What is it?
In simple terms, Improvisation is 'instant composition'. Whereas the majority of music is composed and assembled into finished pieces over a period of time, Improvisation means that the composition is immediate and does not rely on the pre-conceived ideas of a composer, orchestrator or songwriter...
Why do it?
Improvisation is a musical challenge... It involves creating music 'without a safety net', ie: No sheet music and no preparation (you can't rehearse...!) It exposes the musician's innermost resources of creativity and can be an exhilarating experience for both performers and audience alike...
What will I hear?
You can expect to hear musical conversations between the performers. Aural (and visual) communication is a very important factor in Improvisation.
You will hear a very creative performance by the participants, and - if you are very lucky, you will hear musicians reaching heights of expression and creativity that would be not normally present in the framework of a set composition.
The music can often change from style to style within a very short period of time. Often one note can set a new direction or flow, so you might hear anything from Contemporary Funk to Jazz to Latin to... well... who knows...?
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