I'll find I squeak for instance. Or I just can't get that note - even something as 'easy' as C above the stave. Or I can't go from this note to that.

But when I'm improvising I seem to be able to go wherever I want to go, hit whatever note I want to hit, manage any changes.

It must be fictional. I must be kidding myself. My body is somehow managing me so's I carefully make choices of what notes to play next that feed easily into my abilities. Without me being conscious of that happening.

I really don't know. It interests me. I'd like to know what's going on.

I seem to have a subconscious preparedness for what's coming that I don't have when reading. So that the hands and mouth are ready for that sudden leap up to the high notes and make it easily - and the breath is there, too, and I can stretch it for the longest time...

I think maybe I need to learn by heart as you suggest.

I know only one: 'Lullaby of Birdland'. I've known it for years. Still play it as poorly and incompletely ( don't go round the repeats and off to the coda etc...) as I ever did.

I think probably I should improve that. And learn more.

It's very vain and self-centred all this talking about what I do etc. I apologise for that.

I'm really trying to discuss the question of just what happens within a person that enables all this fluid freedom and ability when they improvise freely.

Does it happen to other persons?
Often, frequently?
On all instruments?
Is it 'good' or harmful to classic development?
Is there something within it that should be sought out and nurtured?

and whatever other questions come to mind...

:)

Post Edited (2019-11-12 00:43)

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