Q: Hi, I want to learn to improvise on the piano. I have about 10 years of piano lessons behind me, but I still can't seem to "just make stuff up" I don't understand how some people can just listen to a tune and improvise something that sounds incredible off of it. I know some music theory so I can do very simple harmony beneath a melody that I've heard, but I don't know how to make it sound good or jazzy. When I try to mess around on the piano I always revert back to trying to follow the rules I've been taught but failing to turn it into an effective song. Do you have any ideas or tips for how I might be able to improvise more effectively and learn how to harmonize in ways that sound good and rich to me and others?
A: sounds like you are going to want to develop a more intimate relationship with the piano, on a more personable level