Improvisation ! ! !
In this section, you will learn about our overall goals, our understanding of what Improv is and is not, and the similarities and differences between Improv and other forms of creativity.
Improvisational comedy has gained wide popularity in recent years, but the use of improvisation has long been recognized as a tool to encourage creativity and innovation, a way to help overcome fear of public speaking, and a great way to just have fun.
Improvisation skills are commonly used in music, teaching, business presentations, in fact many (if not most!) fields have some components of improvisation to them. This website will expose you to a variety of improvisational games and exercises in different areas.
The following are some common definitions of the term "improvisation":
- To invent, compose, or perform with little or no preparation.
- To play or sing (music) extemporaneously, especially by inventing variations on a melody or creating new melodies in accordance with a set progression of chords.
- To make or provide from available materials: improvised a dinner from what I found in the refrigerator.
- To make do with whatever materials are at hand.
- to perform (a poem, play, piece of music, etc.), composing as one goes along
The reason for exploring these definitions is to help develop our own working definition. For our purposes, Improvisation always has these features:
- it is spontaneous, it happens in the moment
- uses whatever materials are at hand
- there is typically no resulting product, it exists only as long as it exists
- draws on your skills, knowledge and experience, this is especially obvious in musical improvisation
- you must be completely open and responsive to what is going on around you, you need to be able to give up control
- there are no mistakes, only gifts. This is a creative process, not an editing process.
- always move forward ("yes-sing the yes-ser")
In addition, Improvisation often has these features:
- interaction with other people
- responsiveness to a common theme
The terms below are all related to improvisation in different way.
- creativity
- this is an important component of improvisation, but different because it doesn't really stress to component of creating in the moment
- spontaneity
- the ability to respond immediately is another important component in improvisation.
- ad lib
- extemporize