Links & Resources

MUS2650 Fall 2016 Syllabus

Improv Insights The most comprehensive website/blog on classical improvisation. Lots of great links. Created by hornist Jeff Agrell.

Classical Improv Last updated in 2008, but some great stuff is posted here. Created by cellist Eric Edberg.

Wikipedia “Musical Improvisation”

Annotated Bibliography on Music Education and Creative Thinking in Music Very comprehensive (100 pages!) Created by music educator and scholar Peter Webster.

Brain Study Suggests Classical Musicians Should Improvise (Guildhall School article, 18 November 2013)

Organizations & Workshops

Resources by Lin Foulk
Improvisation Basics
Inspiring Quotes for Classical Improvisers
Bibliography
Classical Improv Jam
Momentary Quartet

Essential Classical Music Improvisation Method Books (group and individual)
  • Agrell, Jeffrey. Improvisation Games for Classical Musicians: 500+ Non-Jazz Games for Performers, Educators, and Everyone Else. Chicago, IL : GIA Publications, 2008.
  • Agrell, Jeffrey. Improv Games for One Player: A Very Concise Collection of Musical Games for One Classical Musician. Chicago, IL : GIA Publications, 2010.
  • Agrell, Jeffrey. Improvised Chamber Music: Spontaneous Chamber Music Games for Four (or Three or Five) Players. Chicago, IL : GIA Publications, 2013.
  • Brockmann, Nicole M. From Sight to Sound: Improvisational Games for ClassicalMusicians. Bloomington : Indiana University Press, 2009.
  • Friesen, Eugene. Improvisation for Classical Musicians: Strategies for Creativity and Expression. Boston, MA : Berklee Press, 2012.
  • Higgins, Lee and Patricia Shehan Campbell. Free to Be Musical: Group Improvisation in Music. Lanham, MD : Rowman & Littlefield Education, 2010.
  • Kanack, Alice Kay with Dr. Sera J. Smolen. Improvising String Quartets. New York : Creative Ability Development Press, 2012.
  • Lieberman, Julie Lyonn. Improvising Violin. New York, NY : Huiksi Music, 1995.
  • Lieberman, Julie Lyonn. Planet Musician: The World Music Sourcebook for Musicians. Milwaukee, WI : Hal Leonard Corporation, 1998.
  • Oshinsky, James. Return to Child: Music for People’s Guide to Improvising Music and Authentic Group Leadership. Goshen, CT : Music for People, 2008.
  • Sarath, Edward. Music Theory Through Improvisation : a New Approach to Musicianship Training. New York, NY : Routledge, 2010.

Other Related Books
  • Bayles, David and Ted Orland. Art & Fear: On the Perils (and Rewards) of Artmaking. Santa Cruz, CA & Eugene, OR : The Image Continuum, 1993.
  • Ferand, Ernest T. Improvisation in Nine Centuries of Western Music: An Anthology with a Historical Introduction. Köln : A. Volk Verlag, 1961.
  • Goodman, Katie. Improvisation for the Spirit: Live a More Creative, Spontaneous, and Courageous Life Using the Tools of Improv Comedy. Naperville, IL : Sourcebooks, 2008.
  • Madson, Patricia Ryan. Improv Wisdom: Don’t Prepare, Just Show Up. New York : Random House, 2005.
  • May, Rollo. The Courage to Create. New York, NY : W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., 1975.
  • Nachmanovitch, Stephen. Free play : Improvisation in Life and Art. Los Angeles, CA : J.P. Tarcher, Inc., 1990.
  • Small, Christopher. Musicking: The Meanings of Performing and Listening. Hanover, NH : Wesleyan University Press, 1998.
  • Wigram, Tony. Improvisation: Methods and Techniques for Music Therapy Clinicians, Educators, and Students. London ; Philadelphia : J. Kingsley Publishers, 2004.
  • Winton-Henry, Cynthia with Phil Porter. What the Body Wants. Canada : Northstone Publishing, 2004.
  • Wooten, Victor L. The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music. New York, NY : Berkley Books, 2006.