Comments on: What Your Brain Does When You Improvise Jazz

By: abraham.gamboa

abraham.gamboa — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 16:15:02 +0000

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.

By: Art Resnick

Art Resnick — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 23:49:25 +0000

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.

By: Kerry Mofit

Kerry Mofit — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 10:37:50 +0000

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!!

By: Ken

Ken — Tue, 11 May 2010 18:16:29 +0000

I always thought something was dis-engaged from my brain when I picked up my sax.

By: Larry Schroth

Larry Schroth — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:20:24 +0000

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.