Technique and improvisation. Giving space to our creative self.
Throughout the process of learning the piano, collaborating with fellow musicians and understanding music, technique has always been part of my every day practice. It is indeed a very important and necessary tool, but is very often used as a means to an end and not as a process of building creativity. I believe this stems from the fact that technique frequently becomes a seperate entity and is detached from the pure essence of learning music.. which is PLAYING! Play is all about engagement and joy. Our imaginative, emotional, expressive and explorative selves are revealed when playing. Many times I have heard performances which are purely technical and have lost connection to the inner self. This is where math becomes strongly visible. Where music becomes a problem for solution. Where artistic expression is all about getting it right. But how does the wrong fit in? How does our self fit in?
I view technique and play as the ongoing trickiness of the mind and body polarities. When the right balance between them is achieved, we feel enlightened. How can we work with our minds/technique, whilst giving space to our body/play/emotion? This is where the importance of improvisation enters the picture. I believe that improvisation should be taught from the very beginning of playing an instrument. Even when a very young child has no clue of how to place his/her fingers. I call it "physical improvisation" which is essentially based on the rhythmical, sensory, theatrical and imaginary aspects of playing. Using each student's internal pulse as a reference point, the body dances using the piano as the vehicle. Through this way of exploring an instrument, we begin to search for answers on a variety of questions, such as: How can a meaning, picture, word, sound, poem, smell, etc activate our body and translate the variety of emotions into sound and movement? How can we find our internal pulse and trust it to help us create soundscapes on an instrument? How do we listen? How do we explore sounds? What is the sound of this room? How does it affect us? How do we teach an instrument which entails a lot of discipline, hard work and concentration, whilst expanding the student's cusiosity and love for music?
I believe that playing an instrument holistically,with all its given and hidden messages is an ongoing process of working hard with mind and body. The right balance between them will bring a refreshing touch to a performance. Getting to know what the "right" balance is, is a personal matter. This is where each performer's artistry is encountered. Where personality becomes evident. Where consciousness and intuition work in unity. ΅Where technique has become a tool towards emotional clarity and not a means in itself...
