Finding Your Voice: Beginning Your Journey in Improvisational Music

1. Understand, love, and accept exactly where you are in your lifelong musical journey.

We each have a unique story to share with the world. 

We have each lived a life that no other person – past, present, or future – will ever be able to replicate. 

Understanding the factors that have both enabled and challenged us in our musical pursuit is key to developing self acceptance and love as we begin our improvisational journey.

2. Meditate on all the artists who have inspired you and shaped the musician you are today.

Close your eyes and play your favorite record.

Shuffle your favorite “mood” playlist. 

Loop your favorite song.

Whatever speaks to you in the moment, follow your heart and meditate on that music. Each of us is a reflection of all the music we have ever played, heard, or experienced in some way. Creating time and space to honor the voices that have shaped your life and your musical identity is vital to then finding your own.

3. Foster a mindset of vulnerability, authenticity, and freedom of self judgement.

“I am unique.”

“I am creative.”

“My voice is powerful.”

“My music is special.”

“I love to create.”

“I am organically me.”

Whatever mantras or affirmations speak to you and empower you in this process toward vulnerability and freedom, repeat them in your mind and heart.

Our minds are capable of so much more than we often give them credit for. Shaping our mindset in a positive, healthy, and inspired way will allow us to remove self deprecating thoughts and replace them with feelings of joy, gratitude, and self care.

4. Find or create structured exercises tailored to your goals and current skillset. 

No matter what instrument you play, you can learn specific and structured improvisational exercises that help you grow and constantly expand your potential. Try out some of these exercises:

• Turn on a C-G Drone. Freely improvise using the first 5 notes of the C major scale (C, D, E, F, G). When you’re ready, try adding in the remaining 2 notes (A, B).

• Turn on a Bb Blues Backing Track. Using the Bb blues scale (Bb Db Eb E F Ab Bb) improvise 2 measures on and 2 measures off. Restrict yourself to this phrasing to intentionally create space in your solo, giving your music space to breathe.

• Find a 1-4 measure piece of musical “language” that speaks to you from any genre. Learn it by ear and play it multiple times with the recording. Now, keep the melodic line and contour exactly the same but change around the rhythmic values. Explore dozens of different ways to play the same melody by simply changing rhythm. (Bonus: Try flipping this around – keep the rhythm exactly the same and change the melody!). 

5. Pick up your instrument, forget all that you’ve practiced, and just PLAY.

You have been working so hard and learning so many new exercises! Now it’s time to forget all that and just make music! We can’t ALWAYS be in technique or practice mode – there is a time and a place for that and it is an essential part of anyone’s musical development. But many of us get stuck there and forget the whole reason behind learning all those exercises in the first place – to make beautiful and organic music! 

When you give yourself time to forget everything and just improvise, you will be pleasantly surprised at what comes out! All the work you’ve put in is still there at the foundation of your soloing. But now you get to live in the moment and truly experience musical freedom. 

6. Find opportunities in your community to make and share music with other artists.

What would music be without a community to share it with? We are meant to experience this universal joy with others. No matter your skill level, there are always places for you to create art in your community. Community orchestras, wind ensembles, jam sessions, and more! And of course, go support local musicians as well by attending shows whenever time and money permit.

With a combination of hard work, a positive mindset, and a genuine love of music, you can achieve all your creative and musical dreams! Be patient with yourself and enjoy every step of the journey. Music is meant to be fun – never let that spirit leave you!