Gregory teaching an improvisation masterclass to high school students from multiple programs in Cleveland, OH
In this short masterclass excerpt, Gregory discusses how chord changes may be simpler than they initially appear!
“Improvisation doesn’t have to be a scary, incomprehensible concept.”
Improvisation is an engaging and beneficial activity for musicians of all genres and can grant the skills and confidence to succeed in unexpected or uncomfortable musical situations. Since I began improvising in middle school, it has been an extremely rewarding experience that has challenged me and pushed me to new levels of musical enjoyment and curiosity. However, I am also aware that for a majority of music students, that is not the case. As a student, I went through programs where my fellow students would shudder at the mere mention of the word “improvisation”. Although some managed to embrace the challenge, many shut down and retreated into the background, fearful of failing or disappointing their friends, directors, or themselves. This hasn’t just been my own personal experience; whenever I initially introduce the topic of improvisation in a masterclass, I instantly recognize the familiar expressions of dread and despair!
It is my firm belief that with clear direction and positive reinforcement, anyone can learn to improvise. As an educator I have found a calling in teaching improvisation both to absolute beginners that have had minimal exposure to it, and to those who may have had a negative experience with it in the past. My masterclasses cover many concepts such as the simplification of chord changes, basic functional jazz theory, and simple improvisation exercises that start with just one note!
-Gregory