The Didactics of Improvisation

v. Christian Windfeld
The Didactics of Improvisation
The purpose of this pedagogical development project is to investigate and map how improvisational skills are trained and strengthened across musical genres, both nationally and internationally.
The project aims to shed light on the diversity of musical traditions to foster mutual learning based on three fundamental questions:
- How and why is improvisation taught?
- How do you practice improvisation?
- How do you evaluate an improvisation?

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Data Collection and Methodology
The study is based on a range of methodological approaches:
- Internal interviews and observations: Observations of teaching across the rhythmic, classical, and creative departments at RAMA, supplemented by interviews with teachers and students.
- International study trips, interviews, and observations: Participation in Erasmus improvisation courses—Metric I.P. and contemPLAY I.P.—alongside students from the rhythmic, classical, and creative departments. This includes classroom observations, interviews with teachers and students, and feedback on personal pedagogical methods.
Final Product
The project results will culminate in a presentation for students and faculty at RAMA at the beginning of the 2026/27 academic year.
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Observation of students and teaching staff at the METRIC Intensive Programme in Lübeck 2026. https://metricimpro.eu/intensive-programmes/