Improvisation, the ability to create music spontaneously, has been esteemed as an important musical achievement for many centuries. From classical composers like Bach who could improvise four-part fugues on a whim to jazz greats such as Louis Armstrong who brought improvisation to the mainstream, improvising has been the hallmark of a great performer and musical genius. In music education, teaching improvisation can be overshadowed by teaching other music concepts such as music literacy or concert performance. This article will discuss some of the positive impacts learning improvisation has on music students for music educators.
Improvising: To Make Music Is To Understand Music
Music came before music notation. Bringing students back to basic music making is a great way to help students develop a deep appreciation for the art at its most fundamental level. It is this basic level of music creating that makes improvisation easily performed by early elementary students who don’t know how to read music notation at all. Giving a child the skillset to improvise simple rhythms and melodies allows a student to become confident in themselves and in their creativity, forming a deeper appreciation at a younger age.
It is one thing to learn about music from a theoretical standpoint, but to spontaneously create music is to put into action many musical concepts at once. Mastering the art of improvising takes a certain understanding of melody, rhythm, harmony, dynamic, and form. For intermediate and advanced level musicians, improvising can bring into fruition years of music study.
Improvisers Work as a Group
Improvising is often performed as an ensemble with a group of musicians playing the supportive harmony and maintaining the beat while taking turns soloing over a progression. The practice of improvisation for students allows students to interact together and listen to one another. Improvising builds social skills and fosters a sense of teamwork. It also enhances musical skills as musicians play off the musical ideas of the other musicians.
Improvising Teaches Us It’s Okay to Make Mistakes
A great performer once said to me the difference between a professional and an amateur performer isn’t the absence of mistakes, but the ability to turn a mistake into something musical the audience didn’t notice was a mistake. There is no such thing as perfection in life and there is no such thing as perfection in music. Music teachers may perhaps give their students a great gift by giving them the tools to work through their mistakes in the moment during improvisation.
In conclusion, teaching music improvisation should stay at the forefront of music education for all ages. It’s vast positive impacts on students not only include building musical skills but also teaching life skills. This makes the art of improvisation essential to music learners. Improvisation can be taught as a simple child’s music game or at an advanced level. This great adaptability makes improvisation a unique tool for music educators everywhere.