music practice

This episode shares overviews of seminal neuroimaging studies that provide insights into what happens in the brain during improvisation. You will learn how these findings align with what improvisers say about their experiences, including remarks from Bill Evans, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Werner, Pat Metheny, and Gary Burton. Cross-cultural perspectives are included here, as well, including reference to a traditional Japanese visual art form and traditional perspectives from West Africa.

 

References for the episode:

Kind of Blue liner notes by Bill Evans: http://albumlinernotes.com/Kind_of_Blue.html

 

Saxophone Colossus documentary about Sonny Rollins: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0196073/

 

Full interview with Kenny Werner: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsPg5lu4WCg&t=2318s

 

Pat Metheny at the Society for Neuroscience conference in 2018: https://youtu.be/yhAbNv1gJT8?si=uMgB-MxmrciyKBAN

 

Gary Burton’s Improv Class: https://youtu.be/t2txO_u2eNg?si=CBd6uc52UqxBOYz6

 

Limb & Braun, 2008: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0001679

 

Liu et al., 2012: https://www.nature.com/articles/srep00834

 

Rosen et al., 2020: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053811920301191

 

Rosen et al., 2016: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2016.00579/full

 

Malidoma Somé: The Ancestors' Gift of Healing: https://youtu.be/io28LgxYRf0?si=9ZX63gP4qtiI3s7t

 

In this episode, we have the pleasure of chatting with the marvelous Sammy Miller, the founder of Playbook, which is a groundbreaking approach to teaching improvisation and musical skills. Playbook blends in-person learning with cutting-edge software to foster foundational skills that nourish life-long musical engagement. Sammy is an accomplished Juilliard-trained jazz drummer and a passionate educator. He is on a mission to make music accessible to everyone. In our conversation, we explore his journey, from what sparked his love of music to the creation of Playbook. According to Sammy, Playbook isn't just about learning to play an instrument; it's a dynamic method that empowers individuals to embrace the language of music and to communicate fluently through their art. From classrooms to online spaces, Sammy is paving the way for a new era of musical education that resonates with aspiring musicians and seasoned pros alike.

For more information about Sammy Miller and Playbook, visit the following websites: https://www.sammymillercongregation.com/playbook

https://www.thisisplaybook.com/

This is an interview with Paul Nedzela (https://www.paulnedzela.com/). He plays baritone saxophone with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and leads his own quartet. He shares his thoughts on the experience of improvisation, how to prepare for a performance, the relationship between musical development and the various states of mind occasioned by improvisation, as well as several other topics.

The first musical segment is from the opening track of Introducing Paul Nedzela, entitled #251 (https://music.apple.com/us/album/251-feat-dan-nimmer-david-wong-aaron-kimmel/1688589768?i=1688589788).

The second musical segment is from another track on Introducing Paul Nedzela, entitled A Call Beyond (https://music.apple.com/us/album/a-call-beyond-feat-dan-nimmer-david-wong-aaron-kimmel/1688589768?i=1688590091).