Professor studies how jazz improvisation affects the brain - 0 views
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While improvised jazz solos are spontaneous, there are rules, says Martin Norgaard, associate professor of music education.
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In other words, improvisation is an incredibly complex form of creative expression, yet great jazz improvisers like Charlie Parker, Miles Davis or John Coltrane make it seem effortless.
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"As a musician, you feel that there's something different about the way your brain is working when you improvise,"
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"This idea of 'flow'—where you're completely immersed in an activity—has been linked to deactivation of some brain areas," says Norgaard. "It may be that performing improvisation engages a smaller, more focused brain network, while other parts of the brain go quiet."
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"For nearly three decades, scientists have explored the idea that learning to play an instrument is linked to academic achievement,"
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"Yet at the same time, there are many types of music learning. Does the kid who learns by ear get the same benefits as the kid who learns notation or the kid who learns to improvise?"
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"It's hard to say what's driving the difference in effect. Maybe it's the age of the kids or maybe it's the number of years spent playing an instrument," says Norgaard. "In the future, we need to look into whether improvisation has different cognitive effects depending on a student's age or experience."