Report of the Activities in the Field of Improvisation at the Royal Conservatoire the Hague 2010-2012
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Report of the activities in the field of improvisation at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague 2010-2012 Royal Conservatoire publications 1 Content 03. About this publication 04. Part I: Report of the Improvisation Project Sessions during the Academic Year 2010/2011 06. Introduction 06. A general overview of all activities 07. Project schedule 08. Overview: Publicity materials and notes 30. Evaluation 34. Part II: Report of the ERASMUS Intensive Programme “Improvisation in European Higher Music Education: Improving Artistic Development and Professional Integration” 36. Introduction 37. Background to the project 38. Report of the January 2012 edition of European Impro Intensive 40. Programme European Impro Intensive 44. Report public seminar 14 January 52. List of participants 54. Biographies tutors 52. List of participants 54. Biographies tutors 61. Relevant websites 62. Relevant literature 64. Colophon 2 1 increasingly developing improvisation courses About this and seeing the benefits of such courses for their students and teachers, while often struggling publication with similar issues. Why this focus on improvisation? Reinink gives a good explanation in the introduction to his report: “Improvisation is not just a jam ses- sion, nor is it confined exclusively to jazz or This publication presents the results of experimental music. Improvisation is an integral a large-scale initiative organised by the element of every type of music: it improves Royal Conservatoire in The Hague to pro- technique, musicianship, ensemble playing mote improvisation in all of its educational and recitals, and reinforces the musician’s programmes. This initiative started with a bond with the repertoire, fellow artists and the year-long project during the academic year public.” It is clear that improvisation provides 2010-2011, which saw weekly sessions organ- important benefits in terms of technical, social ised by and for various departments of the and artistic skills, as well as benefits in the field conservatoire. The excellent report written by of professional integration, as has been shown project coordinator Adriaan Reinink shows a in the ERASMUS Intensive Programme European fascinating range of approaches, styles and Impro Intensive. philosophies with regards to improvisation, which under the title ‘Together Now’ offered The Royal Conservatoire’s initiative does not unique opportunities for cross-departmental stop with this publication. Curriculum devel- cooperation. All dimensions of the conserva- opment with the creation of new improvisa- toire were addressed in these sessions: from tion modules at both Bachelor and Master improvisation in early music up to contempo- level is currently taking place at the Royal rary music creation, and from improvisation in Conservatoire, and most probably also at the field of sonology using live electronics and several other institutions. Funding has been new techniques to improvisation in collabora- secured for the second edition of European tion with dancers. The report by Reinink not Impro Intensive, which will take place at the only describes each session in detail, but also Royal Conservatoire in 13-22 February 2013. makes brief evaluation statements and sug- A third edition of the programme is planned for gestions on what was achieved and how things 2014. This shows the ambition and willingness could be further improved in the future. of the Royal Conservatoire to take the lead in the development of innovative pedagogical and The second part of the publication describes a artistic approaches, as it understands the need project that followed the 2010-2011 improvisa- for a constant development and updating of tion year with the support of the ERASMUS conservatoire training to match the require- Programme of the EU. This project concen- ments of the world of music today. trated the efforts in the field of improvisation by focusing mainly on improvisation in classical We invite you to join the Royal Conservatoire music, as it was felt it is there that the strongest on this exciting path of curricular and artistic needs are present. Furthermore, it added two innovation. additional dimensions to the 2010-2011 project: firstly, it added an international dimension by involving 10 other conservatoires in Europe Martin Prchal, vice-principal Royal and their students and teachers. Secondly, it Conservatoire The Hague encouraged students not just to learn im- provisation themselves, but also to learn how to teach improvisation to others through a set of leading & guiding workshops. In this way, issues regarding professional integration and employ- ability were combined with intensive training in improvisation techniques and methods. During the one-day seminar that took place during this European intensive project, it was fascinat- ing to see how institutions across Europe are 2 3 part 1 Improvisation project sessions 2010-2011: Report of the Twenty-eight events ranging Improvisation from baroque to electronic and Project world music, and from dance Sessions to music theatre. during the Academic Year 2010-2011 4 5 Introduction General Project 14. 