Feb

11

Here is a very nice description of improvisation from an article called "The Improvising Brain":

Improvisation is not exclusive to music, says Berkowitz. Nor is it a pure flight of invention. “It’s spontaneity within a set of constraints,” Berkowitz explains. “Imagine: You slip on ice, and you do a sort of little dance to regain your balance — maybe in a way you’ve never ‘danced’ before; but though the sequence of movements might be novel, it’s made up of the individual movements that are possible given what the body can do and where it is in space.” Musical improvisers also work within constraints. “Those bebop players play what sounds like 70 notes within a few seconds. There’s no time to think of each individual note. They have some patterns in their toolbox,” says Berkowitz.


Comments

Name

Email

Website

Speak your mind

1 Comment so far

  1. Todd Tracy on February 11, 2009 4:55 pm

    Having been concerned with musical improvisation for about thirty years and more recently trading, this topic has peaked my interest. A previous list post caught my attention (This is Your Brain on Jazz) about the John Hopkins music improve MRI brain scans. The idea that one can turn off or on certain portions of ones brain at will has had a direct correlation to my trading experience and also other experiences. I noticed a new book at the kiosk called This Is Your Brain on Music, I might check that out. At any rate, the new developments in cognitive brain science are fascinating, taking into account the ability to interface or program ones own brain. I want to program my brain to make money. The correlations between music improve and trading such as I understand them are as follows: Severe training and indoctrination, having an open mind to change ups in environment, Zen like concentration, mastery of tools and focused interaction with other players (playing with a diversity of good musicians is a great way to get good).

    Where training in music improve and the development of trading skills experience a negative correlation is in the realm of emotions. I really feel the music, not so good for price action where the mistress is concerned. But now I can refer to these new scientific developments and not have to wonder about mind. I have been practicing with quantifiable results.

    Also about the big cats innate ability to deal with probabilities on the fly so to speak could fall into these categories of training at the risk of cross-posting.

Archives

Resources & Links

Search