Many budding improvisers like to unleash their entire arsenal of tricks in every bar they play. For some reason, this occurs mainly with males, and results in noisy, overpopulated playing. Let's face it.. guys like to show off. And so, at every opportunity, guys will work in fancy syncopated runs and pull off any cool moves they know. It's in our blood.

But, the mark of a mature piano player is knowing when to hold back and when to go for it. Listen to a variety of of recordings and notice how much or how little the piano is played. Notice how each band member complements each other and respects each other's space.

Always think before you play. Ask yourself questions like:
• what did I just play in the previous bar?
• should i play the next bar in a similar way or create contrast?
• do I really need to play this chord again or will sustaining it create a better effect?
• is my playing starting to sound cluttered and busy?
• am I playing certain notes or using certain rhythms out of habit? 
• does my playing complement other band members or are we all competing to be heard?
• does my playing allow sufficient space for a vocalist or am I interfering with the melody line?

There needs to be a balance between the amount of notes and the amount of space in your playing. When I refer to 'space', I'm not talking about the absence of sound, but I'm referring to sustaining a chord or note instead of playing one. Make sure there is contrast in the quantity of notes you play, so if you've just played 2 or 3 busy bars, maybe it's best to keep the next one relatively empty.

Record your playing frequently. From the recording, you can easily identify the areas you need to work on. Good luck!

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