Improvising Again!

At my Tai Chi class a few days ago, the teacher whispered in my ear, "When we do the Form, please feel free to improvise for us on the piano, as you have done before." So, I did that. Again, I used only the black keys to create a soundscape that would be appropriate to the slow, controlled movements of Tai Chi and also would have a slightly "Asian" cast to the whole. I find that I feel very free and comfortable doing this, probably after my many years of improvising wildly in the classroom, at the piano, as an encouragement to my children to move in various ways. I played a variety of styles and ranges: large crashing chords for "giant steps", flittering little melodies for lightly running, etc. I really enjoyed it! When I asked my student teachers to try that, they never did. They were much too inhibited to try.

And, yesterday, at the first general rehearsal for the elementary school musical, which I have been asked to perform as accompanist and vocal teacher, the director had the children play various "theater games" to warm up. One of them was "The Mirror Game". In groups of two, the students took turns leading slow motions, in a seated position, facing their partners. Again, I suggested that I could play on the keyboard for this activity. The director agreed and I felt my slow, controlled improvs helped to create a good atmosphere for the Mirror Game, again using only black keys. Anyone can improvise on the black keys! Just become less inhibited and try it!