Bobby Previte’s Improvisation Workshop

Sponsored by Sportsmen’s Americana Music Foundation + Hallwalls, Buffalo N.Y., May 4th-9th 2024

APPLICATION DEADLINE: April 10, 2024

This workshop will be conducted in person at Hallwalls in Buffalo, NY. It is a hands on, in-person workshop heavily focused on performance. Participants will work directly with Previte to create group improvisations structured around, and limited by certain criteria—density, form, rhythm, dynamics, tempo, silence, register, and orchestration. In addition, through group improvising the class will investigate the nature of judgement, emotion, technique, role, and the genesis of the “idea germ” in the making of music.

The course will also touch on the relationships of other disciplines to music; the use and misuse of imitation; the seductive power of beauty and its dangers; detachment as a state of grace; the un-setting of one’s mind; the stages of hearing (how to hear, how to listen); the importance of context; the power of expectation; the surprising freedom in limitation; and ultimately, finding your voice in music.

At the conclusion of the course, participants will each write short “scores for improvisation.” The group will present these scores in an open to the public concert at The Cave on May 9th at 7:00pm.

This course is NOT SPECIFIC TO ANY GENRE, and is geared towards the serious-minded who can commit to a rigorous and intensive four days of playing and study. Applicants MUST be able to commit to the entire duration of the workshop, and have a fair level of proficiency on a conventional or unconventional musical instrument. Ability to read and write music is NOT required, nor is previous experience in improvisation.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the workshop and apply.