I remember the third week of our class when we first tried our performance in improvisation. It was a special experience for me, because I had never tried such kind of improvisation. I used to play in some jazz band several times, but there was a score, a specific song and a specific genre. Althogh sometimes I tried jamming with my friends spontaneity playing some modal improvisation, apparently it was limited to that one genre, jazz. However, this time in the creative class, with the various instrumental setting, there was nothing preset. Only our spontaneity and our instrument were there. I was amazed, however, by how it could sound like a composed piece with some structure sometimes. Especially when the quartet of saxophone, trombone, flute and Jihyun’s piano performed, there were lots of moments like they were flowing, talking to each other and the energy has become one big common group thing. I also had chances to play my rice shaker, the percussive instruments that I made with Chinese jasmine tea can and some rice grains with careful measuring of the amount of the rice, once with flute and once with Tekyoung’s violin. The beginning part was mostly like a reconnaissance. I couldn’t be bold or intuitive that almost I didn’t know what to play, but any way after it started I could find some way with the help of others’ playing. It was fun and I was in flutter at the same time. I wish I be bolder and could be free. I was a little disappointed to find myself to be somewhat lack of self-confidence about my performance. The worse thing was the very consciousness that I’m feeling the lack of self- confidence was the biggiest barrier for my performance at that moment.
I remember the comments about our performance that Dr. Gilbert said. First, he said we were all good listeners. He also said that we are somewhat trapped in the thought that we have to play something all the time, so we often miss the chance to cease to listen and then play in harmony.I really thought he was right. I believe that sometimes a short moment of silence could be the best performance. I think our first improvisation and harmony was not so bad and it was a nice beginning. I’m a little excited to listen how we will sound next time.
