Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Performing on the Kalimba:
Performing a Prepared Piece

I admit that I just love to improvise and explore and find new and wonderful things - or let them find me, and let the glories of the universe be revealed through my music. Of course, any true improvisation also runs the risk of being shaky or even completely horrible. If that happens, you just have to shake it off and go back to another stronghold.

Have you ever practiced a kalimba piece for so many hours that you knew exactly the notes to play, at all times? Such a piece could be born from an improvisation, but there is very little improvisation left in it - it is a prepared piece. As prepared, you can approach this with complete confidence. The audience can hear your confidence. Many people who have heard kalimba have only heard it played as a toy or as a ground of improvisation. Hence, hearing a well-arranged piece can be mind-blowing to people.

Nearly all of my "Two Thumbs Up" sorts of performances - the ones that audiences seem to appreciate the very most - were of prepared pieces.

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