I improvise all the time. I find that it helps me achieve mastery of all
the microtones and inbetween notes. Whenever I feel my practice getting too
rigid, I listen to a little Charles Lloyd (highly recommended) or
mid-sixties Coltrane, or even the sound of a tumbling mountain stream...
In the meantime, I have a new tune that I have been trying to master on the
Shakuhachi: Dylan's version of "Mr. Tambourine Man." Try those harmonica
solos on your flute, they'll really bend and strengthen your technique.
>I have a question for you more experienced players: After a student has
>achieved a very high level of technical skill and knowledge- mastery, we might
>say- how much room for innovation is there within the various shakuhachi
>traditions? As a relatively inexperienced shakuhachi player, I feel
>unqualified even to express an opinion regarding tradition vs. innovation or
>my personal style vs. what my teachers teach. When I play honkyoku, I try to
>copy my teachers, which is plenty challenging enough to keep me busy.
>However, I also love to improvise, but, since improvisation is not highly
>valued in honkyoku music, I don't tell my teachers about it (sorry Riley) and
>I consider it a separate practice.
>
>I would encourage everyone to improvise as part the practice regimen. I find
>that it teaches me to find music- to realize it- from my own experience, not
>just my teacher's experience. This realization can then be applied to more
>traditional forms.
>
>Mark Miller
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