Sep 8, 2013

Improvising on Piano –by Jennifer Lin on TED.com


Improvising on Piano –by Jennifer Lin on TED.com

Musical improvisation is sometimes thought of an “in-the-moment” art form.  Improvisation happens everyday in our lives without even thinking about it in the form of communication.  However, when it comes to music, there are musical genres that have even evolved from the improvisation or creative process.  In all, what makes something improvisation or not is simply it timing.  Just as we all know the phrase that says that timing is everything, the same phenomenon happens here.

I recently watched a video on TED.com that made a huge impact on the way we should see improvisation.  A young pianist tells her story on how she goes about improvising.  Her name is Jennifer Lin and she was 14 years old when she posted her TED talk.  Her talk (more like a master class) could be seen here on video #11 of the playlist that will open at TED.com

She goes on to describe her creative process and how it all comes from improvising on random notes.  Jennifer Lin not only talks the talk but walks the walk when she asks for someone in the audience to come up and choose 5 random notes out of a set of cards in order to use these for her improvised piece.

The creativity in this video and performance by Ms. Lin goes to show that as stated in the first paragraph of this post:  timing IS everything!  As we mentioned, she introduces her TED video by performing an original composition.  But then, after being through with her creativity and her talk on improvising, she ends with an improvised piece that could very well become part of her original repertoire.  The difference is that the last piece performed is the one based on the 5 random and in-the-moment-notes chosen by the audience member who happened to be Goldie Hawn.    

She ends the piece with a remarkable and inspiring cadence worthy of a standing ovation. 
Her talk was simple, her composition likable, but her improvisation simply inspiring!!!
    

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