Improvisation- Go left or right?

I've heard the phrase "Improvisation is the courage to choose the next note." On the piano, you have certain choices (actually you have all the choices in the universe). You can play a lower note to the left of where you are, or you can choose a higher note to the right. You can also repeat the same note. You can jump left or right. You can insert a rest, in other words, a silence. You can play a chord, you can change the rhythm of your melody, or change the dynamics (soft and loud) or your attack, staccato or legato. Really, there are no limits.

For the purpose of improvisation, let's say in jazz, most choices will go left, right, silent, or repeat your note. From your choices and the choices made by those who came before you, came all the music ever created on a piano or piano-like keyboard. Beethoven, Bach, Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Brad Mehldhau, Chopin, etc. And remember, all of them are renowned for their ability to improvise. When it got written down it's called "composing". When it wasn't, it 's called "improvisation."

The word often strikes fear into the hearts of piano students. Psychoanalyst Erich Fromm wrote that people feeling fear of their own freedom may escape into totalitarianism. Improvisation offers freedom, and so many have to overcome the fear to enjoy it. Students are often frozen by fear of hitting "bad" notes. But every "bad" note can resolve into another note and create something interesting or beautiful. Once students find out that they won't die if they hit a wrong note, they feel liberated. Because they are liberated. Then they can enjoy the joy and thrill of creating something new. www.jonathansegal.com