Exploring Music & Improvisation

Our ability to improvise is both an incredible magic and a pedestrian exercise of a basic human faculty.

From the most creative artistic endeavor to the most mundane action, that mysterious process we call improvising is part of everything we do.

Yet no matter what activity we are engaged in or what we are creating, the process of improvisation remains the same, as does the joy and satis-faction of spontaneous expressive action.!

Tom Hall’s free improvisation work-shops and classes provide practical tools for exploring the joys and mysteries of musical improvisation.

The value of this exploration reaches far beyond the musical skills gained. A competent and aware improviser finds it much easier to create a joyful, successful, and fulfilling life!

Biography

Tom Hall, a graduate of New England Conserva-tory, is an improvising saxophonist, music teacher and the author of Free Improvisation: A Practical Guide. He has been teaching free

improvisation ensembles at Brandeis University since 1997 and has con-ducted improvisation classes at New England Conservatory, Wellesley Col-lege, the Royal Conservatory, and the Rotterdam Conservatory.

Hall has played saxophone profes-sionally since he was 17, performing and recording in a wide variety of mu-sical styles – jazz, blues, rap, rock, folk, funk, meringue and more. What always fascinated him most was not the differences between musical styles, but what they all have in com-mon – the process of improvisation. It was this fascination that led to the de-velopment of his theory of improvisa-tion as a universal process that applies equally to all creative endeavors.

He designed and led Session I, a workshop for professional improvisers, culminating in a series of concerts in New England, and has served as cura-tor for the Cultural Construction Music Series.

In addition to his ongoing teaching and group performances, Hall is currently directing The Sessions, a series of workshops and concerts that focus on bringing musicians from all genres to-gether to perform in a free improvisa-tional setting.

For more information:

Tom Hall • 617.510.9168

tomhall@freeimprovisation.com

www.freeimprovisation.com

Free Improvisation

Tom Hall

Life is one big improvisation.

Benefits of Free Improvisation

By combining free improvisations with

the creative use of improvisational

exercises, students will:

• strengthen awareness of their

improvisational impulses and expand

their knowledge of how to express

them

• examine fundamental aspects

of music and improvisation

• create individual and group

awareness of improvisational and

musical possibilities

• develop a common musical and

verbal language

• learn the skills necessary to use

all of the above in the spontaneous

creation of music

This method is non-stylistic,

accommodates any instrumentation,

and is suitable for anyone, regardless

of musical background or skill.

The only requirements are a desire to

learn more about improvisation and

music, and an interest in having fun

playing music in a group.

Brief Syllabus

Tom Hall’s approach to teaching

is an improvisational approach.

There are certain basic concepts that

will always be explored, but each indi-

vidual class is improvised based on the

needs of the group and the lessons

that spontaneously occur.

A) Solo Improvisation

Exercises in solo improvisation

focus on awareness of individual

musical inspiration and the direct

expression of it.

B) Duets

The duet is a microcosm of the

improvisatory experience. The simplic-

ity of two voices makes it easier to hear

and understand many concepts.

These concepts include beginning

and ending, form and motivic develop-

ment, and skills such as ear training

and musical memory.

Duets are an excellent way to explore

the complexities of a relationship. from

musical relationships like melody and

accompaniment to the many complex

ways that people relate emotionally

and socially.

C) Trios, quartets and larger groups

Work with larger groups begins with

introductory exercises focused on

getting comfortable with basic improvi-

sational and musical skills, proceed to

exercises which help students learn

how improvise with multiple parts,

and culminate in more complex struc-

tures that combine two or more of the

exercises that have been previously

studied.

This work includes:

• improvising grooves as a group

• improvising melodies, harmony and

counterpoint

• soloing

• improvising larger forms

• using silence

• improvising accompaniment

• exploration of musical parameters !

(rhythm, dynamics, textural

improvisation, articulation, harmony)

!

• conducted improvisations

• improvisation from non-musical

sources (words, visual cues,

emotions, movement)

Apri l Hal l

Free Improvisation: A Practical Guide

The Book: Improvisation is a big part of our daily

lives, essential to the things we love to do and the

music we love to hear. Improvising together seems

natural when we’re playing a game or having a

conversation, yet improvising music together is

often viewed as mysterious and forbidding. Free

Improvisation: A Practical Guide provides a practical

way for any group of people, no matter what their

style of music or level of musicianship, to learn

about improvising together. With over 100

improvisational exercises and invaluable

instructional tips, this book is an essential tool for

every musician, teacher, or music lover.

The Author: Tom Hall, a graduate of New England

Conservatory, is an improvising saxophonist and

music teacher. He has been teaching free

improvisation ensembles at Brandeis University

since 1997 and has conducted improvisation classes

at New England Conservatory, Wellesley College,

the Royal Conservatory, and the Rotterdam

Conservatory.

