Improvisation

Author(s): Tony Wigram

Art & Creative Therapies

Improvisation plays a key role in the toolbox of the music therapist. Tony Wigram's practical and comprehensive guide and CD will prove indispensable to students, teachers, therapists and musicians as a book of musical techniques and therapeutic methods. Beginning with an overview of developing, teaching and analysing the skills of improvisation, Wigram describes techniques ranging from warming up to mirroring, rhythmic grounding, containing and holding. With specific sections on piano improvisation, chordal and 2-, 3- and 4- note improvisation are covered, in addition to advanced skills such as frameworking and transitions. Wigram also includes techniques for thematic improvisation, group improvisation and outlines methods for analysing and reporting improvisational processes. Notated examples allow readers to try out techniques and progress as they read, with audio examples on the accompanying CD adding another dimension to the structure and guidance provided for all levels of music student and therapist.


Product Information

Professor Tony Wigram holds the Chair and is Head of PhD studies in Music Therapy at the Institute for Music and Music Therapy at the University of Aalborg, Denmark. In addition to his teaching, he is Head Music Therapist at Harper House Children's Service (Hertfordshire, England) and Research Advisor to the Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Trust. He is a Research Associate at the University of Melbourne, Visiting Professor at Anglia Polytechnique University, and Adjunct Professor on music therapy courses in Belgium, Italy and Spain. He has published extensively in his specialised areas of diagnosis and assessment, vibroacoustic therapy, Rett syndrome, applied improvisation skills and music therapy education.

Foreword, Professor Kenneth Bruscia. 1. Introduction. 2. Basic concepts in improvisation. 3. Musical techniques. 4. Basic therapeutic methods and skills. 5. Advanced musical and therapeutic techniques: Extemporising and frameworking. 6. Transitions: In improvisation and therapy. 7. Thematic Improvisation. 8. Group improvisation. 9. Two different methods for analysing improvised music. 10. Summary and Conclusion. Appendices. Glossary. Index.

General Fields

  • : 9781843100485
  • : 92434
  • : 92434
  • : Contains Paperback and CD-ROM
  • : March 2004
  • : United Kingdom
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Tony Wigram
  • : Mixed media product
  • : 781.36
  • : 240
  • : glossary, index