SOUND IMPROVISATION

Improvisation is an art that was used by the majority of keyboard

masters and musicians of the past like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart,
Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, and many more.

Now, let us know first the meaning of Improvisation.

IMPROVISATION
- Latin: “improvisus”, lit. mean. “not seen ahead” or “unforeseen”
- A performance given without planning or preparation.
- Impromptu

SOUND/MUSIC IMPROVISATION
- Also called EXTEMPORIZATION
- The extemporaneous composition or free performance of a
musical passage, usually in a manner conforming to certain
stylistic norms but unfettered by the prescriptive features of a
specific musical text.
- “the creation of music in the course of performance”
- music that is created by the performer during the moment of
performance.
- can include subtle changes in tempo or dynamics, various
ornamentations, rubato, exact articulation, balance, contour, etc.

CHARACTERISTICS:
- free spirited
 - focus on process
- you create your own rules
- no fear
- possibilities

BENEFITS:
- it trains your ears
- it helps you recognize patterns and scales
- it teaches music students to think ahead
- it allows for self-expression
- it fosters creativity
- it can boost health
- it reinforces listening
- it is fun and motivating

GENERALIZATION:
1. Improvisation is used as a basis for all music making
2. Improvisation is a key to social competencies
3. Improvisation is an art form
THEATRE IMPROVISATION
- often called improv or impro
- a form of theater where most or all of what is performed is
created at the moment it is performed.
- In its purest form, the dialogue, the action, the story and the
characters are created collaboratively by the players as the
improvisation unfolds.
- exists in performance as a range of styles of improvisational
comedy as well as some non-comedic theatrical performances.
-
- The earliest well documented use of improvisational theatre in
Western history is found in the Atellan Farce of Rome. From the
16th to the 18th centuries, Commedia dell arte performers
improvised based on a broad outline in the streets of Italy.

IMPROV RULES
There are no absolute rules in improv but here are some commonly
suggested principles:
- Listen: easier said than done, and that's exactly the point
- Agreement: say yes and add something, don't reject ideas
- Team Work: have a group mind, think of others
- Don't Block: stealing jokes / not listening / changing topic
- Relationship: focus on connection between characters, not just
subject of scene
- Initiation: who, what, when to set the scene
- Point of View, Opinion and Intention: have them, these help
express and build your character
- Be in Character: maintain character throughout the scene
 - Don't Ask Questions: too many questions can make your partner
do all the work
- Make Active Choices: Do something. Don't be talking heads

BENEFITS:
- Can gain skills that can apply to many different abilities or forms
of communication and expression across all artistic, scientific,
physical, cognitive, academic, and non-academic disciplines.
- helps participants to develop spontaneity, imagination, intuition
and flexibility to think positively, to gain confidence in themselves
and to strengthen relationships with others.
- Stimulates creativity
- Strengthens teamwork
- Master the means of communication

Other skills improved through improvisation:

Stimulating creativity: Where do ideas come from? Can little things
turn into big ideas? What is innovation? How can we overcome
prejudices and develop creativity? Improvisation techniques and
exercises help people explore even the most daring ideas.
Teamwork: simulations, role plays help participants relax, learn trust,
to open up, to overcome their fears, to cooperate, to solve problems a
lot more easy, to put aside their pride, to work for a common goal ...
and have fun!
 Communication: mastery of body language, awareness, listening,
spontaneity, improving communication skills in general for the day to
day life. As people better understand how to communicate the more
they will be able to work more efficiently.