[AX7221]

Originally Posted by chorizo

Would you say the "ultimate goal" (if such a thing exists) in improvisation would be to be able just play the notes you think of (or feel). Do you think this would be possible after enough time and practice so that you wouldn't even need to know about the underlying music, (i.e you would just hit the right notes)???

I think both are true, the major different being time. I think it would take a long time to be able to play by ear, but with the aid of music theory it can be done faster.

However I still think music theory is needed for communication, to learn from other musicians. Like if I can play by ear and I listen to a complex jazz song I probably wouldn't be able to just recreate it, but if I know what the chord progression is, and I understand what sounds that progression entails then I can use that bit of knowledge to recreate it, and to expand on it and expand what I play.