How to Practice Improvisation

A common question amongst members of the Chick Corea Academy is, “How do you practice improvisation?”.

Here’s what Chick had to say about it:

"My suggestion is using a principle that I’ve described in some detail in previous workshops called gradients. You do it step by step. Think of a newborn baby. They’re not walking yet but they want to walk. Around a year old, maybe a little older - they start to get up on their feet, you know? How do they learn to walk? Well, it’s a gradient. You know, parents go, 'Wow, he walked!' Then he took a step and fell down, but he got up and he walked again. It’s a good example of a gradient.

You can see the purpose that a tot has, at that point, to want to walk. He doesn't care how many times he falls down. He keeps getting up and keeps doing it and keeps succeeding little by little until he’s running a marathon a couple years later.

It’s exactly the same principle of how you practice improvisation. Wherever you are in terms of your fluency or how well you can get it going, you have to start there and just keep doing it, and doing it, and doing it. If you don’t keep going too far over your current ability level, just keep pulling it back until you make it a smaller adventure. If you make it an adventure that makes it a loss, and you go, 'I can don’t do that anymore', then you’re not practicing correctly."

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Follow Chick Corea:

[Antara]

This can be applied to anything in life, great insights, rest in peace Mr Corea.

[ethanlocke]

A couple other suggestions for practicing improvisation:
record yourself and then go over it- this has been massively helpful for me in improvisation and classical
Get a backing track and then practice singing solos

[Hexspa]

A saxophonist at Chicago Jazz fest, maybe 2000, said, “First you crawl, then you walk, then you run, and then you strut.”

[eseos]

Rest in peace... legend 🖤. Thank you for your music, always.

[DihelsonMendonca]

After decades studying Chick Corea, the man and the music, and doing my homework, I noticed that it's almost impossible to play like him. His creativity seems unlimited. He was really a musical genius of the level of Beethoven, Chopin or Debussy. He listened every note and idea in his mind before playing, so, he was guided by the instrument, but he chooses what musical idea he wanted, and played exactly what he wanted, and not played what he didn't want. He kept at the top of the momentum all the time without losing it, but he did it naturally, never forced ideas to come. He had the whole thing in his mind, although he saw ibfinite ways, he choose the best ones. This is very difficult. I don't know many other guys that could do that, perhaps Bill Evans. 🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤

[richardwagon]

I literally just discovered this guy yesterday. So helpful and inspirational! It's a shame I never knew of him while he was living, but the impact he'll continue to make after his death is beautiful.

[madastrota]

I love Chick. His music has accompanied me for most of my life.
His mannerisms in these video clips remind me of a Fred Armisen character. Who I also love.

[educapro]

The Master Teacher. Have followed and played his music since I was in my early teens.

[davidjoel]

This guy IS brilliant. He is so loved and will always be with us! Thank you Chick for just being you!!!

[dms_video]

The only comforting thing about your recent checkout from earth is that you inspired a whole new generation of musicians to keep practising and getting out of their comfort zone. By just listening to them i will always remember how single individuals like you can actually make this world a better place to live. Thanks for that.

[JanooProductions]

Thank you Chick Corea, for everything.

[joeyblogsy]

Literally best piece of advice anyone can give when it comes to real improvement. You want to work hard and be ambitious but you also want to be clear about what you’re working on and realistic with your short term aims.

[c.thompson]

I love your quick minute approach to teaching. Bite sized and tasty. And really helpful coming from a master. Thank you for taking time to share your knowledge and experience Chick.

[JazzgutsVGvanKampen]

R.I.P. maestro, thanks for all your wisdom, inspiration and fantastic playing, leading the way for younger musicians. For a life in Music well spent and develloping talent to the utmost.

[espr]

Thank you for sharing your amazing talent. RIP Chick ❤

[michaelthompson]

If you really love to improvise . You will study and practice like there's no tomorrow. Your innovative ideas will gradually improve your improvisational skills. Listening to other people improvise is one of the first steps to self improvement.

[keithwald]

Dang, I miss him. I never met him, but I miss him.

[mikedelferro]

Fantastic, thank you for who you are Chick.

[elleondejuda]

Thanks chick is good to hear that specially from a master....is a hard process but is worth to enjoy it.

[LAstudio]

So many great videos he left for musicians. Much appreciated!