How to start improvising

An exercise to start improvising, even if you’re scared

Includes guided meditation for musicians and music students

Practice Space

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Improvisation as a pianist, guitarist, violinist or singer can feel intimidating if you’ve never tried it before. But the first five minutes of your practice session are the perfect time to experiment — you’ve got nothing to lose.

In this video, I suggest a simple warm-up: take the opening bars of a piece or song you’re working on, and use them as a starting point for improvisation. You don’t need advanced skills. I’ll guide you through some simple ideas that work at any level on your instrument.

This exercise is valuable because it opens your ears and helps you be fully present in the moment of playing. It’s a gentle way to begin your practice by connecting to your instrument, listening to yourself, and approaching your playing with curiosity instead of pressure.

The video ends with a short guided meditation to help you settle into your practice session with calm and focus.

 

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