Become comfortable with mistakes

In my jazz ensemble class I make a big deal with making mistakes while playing solos. I always tell my students that the place to make mistakes is in the practice room and in my class. Hopefully they can make enough mistakes in my class where they’ll play well at the concert.

But the mistakes I mean are trying things out. Testing what works. Seeing what sounds and notes you like and what sounds and notes you don’t like.

If you can try notes, see if you like them, and then learn from those mistakes you’ll be able to learn how to improvise incredibly well.

So get comfortable making mistakes and find ways to play better after you make a mistake.