Let’s face facts. There won’t be another CD of new age music on the market, so why bother? Why listen to music that most people don’t like or care about? Art is not necessary for existence. It can live without music, painting, or sculpture. It could survive, but it would be in a very dark place.
The main reason we play is for ourselves, not for the world. If people like it, that’s fine. It’s okay if they don’t like it. So long as we don’t lose sight of the enriching experience that improvisation can offer,
When I started playing, I wanted to make something that others could enjoy. I wanted something that people could comment on and say “Wow, that’s awesome!” He is a great guy. But, I was miserable and far from the true purpose behind playing music. It was not until about a year later that I realized that no one would be happy if I didn’t first please myself. It didn’t matter if other people were happy.
What is new age piano improvisation useful for? There is nothing, except for the joy it brings to you and me when the music flows out of our bodies. This is so rare. It is also so fleeting. It is sacred to take a second or a minute to forget yourself at the piano. It grows and develops. It grows and develops by itself. It is similar to meditation. One grows in proportion to the art if one practice it.
This type of growth is called spiral in nature. Sometimes the music can seem dull and lifeless. These times can make us feel the exact same inside. A few days later, the music is flowing like water and we find ourselves in a different place. It is a mystery. It is best to accept it as it is and not try to fight it. When you improvise, art is created second by second. This type of beauty is fleeting, but it is the most valuable. It is yours to keep. It is your treasure. Share it with the rest of us if you are so inclined.
