How to be able to improvise on the violin

Question

I've started violin recently; well, maybe a few months ago, and i absolutely love it. I'm constantly practicing. I'm being trained in the classical way, but I have heard from many people that this is a disadvantage when it comes to playing improve. One of the reasons I started playing was to be able to improvise in my playing. Is there any way to become better at improvising? Does anyone have any pointers?

Answer 1

This book adresses that question:

Mark Wood: Electrify Your Strings

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/a/item.htm...

Answer 2

I'm 13, but I've been playing since I was 6. I can improvise pretty well, even though I was taught mainly through Suzuki methods. When I say mainly, I mean that I buy pieces at music stores and teach them to myself and listen to them online. It really helps me develop my musicality and I just set aside 10 minutes every day to improvise =]

Answer 3

Try to learn to play by ear as much as possible.  Pull out your favorite album (no matter what genre it is), and try to play along - try playing the melody, and making up your own parts.  Also, look online for information on blues improvisation - practice blues scales along with major and minor every day when you warm up.

Classical musicians learn to look on a page and it's hard to get past that after a while.  If you learn to be able to play a mood or feeling without looking on a page, you'll find improvising will be more easy and fun - and your technique will get better with the classical playing!