Curation: Steps to Improv

Step #1
       Before you learn how to improvise, I'm hoping you know how to play all of the different notes on your instrument. However, if you don't know how, we can change that. There are many ways to learn the basics of your instrument either through a teacher (easiest/fastest way in my opinion), books, online, etc. Playing with a friend or an experienced player is the best way for me personally. It's easier to have someone explain it to you and it's fun at the same time opposed to reading instructions off a book.

       On top of learning the notes, you must learn many other aspects of reading music as well such as time signature, key signature, rhythm, etc. Like I said before, you can learn all of these things from the same places. Better start crackin'!

Step #2
        The basic foundation of improvising on any instrument is knowledge. Before you even start improvising you have to know your stuff beyond the individual notes. And the key to start off is learning music theory. However, music theory is such a vast subject to study overnight. So rather than learning everything to know to music theory, let's start off simple with scales.

       However, even scales branch off to other types of scales. There's a lot to know. There are major scales, minor scales, chromatic scales, and so on. For beginners, all you should worry about are major scales. Rather than me explaining with words, this site below will give you a little introduction to music theory and scales. Let's get started!

Introduction to Music Theory and Scales!

       After you get the hang of scales, here is an amazing site that hels you practice some music theory. This website is great for practicing your music theory and getting the hang of it. You can even start training your ear!

Music Theory Practice
Step #3
         Now that you all know how your notes and scales, it's time to start improvising! However, before you begin rock out on your instrument you have to warm up. Before any musician starts to play, they loosen up their finger muscles and warm up with some scales and drills one might say. Musicians are just like athletes and they must stretch and do some drills before the main event. You cannot just rush into it.

Step #4
        Finally, the moment you all have been waiting for. You are all now ready to improvise. When improvising, you can't think too hard about what you are about to play. Improvising is all about expressing yourself and pouring your soul out through your instrument as a medium. Have fun!

Step #5
      Hopefully you guys have been practicing all of the previous steps. However, even though you know how to improvise, it's time to branch out even further. There are many different styles of music you can improvise to. If anything, you can improvise to any type of music you desire. However, before you find your own flow, you should try out different styles to get a feel for what you truly like.

More Improv Guidelines

       According to this site above, improvising is about mystery and imagery. Take a look at this guidline to improvising music. It has a lot of helpful information to enhance your improvising skills.