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Book Cover
E-book
Author MacDonald, Raymond A. R., author

Title The art of becoming : how group improvisation works / Raymond A. R. MacDonald and Graeme B. Wilson
Published New York, NY : Oxford University Press, [2020]
©2020

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Description 1 online resource : illustrations
Contents Improvisation and new frontiers in creative practice -- What's so special about Improvisation? -- Talking about Improvisation -- Stones, Clouds : a new model for improvising -- Distributed creativity and the myth of shared understanding -- A new virtuosity : improvising over time -- Improvisation and health : why improvising is good for you -- The way forward
Summary "With a focus on music, this book outlines what improvisation is and why it is an important creative and social activity. Drawing on the emerging psychological literature in this area, as well as evidence from authors' research with musicians, this text outlines innovative ideas on what defines improvisation and the psychological, creative and social processes involved. It explores the role of specialist skills, the importance of musical identities and the nature of understanding in improvised interaction and between improvisers. It discusses how we develop as improvisers and the role of improvisation within therapeutic applications of music. Each chapter proceeds from discussion of an illustrative instance of musical improvisation. Providing fresh and provocative insights for anyone interested in playing, studying, teaching or listening to improvised music, the authors offer suggestions for approaching this practice in new ways at any level, and identify potential developments in cross-disciplinary improvising. Asserting that everyone can and should improvise, the book provides a resource for courses teaching improvisation in contemporary practice, and has strong relevance for those applying musical improvisation in community and therapeutic contexts. The book deals with such questions as: What constitutes improvisation? Do all forms of improvisation represent the same thing? Faced with myriad possibilities, how do improvisers decide what to play? How does an improviser in a group know what the others will do? How might improvisation influence our wellbeing? In response to such questions, a definition of improvisation based on its unique behavioural features is set out as an exciting context for psychological investigation"--Provided by publisher
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes Description based on online resource; title from web page (Oxford Scholarship Online, viewed on July 17, 2020)
Subject Improvisation (Music)
Improvisation (Music) -- Psychological aspects
Improvisation (Music) -- Social aspects
Improvisation (Music)
Improvisation (Music) -- Psychological aspects
Form Electronic book
Author Wilson, Graeme B., author
LC no. 2019042457
ISBN 9780190840952
0190840951
0190840943
9780190840945