Our second class of group improvisation was a further elaboration on our previous exercise. Firstly we discussed the fundamentals and key elements of improvisation in a musical environment such as noting key words that relate to the practise. This gave us a source language to pull from and inspire during the process while also discussing as a group why these parameters can serve as a mast on a ship if you will, while in the process of improvisation. A way of stabilising chaos amongst a cacophony. In this exercise we were able to include our own electronic instruments to include much more of our own character of sound. It was an interesting blend of acoustic and electronic instruments of a wide variety including granular synths, guitars, samplers and homemade devices. The lesson I learnt from this session was the importance of patience and active listening.
The importance of knowing one’s role, even though the nature of this is usually mercurial, it’s imperative to know when to insert yourself and when to fall back and let what’s being created breathe. And to let others explore the space sonically when they feel it’s necessary. The social aspect of these sessions for me are inspiring. A lot is to be learnt from the process of collaboration with others or have different experiences and tastes.
Another important lesson here was importance and grasping minimalism and maximalism in sound, and how silence itself holds its own weight in the sonic universe. In a loud world, silence is a virtue.