What Your Brain Does When You Improvise Jazz
December 23rd, 2008
I just came across a very interesting study of the what the brain does when you improvise jazz. The scientific study was conducted by Charles Limb, a faculty member at the Peabody Conservatory of Music at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, and a life-long jazz musician. He is also a doctor and assistant professor in Johns Hopkins School of Medicine’s Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. (this guy will never be out of work!)
Anyway, Limb studied his own brain during an MRI where he improvised to an “Aebersold-like” track. The results were fascinating but didn’t really surprise me. Take a look at the video and you probably won’t be surprised at what your brain does when you improvise jazz.
I just wonder if this kind of thing applies to writing a chart too. Sometimes I get in a “zone” when working on a chart where it is really easy and I lose sense of time. I would think that the brain would function about the same way in any highly creative endeavor. Check out the video, and leave a comment if you’d like.
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Mamacita 11 Chart:
I just downloaded this chart and will try it
when my group start rehearsing again in
April.(most members go to Florida).
The chart looks very interesting, can not
wait to try it in the spring.
Thanks Jim.
Leo Pontes
I have been aware of this type of event when I’m playing my Trumpet.
When people ask me how I do what I do, I have to say that I put my horn up to my lips and start blowing. At that point my fingers take over and
are responsible for what comes out. There is NO thought involved as to
what I might do in playing.
I always thought something was dis-engaged from my brain when I picked up my sax.
Dis-engaged doesn’t begin to describe where my brain is during improvisation; especially an extended improv. Often, I find that I’ve even “tuned out” the rest of the band and/or rhythm section for a period of time.
I encourage my improvisation students do do something a bit similar in that, I ask them to spend time during a practice session “free playing” where they’re not thinking (consciously) about a particular song or chord changes but to simply let their mind “wander” and play whatever makes its way to their instrument. I, and they, often find new pattern type material we can develop into either practice materials or perhaps new tunes. Further, it allows me to experiment with odd-meter motif’s or patterns and not be restricted to a structured rhythm section feeling.
Just me $0.02!!
KM
I’m reminded of what a fellow musician once said after a solo: “I must have been smokin’ cause I don’t remember a thing I played”. This sums it up for me. When I’m truly improvising, and in my opinion “saying something”, it’s a meditative state of mind without my ego or thoughts getting in the way. I don’t know what the brain is doing but the mind is in neutral and the music is coming through me.
Are there other articles about studying music and brasin development esp. in children’s neuro-transmitters.??
I want to translate these to show in Brasil to the govy. and private enterprises to sponsor bands, orchestras, ensembles here and return music studies to the public schools.