Ear training is good. Improvising with other people is better. Good improvisers (and indeed non improvisers if such musicians truly exist) learn to cover their mistakes.
As my playing companion Ken Mullen ( who learned his craft playing in NE Scotland Ceilgh Bands) says 1st rule is "don't stop playing"
You don't say what type of music you improvise.
Richard
On 24 Jun 2008, at 00:55, John F. Potts wrote:
I'm the guy who submitted the post about the difficulties I experience trying to play the standard chromatic. The problem I have is not that I expect it to be the same as the diatonic. I know what the differences are and I have a reasonable understanding of how the chromatic works. BUT, if I'm improvising at a medium or fast tempo I tend to "lose my place." I'm frequently unable to keep track of what note I am playing by ear alone. And, if I hit the button at the wrong time, it's a mistake everyone in the room will notice.
I don't have a problem keeping track of where i am on the diatonic because 1) there are fewer holes on the diatonic and 2) since most of the intervals on a diatonic are different, each hole has a different "feel" in the mouth to an experienced player.
Other than ear training (which I could probably use) does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep track of where you are when improvising on a chrom at fast tempo?
JP
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Richard Hammersley Grantshouse, Scottish Borders http://www.last.fm/music/Richard+Hammersley http://www.myspace.com/rhammersley http://www.myspace.com/magpiesittingdown