Dalcroze Improvisation: Finding Your Sound

NY Dalcroze is excited to present an online Improvisation workshop with Michael Joviala!  With Spring's arrival, and with new hope in our hearts, we have asked Michael to help us refresh and revive our musicality in that most Dalcrozian of subjects: Improvisation.

In Michael's words:  "What is your sound as an improviser? Having your own unique sound is one of the highest aspirations shared by jazz musicians, but it’s also something that improvisers of all stripes and genres can benefit from, especially those who, like Dalcrozians, teach through the medium of improvisation.

"During this session we’ll both improvise and listen to ourselves improvising. As we play (players of any instrument, including voice or movement, at any level of musical and improvisational experience are welcome), we’ll explore the difference between improvising and practicing improvisation. We’ll work with our spontaneous reactions to what we hear, think and feel when we improvise and when we hear ourselves improvising. We’ll talk about ways to sustain this practice beyond this workshop (how does 5 minutes a day sound?) with a goal of strengthening your connection to yourself as a creative artist, whether you are in the classroom or on the concert stage.

"Nervous about improvising in front of other people? Not a problem for this workshop. Sound (and cameras for movers) will be turned off as you improvise while I guide you through the process. We’ll come together as a group to share experiences and gain inspiration from each other."

Participation guidelines:  For full participation, workshop attendees should have access to a space in which they feel free to make as much sound (or movement) as they wish, uninterrupted and unencumbered. They should also have the ability to record and listen to themselves while also participating online.

Our presenter, Michael Joviala, is a beloved Dalcroze teacher and improvising musician in NYC. He was recently awarded the esteemed Diplôme Supérieur from The Institut Jaques-Dalcroze, Geneva.