11 Jan Ensemble! 15. 18 Jan Evan Parker overview schedule 16. 25 Jan Berlin, die Sinfonie der GrossStadt At the Royal Conservatoire, improvisation of activities 17. 01 Feb Ernst Reijseger constitutes a preparation for the music practice of the future. Improvisation is not just a jam 18. 08 Feb Venetian Jam Session session, nor is it confined exclusively to jazz or 14 Sep FIRST YEARS FESTIVAL with experimental music. Improvisation is an integral improvisation sessions 19. 15 Feb DASH! style music education element of every type of music: it improves Overall, the following activities took place: technique, musicianship, ensemble playing and • 28 presentations of which: 1. 21 Sep Peter Brunt & Wiek Hijmans 20. 22 Feb Anto Pett’s method recitals, and reinforces the musician’s bond with - Composition 1 the repertoire, fellow artists and the public. - Ballet 1 2. 28 Sep Do I have to sit still whilst being 21. 08 Mar Dance & Music Improvisation - Early Music 3 shaved...? Project During the academic year 2010-2011, the vari- - Classical Music 3 ous departments in the Conservatoire joined - Jazz 3 3. 05 Oct Vocal improvisation with Claron 22. 15 Mar Sarah Nicolls: Finding Language forces to organise a series of twenty-eight - Sonology 3 McFadden in Music events, including concerts, debates and lec- - Music Education 3 tures. Every discipline was represented: from - Lectorate 3 4. 12 Oct Luc Houtkamp, Anne La Berge & 23. 22 Mar Philippe Desponts & Odile Edouard jazz, early music and classical music to compo- - Vocal 2 Wiek Hijmans sition, from study methods and theory to dance - Joint Master NAIP 2 24. 29 Mar Zeq-Attack with Leo van Oostrom and experiments in sound. - Theory 3 5. 26 Oct Acoustic and electronic - Together Now 1 instruments 25. 05 Apr New audiences In January 2012, the Tuesday afternoon series • 13 presentations were preceded by culminated in a European project on improvisa- a workshop or lecture. 6. 02 Nov Community and World Music 26. 12 Apr Cadenzas tion with 11 other conservatories, subsidised by • 2 major projects: the ERASMUS programme of the EU. - Butch Morris Workshop Orchestra (1 week) 7. 09 Nov From solo improvisation to 27. 19 Apr COBRA - Dance & Music with Michael Schumacher conduction The objectives of the project were: and Mary Oliver (2 weeks) 28. 26 Apr Together Now, closing • To accumulate knowledge and know-how • 1 additional project: improvisation in music 8. 16 Nov Butch Morris’ conduction presentation in the field of improvisation. theatre (4 workshops + closing presentation • To explore the possibility of including on 26 April 2011). 9. 23 Nov 1000 years of keyboard Brief reports and photos of almost every work- improvisation in the curriculum. • The average attendance was approximately improvisation shop are available, while HD video recordings • To prepare for a large festival devoted to 23 guests (estimate) and 9 participants were made of 10 presentations. In addition, improvisation on Spuiplein in The Hague. ( official). 10. 30 Nov Structuring improvisation there are films giving an impression of the • In 8 presentations there was no active entire season. Every Tuesday at 16.00 in Studio 3, improvi- participation by students because of the 11. 07 Dec Playground sation presentations took place that were format chosen (concert). The quality assurance office also published an open to the public and followed by a recep- 12. 14 Dec Classical Improvisation evaluation of the project in June 2011, which tion; some were preceded by workshops was based on questionnaires distributed to or lectures. These presentations were of 13. 04 Jan City Encounters teachers and students. interest to all students and teachers at the Royal Conservatoire and given by students and teachers from within the department. Each department gave between one and three presentations. Publicity material and activities for the activities were produced and arranged by the project. 6 Improvisation? Just do It! part 1 7 Overview: publicity Peter Brunt & Do I have to sit still whilst Vocal improvisation with materials Wiek Hijmans being shaved...? Claron McFadden Tuesday 21 September 2010 Tuesday 28 September 2010 Tuesday 5 October 2010 and notes organised by the Classical Music department with Renee Jonker with special guest Hillary Jeffery organised by the Music Master NAIP organised by the Vocal department Violinist Peter Brunt and electric guitarist Wiek Hijmans create chamber