{"id":11571,"date":"2025-09-23T11:34:33","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T09:34:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/megustaelpiano.com\/?p=11571"},"modified":"2025-09-23T12:32:38","modified_gmt":"2025-09-23T10:32:38","slug":"resources-for-learning-to-improvise-on-the-piano","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/megustaelpiano.com\/en\/resources-for-learning-to-improvise-on-the-piano\/","title":{"rendered":"Resources for learning to improvise on the piano"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Learning to improvise on the piano is a fundamental activity with great benefits, both for piano teachers and for students. In this post, I want to share the resources (books, courses, and videos) that I use in my lessons, as well as those that have helped me, and continue to help me, learn to improvise<\/strong>. Like many other classical trained pianists, I didn\u2019t learn to improvise during my training years, and while some of my peers seemed to have a natural talent for it, I didn\u2019t appear to possess that ability. I used to hold the mistaken belief that improvisation was a gift that some people had and others did not. Now I know that everyone can learn to improvise, and that doing so brings countless benefits. Every teacher can guide their students on this path, even without being expert improvisers<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improvising on the piano is a way of exploring music through creativity, intuition, and freedom. Through this practice, the pianist develops a deeper connection with the instrument, learns to listen attentively, and expresses themselves authentically in every note. In addition, improvisation strengthens musical memory, understanding, mental agility, confidence when playing (whether alone or with others), and above all, the enjoyment of and connection with music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, I\u2019d like to share several useful resources for learning to improvise at different levels<\/strong>. They can be valuable for both teachers and students. Having good materials not only enriches your practice but also opens new doors to inspiration and helps you discover your own musical voice. The resources I suggest are organized in order of increasing difficulty\u2014the first ones are aimed at students who are just starting to improvise, while the later ones are designed for more advanced pianists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of Improvisation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Improvisation in piano lessons not only nurtures creativity and allows students to express themselves freely, but it is also a powerful tool for musical learning. Through improvisation, students can explore technique, scales, chords, harmony, accompaniment patterns, rhythm, and virtually any musical element we want to work on in a way that is both fun and deeply engaging. There\u2019s no better way for a student to internalize any concept naturally and effectively than by experiencing it through improvisation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Improvising helps pianists of all levels<\/strong> build self-confidence, improve concentration, and adapt easily to any musical situation. It encourages exploration without fear of mistakes, making it an ideal strategy to strengthen one\u2019s connection with the instrument.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Piano improvisation also enhances musical communication and personal expression. It helps students develop mental agility, respond quickly to new ideas, sharpen their listening skills, and create music spontaneously. Beyond that, it fosters group work, teaching musicians to interact, share ideas, and build a piece of music together. Ultimately, improvisation provides not only the tools to perform and compose but also drives personal growth, enabling students to connect more deeply with music and enjoy the creative process with greater freedom and confidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create First! by Forrest Kinney<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This series of books completely changed the way I looked at improvisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Create First!<\/strong> can be seen as a series of books for learning how to improvise at the piano, but it is also a fresh way of approaching music. Its author argues that we learn by creating, and to that end he offers simple patterns that introduce scales, rhythms, intervals, and chords in a natural and creative way. The first volume explores sounds, movements, and modes, beginning with the black keys and later moving on to the white keys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The second book focuses on introducing harmony, starting with improvisations based on different intervals and then moving on to triads in various positions and seventh chords. The third and fourth books explore the different modes. Each level includes two versions: a duet book and a solo piano book. The pieces are the same but with a different approach. The duet version is designed for teacher and student (or two students), with very simple accompaniments, while the solo version is intended for individual practice at home. You can visit Forrest Kinney\u2019s<\/strong> website<\/a> to explore his publications on improvisation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

In the following video, you can see how to use a single Forrest Kinney pattern in several different ways: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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