Music / Piano Improvisations
I learned the cello with formal lessons from 9–18. However I taught myself the piano & and guitar and learned to play by ear. If you play by ear you get used to using the pentatonic scale (whether or not you its name – and I didn't until my twenties). If you explore the pentatonic melodic line in your right hand and play simple 1-4-5 chords in your left hand, you are already improvising. One can do a great deal with variation with melody and rhythm before ever advanced harmony.
In my case, I developed two distinct styles: on the one hand various blues and boogie styles with strong rhythms, and on the other, more free-flowing open-ended improvisations that had strong classical influences. Bach, Beethoven and Mozart were the composers I knew best (both by listening to and, in the case of the first two, playing both solo and duo cello compositions.)
In my twenties, I was influenced by Indian classical music and found both western and eastern idioms appearing in my improvisations. Side 1 of Music For Breathing contains several, long free-flowing improvisations of the kind just mentioned whereas Side 2 is clearly blues and gospel influenced.
Gradually, the piano became my number one instrument. I played in bands and on my own, both as an accompaniment to vocals and as a solo improvisation instrument I played whenever and wherever I could.
Video Playlist - 15 tracks
Audio Playlist - 17 tracks
Music for Breathing
I have only ever made one professional audio recording of solo piano improvisations. It was produced in 1988 and entitled Music for Breathing. The recording was marketed and sold well at such places as Banyen Books as well as with practitioners in the healing professions such as massage therapists, yoga and meditation professionals.
