Can I Really Learn Piano Improvisation as an Adult?
- Diana Mascari
- Jul 14
- 9 min read
Have you ever watched someone sit down at a piano and just… play? No sheet music, no plan—just music flowing from their fingers as if it were second nature. Did you wonder how they knew what to do? Or think to yourself, “I could never do that”?
You're not alone. Many adult piano students—especially those returning to music after years away—feel uncertain about improvisation. They usually ask: Is it just for jazz musicians? Do you have to be born with talent? What if you play the “wrong” note?
The truth is that piano improvisation isn’t reserved for a special few.
It’s a skill anyone can develop, and it can bring a whole new dimension of creativity, confidence, and joy to your playing. There are many levels and styles of improvisation, the wonderful thing is that the piano works very well with many of them.
In this post, we’ll explore:
What Is Improvisation?
What Are Some Styles of Improvisation?
How Do You Get Started—Even If You’ve Never Improvised Before?
Why Improvisation Matters for Adult Piano Students
Before we begin, there is something important for you to keep in mind: Improvisation is not about perfection. It’s about discovery. And if you’ve ever longed to play freely, expressively, and in your own voice—this might be your next step.
What Is Improvisation?
The simplest way to describe improvisation is this: it's making up music on the spot. It’s not about playing the melody of a song you already know—in fact, the moment you start playing notes that aren’t the melody, you’re already improvising.
But good improvisation isn’t just random notes. It has shape, intention, and feeling. Think of it like speaking a musical language—one where you’re forming phrases instead of reciting memorized lines.
When you improvise, you might create a flowing line that feels like a melody, but with more freedom. You might use a rhythmic pattern—or motif—that gives your playing structure and cohesion. You'll bring in dynamics (soft and loud), articulation (smooth or detached), and contrast to make it expressive.
Improvisation is a mix of exploration and design. It’s guided by your ear, your mood, and your imagination—all while gently following some of the same rules that make music sound good.
What Are Some Styles of Improvisation?
Improvisation isn’t one-size-fits-all. There are many ways to explore it—each with its own feel, logic, and creative possibilities. Here are five styles of improvisation. Students find some approachable and inspiring:
1. Free Improvisation
Sometimes musicians simply begin playing—no rules, no preset song—just exploring sounds and ideas while listening and responding to each other. It’s all about going with the flow.
Years ago, I worked with a drummer who was part of a renowned Boston jazz trio. The group played together for more than 40 years—which is impressive enough. But how they got started is even more remarkable.
All three were students at Berklee College of Music and were assigned to an ensemble class. The only students who showed up that day were the three of them. The assignment was to improvise on the jazz standard Autumn Leaves. Instead of following the chord changes, they started with the last chord of the song and just… improvised. That unplanned moment sparked a musical connection that lasted four decades.
2. New Age Scale-Based Improvisation
Another approach to improvisation uses chords from a single key and the major scale that goes with them. This technique was a hallmark of 1980s New Age music.
In fact, the story of how pianist George Winston became famous begins with this exact style. He had come to audition for William Ackerman, founder of Windham Hill Records. Ackerman was running late and asked Winston to wait in the den—which happened to have a piano. While waiting, Winston began noodling using simple chords all in one key and improvising with the notes of the major scale.
Ackerman heard him playing and was so struck by the sound that it launched both their careers—and the Windham Hill label. One of the most lasting examples of this kind of improvisation is Winston’s reimagining of Pachelbel’s Canon in D. His version took the timeless chord progression and added gentle, expressive major scale improvisation. It’s still beloved today.
3. Blues Scale Improvisation
The blues is one of the most common and versatile improvisational styles, and it works beautifully across genres—rock, jazz, blues, and more.
The basic 12-bar blues form looks like this in scale degrees:I – IV – I – IIV – IV – I – IV – IV – I – V
In the key of C major, the chords would be:C – F – C – CF – F – C – CG7 – F – C – G7
The blues scale gives you six notes to work with:1 – ♭3 – 4 – ♭5 – 5 – ♭7 – (8)So in C: C – E♭ – F – G♭ – G – B♭
These notes have a soulful, expressive quality that works beautifully over the chord progression. Want to hear how this sounds in a jazzy context? Check out my blog (which includes an instructional video):👉 What Is the Shuffle Bass & How to Use It to Energize Your Piano Playing
4. Pentatonic Vamp Improvisation
This is my go-to method when introducing students to improvisation—simple, confidence-building, and surprisingly beautiful.
Here’s how it works:Let’s say the song is in the key of G major. We alternate between two chords: G major and the chord one whole step below it—F major. So it cycles like this:G – F – G – F – G – F, and so on.
For improvisation, the right hand uses the G major pentatonic scale:G – A – B – D – E
Why does this work? Because even though the scale matches the G chord naturally, it also sounds great over the F chord. Each note in the scale relates musically to F:
G (9th)
A (3rd)
B (#11)
D (6th)
E (major 7th)
So with just five notes and two chords, you can create endless variations—and every note sounds good. It's a perfect first step into improvisation.
5. Improvisation Based on the Chord Changes
A friend of mine once performed with the great alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson. He told me that Donaldson could improvise so clearly over chord changes that—even without a piano—you could hear every harmonic shift in the way he played. That’s the power of understanding the chords behind the music. In fact, it’s why teachers of melodic instruments like saxophone, trumpet, or flute often accompany students on the piano during lessons—it helps the student hear and internalize the harmony.
Why This Matters for You
If you want to improvise, knowing the individual notes of each chord is helpful. But even more valuable is learning to recognize chord patterns—especially the ii–V–I progression, which shows up in countless songs. I explore this concept more deeply in my blog It’s All About the DNA, Your Key to Better Piano Playing.
