Firstly, they present improvisation as a highly organized process of creativity, rather than a chaotic burst of inspiration. Students are led through a series of exercises that gradually loosen their controls and allow them to eventually create music freely. This process helps students to create an inner feeling of stability and direction.
Secondly, the MusicImprovArt courses teach that one must have an equal relationship between theoretical knowledge and emotional expression to achieve maximum creativity. Students are not taught to discard theoretical knowledge, but to use it in an intuitive way to make spontaneous musical decisions. Theoretical elements such as harmony, rhythm, and thematic development are seen as ways to expand one’s creative potential rather than confine it. Students ultimately learn to see improvisation as a highly logical yet deeply personal way of communicating.
Another way the MusicImprovArt courses deal with the psychology of improvisation is by teaching the students to develop their own unique musical voice. Rather than modeling themselves after a particular style, students learn to listen to many different styles and incorporate the elements that they like into their playing. Through extensive practice, students begin to see patterns in their own musical thought and learn to mold these patterns into a musical style. Students can thus achieve a high level of originality without sacrificing their technical abilities.
The MusicImprovArt courses finally achieve a psychological effect by influencing the long-term development of cognitive abilities. Improvisation involves many complex mental processes including quick decision making, sensitive listening, and emotional control, all of which are developed through the MusicImprovArt courses. As students work through the courses, they begin to notice a change in the way they perceive music. They can hear deeper structural connections and respond in more thoughtful ways to musical stimuli. This not only enhances performance capabilities, but also deepens students’ understanding of music.
In conclusion, the MusicImprovArt courses have a dual purpose as a technical study and a psychological treatment. By combining these two aspects, students are able to overcome their internal obstacles to achieve higher levels of technical mastery and creativity. Improvisation is ultimately a new way of thinking and feeling that enables students to relate to music in a more profound way than they ever thought possible.