Freedom to Improvise

Event Information

This is a 4-session course. The sessions will take place at the following dates and times:

Thursday 16th April, 7 pm - 9 pm
Thursday 23rd April, 7 pm - 9 pm
Thursday 30th April, 7 pm - 9 pm
Thursday 14th May, 7 pm - 9 pm

This course is for anyone who wants to improvise or enjoy improvising more. For many musicians, improvising can feel intimidating, often shrouded in theory and difficult to grasp. It can be hard to know where to start, and once you do, hard to tell if it’s any good. ‘Freedom to Improvise’ is here to help!

What is the course about?
You will start by exploring musical games and simple strategies. Joe will lead you through common techniques, helping you understand the fundamentals of improvisation and demystifying the process. By the end, you will improvise confidently on your instrument, make spontaneous music with others and have a newfound freedom in your music.

What will you learn?
You will learn simple techniques and strategies, the underlying structures in improvised music and the key listening skills that make it all work.

How will the course be taught?
Improvisation is most fun when done together. The course will be taught in a group setting. There will be lots of practical work, exploring improvisation concepts together and in smaller groups.

Who is the course for?
Any musician, of any ability or style, who wants to try improvising for the first time or find a deeper, richer enjoyment of improvising on their instrument.

Do you need to prepare or bring anything?
Nope. Just bring yourself, your instrument and be prepared to try something new!

About the Tutor
Joe Egan is an accomplished jazz musician, improviser, teacher and workshop leader. He studied jazz at Leeds College of Music, has performed nationally and internationally, including at Ronnie Scott’s, Love Supreme Festival and Jazz Café. He is the founder of Perkalater, a free improvisation jam session, has run improvisation workshops and jams for over a decade and holds an MRes from the University of Nottingham in music, researching jam sessions and Christian freedom.