Arthur: Tom Hall

Title: Free Improvisation: A Practical Guide

File Under: Music Education, Jazz Education

Publisher: Bee Boy Press Format: Spiral Bound

ISBN: 978-0-615-32862-1

Suggested Retail: $25.00

Catalog Number: BP-0900

Pages: 123

Publicity: Kristine Walker, Walker Productions

Publicity Contact: kwalkerproductions@gmail.com

Website: www.freeimprovisation.com

Press Website: www.beeboyrecords.com

Available: freeimprovisation.com and amazon.com

Press Contact: B e e B o y P r e s s117 Roslindale Ave. Boston, MA 02131 to m h a l l @ f r e e i m p r o v i s a t i o n . c o mw w w . b e e b o y r e c o r d s . c o mw w w . f r e e i m p r o v i s a t i o n . c o m

Table of Contents:

! One: What is Improvisation?! Two: Setting the Stage

! Three: Practicing Free Improvisation! Four: Beginning Exercises

! Five: Duets: The Art of Relationship

! Six: Advanced Groove Exercises! Seven: Textures

! Eight: Creating Space–Playing Silence! Nine: Groups Within the Group

! Ten: Melody and Accompaniment

! Eleven: Musical Parameters! Twelve: Tasting Shapes

! Thirteen: Combining Exercises! Fourteen: Warm-ups

! Fifteen: Solo Exercises

! Index of Exercises

Apri l Hal l

T o m H a l l • S e s s i o n I I I

Track! ! ! ! ! ! Time

1.First Meeting! ! ! ! 3:19

2. Smile! ! ! ! ! 4:12

3. Holler! ! ! ! ! 6:14

4. Bumps! ! ! ! ! 5:31

5. Smile II! ! ! ! ! 4:19

6.Loosey! ! ! ! ! 3:28

7. Bare! ! ! ! ! 5:23

8. Last Call! ! ! ! ! 8:48

Label Contact: B e e B o y R e c o r d s • 117 Roslindale Ave. Boston, MA 02131• 617.817.0007 t o m h a l l @ f r e e i m p r o v i s a t i o n . c o m w w w . f r e e i m p r o v i s a t i o n . c o m

The CD: The idea behind Session III is simple - bring three exceptional musicians into the studio and record them improvising. Although Tom, Marty and Jeff have played together in various groups over the years, the improvisation on this CD titled "First Meeting" was the trio's first free improvisation. All the music on this CD is completely improvised, with the exception of two freely rendered versions of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile”. Personnel: Tom Hall, Tenor & Bari Sax; Marty Ballou, Bass; Jeff Galindo, Trombone.

About Tom: Tom Hall, a graduate of New England Conservatory, is an improvising saxophonist, educator and author of “Free Improvisation: A Practical Guide”. He has been teaching free improvisation ensembles at Brandeis University since 1997 and has conducted improvisation classes at New England Conservatory, Wellesley College, the Royal Conservatory, and the Rotterdam Conservatory.

Tom Hall has spent his life improvising all kinds of music, in groups such as Your Neighborhood Sax Quartet, Bob Nieske's Wolf Soup, Bruce Katz Band, Club d’Elf, and with people such as John Medeski, D.J. Logic, Jon Damian, Matt Maneri, Tim Ray, Duke Levine, Curt Newton, Dave Bryant, and Dave Tronzo, and has performed and recorded throughout the world in a wide variety of musical styles. Whether he’s playing Jazz, Blues, Rap, Rock, Folk, Funk, Latin, or R&B, what has always fascinated Tom most is not the differences between musical styles, but what they all have in common - the process of improvisation. Performing and studying with actors, dancers, and visual artists has shown Tom that improvisation is a creative process common not only to all music, but to all creative endeavors.

In addition to teaching and performing, Tom has served as curator for Cultural Constructions, a concert series which creates the opportunity for musicians from different cultures to improvise, compose, and perform together. Currently, Tom produces The Sessions, an improvised music series that brings together great improvisers from all styles of music and sets them loose in a free improvisatory setting.

Artist: Tom Hall

Title: Session III

File Under: Free Improvisation • Avant Garde Jazz

Label: Bee Boy Records Format: CD

UPC Code: 884501233859

Release Date: January 7, 2009

Catalog Number: BB-0903

Website: www.freeimprovisation.com

Youtube: www.youtube.com/tomhallfreeimprov

Available at: iTunes, CD Baby, amazon.com and

freeimprovisation.com

T o m H a l lf r e e i m p r o v i s a t i o n . c o m

T o m H a l l

freeimprovisation.com