When you can identify ii–V–I progressions in real time, you'll always know what key you're in—even if it’s different from the overall key of the song. For example:
Key of C Major:
· ii = Dmin7 (prepares your ear)
· V = G7 (creates tension)
· I = Cmaj7 (resolves it)
Once you recognize the pattern and the key center, you can begin improvising using the major scale that fits those three chords. In this case, it’s the C major scale.
For help with key recognition, check out my blog:
How to Identify the Key of Any Song in No Time.
How Do You Get Started—Even If You’ve Never Improvised Before?
A Simple Way to Get Started
Here’s one easy technique: start improvising on the second note of the scale (in C major, that’s D) and explore different ideas using the notes of the C major scale. Think of it like a jazzy version of Pachelbel’s Canon—except you’re playing in a swing rhythm, and the chords change more often, so your ear and fingers must adjust to new ii–V–I progressions.
What If You’ve Never Improvised Before?
Years ago, I used to listen to solo pianist Dave McKenna at the Copley Plaza Hotel. His playing taught me a valuable lesson:Start with the melody. Then, embellish it. Finally, move into full improvisation.
If you're new to improvising, try this approach:
1. First, play the melody as written to get grounded in the feel of the song.
2. Next time through, add small fills—extra notes during long-held tones like half notes or whole notes.
3. Eventually, create your own lines over the chord changes, especially when the song contains ii–V–I progressions.
This works beautifully with standards and show tunes.
Don’t Start Here—Start Here Instead
If you’re just getting started, I recommend beginning with these more approachable improvisation styles:
Style 2: Canon in DUse the D major scale over repeating bass notes. Even simple left-hand single notes can create a foundation for expressive improvisation.
Style 3: The Blues ScaleThe 12-bar blues form is perfect for practicing improvisation. The same blues scale works over all 12 measures. I once had a student who struggled musically—until he discovered blues improvisation. A year later, he was thriving musically and eventually became a public school music teacher with a master’s degree.
Style 4: Pentatonic Improv with Two ChordsPick two chords a whole step apart (like C major and D major), repeat them, and improvise using the pentatonic scale. This simple structure gives you a surprising amount of freedom—and a good chance of success with practice.
Why Improvisation Matters for Adult Piano Students
You don’t have to be aiming to become a jazz pianist to benefit from learning to improvise. Here’s why it matters:
1. Recover from Mistakes More EasilyIf you lose your place, improvising helps you stay on the keys and find your way back—without stopping the music. I once had a friend improvise through a lost section during a piano concerto. The audience never noticed. They applauded like nothing ever happened.
2. Keep Your Playing Fresh and AliveImprovisation brings variation and energy. Even adding a few improvised moments prevents your playing from becoming too rigid or repetitive.
3. Support Composition and CreativityIf you’re interested in composing, improvisation gives you a safe space to try out ideas. The more you experiment with scales, chord progressions, and phrases, the more confident you’ll feel. In composition lessons, I help students shape these ideas into complete, meaningful pieces.
Conclusion
Improvisation isn’t just for jazz musicians—it’s a powerful tool for adult piano students who want to play with more confidence, creativity, and freedom. Whether you’re exploring simple chord patterns, the blues scale, or ii–V–I progressions, each step helps you connect more deeply with the music and with yourself. Start small, stay curious, and enjoy the process. The more you explore, the more your musical voice will begin to shine through.
Ready to Get Started?
Improvising is not about being perfect. It’s about being curious. Whether you’re coming back to music after years away or picking up a new path, improvisation invites you to listen more deeply and experiment.
If learning about improvising will help you to become a freer and better pianist, you may need help to shape and express your musical ideas. Why nit consider taking Piano Lessons
Sparked your curiosity and practicing some to the improvising ideas recommended in today's blog, imagine how exciting it would be to learn how to turn your musical ideas into a composition. When you take composition lessons with Diana Mascari, not only will you be able to create your own musical works, but you'll also have knowledge and insights as to how to imporvise and play the piano better.
PIANO LESSONS Whether you're a beginner or returning to music after years away, I’ll help you turn understanding into creativity and confidence.
To Schedule Your Free 30 Minute Composition Lesson or Piano Lesson Consultation with Diana Mascari, Click Here:
Diana Mascari American Composer & Jazz Pianist Teacher of Piano & Composition for Adults
Diana Mascari-American Composer, Jazz Pianist, Teacher of Piano and Composition
Diana Mascari
American Composer & Jazz Pianist
Teacher of Piano & Composition for Adults
Diana Mascari has taught piano to hundreds of students for more than 47 years. She is dedicated to enriching her students’ lives by supporting their individual musicality.
She has developed a teaching system called the Transformational Approach to Piano. It offers her students colorful musical insights that broaden their experience beyond traditional methods.
Diana holds two Masters of Music degrees from New England Conservatory, taught keyboard harmony to music majors at Boston University, and was the music director of a multicultural Presbyterian Church for four decades.
Diana has performed as a solo jazz pianist as well as with her ensembles at many colleges and jazz clubs throughout New England. Many of these performances featured Diana's jazz compositions.
As a composer, she has explored the intersection of jazz and classical music. Her compositions reflect her deep appreciation for musical structure, enhanced by the spontaneity and emotion of jazz. Each piece has a timeless sense and is designed to move and inspire. Her works have been performed in Europe, Japan, and the Eastern United States.
Diana’s vibrant personality infuses her teaching, performing, and composing as she inspires piano students to achieve their musical goals.
Two Free Piano Courses:
To schedule your FREE 30 Minute Consultation for Composition Lessons or Piano Lessons with Diana Mascari on Zoom Click Here:
