What is improvisation? Types, methods and techniques of improvisation

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Improvisation in any of the available manifestations is an important and rather interesting part of our life, both social and creative. It covers many areas and activities, and therefore the question of what improvisation is and what are its distinctive features can arise regardless of employment and personal qualities. Consider it in detail.

So what is improvisation?

The word "improvisation" is a familiar word to most of us. Derived from the Latin "improvisus", it denotes an act of unexpected, unforeseen and momentary creation, whether it is an inspired painting by pure intuition or the ability to report from the stage without any prior preparation. For example, the ability to play a melody on a musical instrument and support a conversation that is rolling down an inclined path - what is it? Improvisation at its finest!

Classification

As you might guess, improvisation exists in many manifestations and types, the main ones amongwhich are considered:

• Musical improvisation - the ability to create a melody out of nothing. In this case, the genre and instrument do not matter: there are lessons on developing the skill of improvisation in jazz, rock music and even hip-hop.
• Dance like contact improvisation or hip-hop.
• Literary improvisation, or impromptu. The ability to invent and wrap plots as ballads, stories or poems.
• Theatrical improvisation is a stage skill in which the actor is able to maintain the flow of the performance and lead his character through the plot, regardless of the given scenario, but as required by the situation.

These types of improvisation can be considered the main and most capacious: each of them includes many additional themes and trends, affecting in one way or another almost all aspects of human life.

Improvisation on stage

We all know examples of improvisation on the stage, when an actor, having forgotten the text of his own role or faced with unforeseen circumstances, was forced to continue the performance on his own. Sometimes the retreat of the actors from the role and small improvisations on their part are even welcome. However, in professional theaters, this approach is taken very seriously: inappropriate improvisation can completely distort the intended stage image and thereby leave a stain on the performance itself.

The roots of theatrical improvisation reach deepantiquity, when only a general vector of development was chosen for performances, for example, an important palace event, a turning point in a war, or a natural disaster. The details varied depending on the decision of some "higher powers", and, faced with the latter, the actors had to devote themselves entirely to improvisation.

Improvisation in dance

Dance is a sacrament in which, as it may seem, there is no place for liberty and free style, but such a belief is quickly refuted by representatives of such dance movements as hip-hop and the so-called contact improvisation. And if the first option is a set of specific movements and actions, then the second is often called a manifestation of true harmony. Contact choreography is built on the interaction of partners, in which they can look for inspiration in each other's movements.

In any case, improvisation can be useful for any dance style, and it will definitely not be superfluous in the youth and stage movements that are gaining popularity. To achieve something serious in this field, the dancer needs, first of all, good body control and physical fitness. Having these, you can proceed to the next step: the study of a number of simple movements and techniques that can later be linked into a single whole, diluted with free improvisational elements.

Improvisation in music

Perhaps the most mysterious part of improvisational talent: the ability to take a couple of familiar chords, sit down at a familiar instrument and spit out,perhaps unpredictable, but quite complete and independent melody. That's what improvisation is all about when creating music: instantaneously composing something without any preparation, while simultaneously performing it.

So, at the beginning of his musical journey, Johann Sebastian Bach not only replayed the melody of the brilliant musician and composer Louis Marchand, who participated in a musical competition, but also supplemented it with such masterful and ornate improvisational blotches that he easily overshadowed his rival. Marchand simply avoided the challenge to the next musical duel, not daring to confront such a skillful improviser.

Methods of musical improvisation

Having an ear for music and the skill of playing a certain instrument, you can join the community of improvising composers. The first steps may not be very successful, but with the study of new techniques and understanding of the basic concepts, experience should come, and with it, positive dynamics.

As an example, consider several methods of improvisation for the piano:

1. Basic: learn as many melodies as possible to get an impression of the process, then understand all modes and keys, and finally master the simplest three-note chords.
2. The musician chooses a certain key and uses it as an accompaniment with one hand while playing a melody with the other. It makes sense to change the keys during the game - this allows you to get used to the instrument and increases the technicality of the composition.
3. Playing within one chord. The meaning is the same as the point above, but the selected chord becomes the basis for the melody, which can be changed depending on the bar.

In any case, the fundamental element of mastery is practice and the ability to handle music, use it at your own discretion.

Improvisation in communication

The most common and understandable variant of improvisation is everyday and concerns each of us: verbal improvisation. What is sometimes so difficult to achieve and what will help you find yourself in any company is the ability to speak freely on any topic without hesitation and pauses, without parasitic words and internal tension. It is not surprising that dozens of proposals are now being heard from all sides to take special courses and trainings, try out a new method of improvisation in dialogue, or undergo innovative training. Although the basic concepts of any training come down to simple tricks: you need to be clearly aware of the topic raised and squeeze as much out of it as possible by referring to suitable associations, lyrical digressions or questions that you can ask the interlocutor.

Despite the general diversity, the methods of skill development for all categories are similar: a person is required to have a good imagination or the desire to develop it - the ability to navigate within a given topic and the desire to give oneself to practice.