There is some interesting work going on at JHU about jazz and the brain. They find about improvisationalists that "their brains turn off areas linked to self-censoring and inhibition, and turn on those that let self-expression flow."

Here's the link:

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/Press_releases/2008/02_26_08.html

Forgive me if this has been covered.

Mike

Fascinating. This would also help explain why some of us (like me)just can't improvise worth beans.

Thanks for posting that link, Mike! That was very interesting. I thought it especially cool that they had to build a special digital piano with no iron parts so they could use it in the fMRI machine.

I'm kicking around the idea of preparing a senior seminar on the Psychology of Music for the 2009-2010 academic year, so I printed out that article and will save it for when I start writing the syllabus.

Welcome to the forum, by the way.

Watch for 'Improvium' to hit the market soon. A new pill that will make the appropriate adjustments to your mental processes for you.

People with heart conditions and women that are nursing should not use 'Improvium' but rather stick to pre-scripted leads.

Fascinating stuff. And it seems true that musicians who worry, judge, and self censor have a much more difficult time trying to improvise. They can't let go. They have a reactive critic inside their heads which limits and inhibits them.

A long time ago, I attended a clinic given by trombonist Ray Anderson. His first words were "silence the critic!" and then he went on to explain that he meant our internal critic, but then added that the other kind of critic could stand some silencing too.

When I hear him play, that's what I hear...I hear a musician that keeps defying the "you can't do that" instinct and keeps reaching farther and farther out.

Very interesting. I am studying classical music, but also like to improvise blues. I didn't consider whether different parts of the brain were involved, but it does make sense. During a long classical practice session, I'll sometimes take breaks and play a little blues for a while. It seems to relax me and refreshes my classical playing.

Thanks, Monica! USA Today has picked up the story. Here's their perspective:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-03-04-musician-brain-scans_N.htm?csp=34

mike