The interplay between conscious and subconscious processes during expert musical improvisation

Abstract

Musical improvisation is a skill that involves the generation of new material in real time within musical and physical constraints. Qualitative accounts from expert jazz musicians describe two processes that appear to occur simultaneously during improvisation. One process involves consciously focusing on higher-level musical elements, interaction with other ensemble members, and responding to surprising musical events; another subconscious process generates actual note choices. Descriptions by developing improvisers indicate that the subconscious process component is advanced through practice. These accounts align with influential cognitive models—notably the dual-process framework—that can help to describe various aspects of improvisation. The accounts are also supported by traditional and new research in motor learning and by brain imaging studies with improvisers. Specifically, fMRI and EEG research using solo improvisation tasks in which the construction of larger architectural structures was not required, shows deactivation in control areas and less connectivity. These results are consistent with experimental research in which improvisers, forced to focus on an unrelated task, appear to rely on the automated process of inserting learned patterns. On the other hand, if improvisers are focused on interaction with others, improvised exchanges cause engagement of control areas as the higher-level conscious process is engaged.