Explore Creative Potential Through Improvisation Workshops
Freeing The Music is a workshop series created by award-winning jazz double bassist Andrew Robb, that specializes in using jazz improvisation to foster lasting musical development in any genre of music as well as personal growth away from instruments.
Workshop with The National Children's Orchestra of Scotland
For many people, approaching improvisation can seem like a daunting and unnerving task. Often, this is down to how quickly we judge ourselves when we feel we have made a "mistake". Freeing The Music aims to teach students and musicians how to look beyond this, and instead guide them on how to harness their inner creativity. Our theory is that improvisation is the key to unlocking some of the greatest rewards music has to offer. We strive to show that it is something everyone can learn to do quickly, and most importantly, fun. Teachers and students will come to realise how this benefits individual learning and development outside of the music classroom.
"Andrew had a lasting impact on these groups, they listen more to each other and with the most advanced group there is an openness to experiment with different approaches which wasn’t necessarily true before Andrew’s workshop.
I can recommend Andrew Robb without reservation; he is a very impressive jazz musician who interacts really well with teenagers and can work both at an advanced or elementary level."
- David Gorodi, Director of Music at King's School Bruton
What happens at a workshop?
The most important thing is to have fun whilst making music. Each workshop has a variety of enjoyable musical exercises, games and listening activities that can be tailored to ensemble size, ability level or coursework targets.
What do students learn about music?
- Skills in improvising
- How to practise
- A broader understanding of rhythm and harmony
- Aural skills
- A larger toolkit for applying musical ideas to their practice
- Better communication and awareness skills within ensemble/solo playing
- Improved performance confidence
How do students develop outside of music?
- Teamwork/leadership skills
- Problem solving
- Empathy, understanding and awareness
- Improved independent/peer-to-peer learning
- Clarity of thought through multitasking
- Communication skills.
Are you interested in trying improvising but are unsure about how to start? Why not read this article I wrote for Musical Orbit on how musicians can start getting into improvising here!