Practice of Musical Improvisation: Dialogues with Contemporary

In this review of Practice of Musical Improvisation, Bertrand Denzler's collection offers an in-depth look at how contemporary musicians think and work when improvising. Compiled from conversations with roughly 50 practitioners, the book is a focused resource for readers seeking first-person accounts of improvisational approaches and decision making. The single biggest reason to read it is its breadth of perspectives: established figures and newer voices alike describe mental processes, group dynamics and practical strategies in their own terms, making the volume a hands-on companion for study and reflection.

Key Features

• Extensive interviews: Around 50 conversations capture a wide range of approaches and idioms, so readers get multiple viewpoints rather than a single method.
• Diverse contributors: Interviews include both renowned and emerging improvisers, which helps map traditions and innovations across generations.
• Focus on practice: Questions probe actual habits, strategies and decision making, making the content directly relevant to practitioners and teachers.
• Collective improvisation insights: Several interviews emphasize mental processes behind group playing, useful for anyone working in ensembles.
• Human-factor emphasis: The dialogue format highlights personal priorities and interpersonal dynamics that shape improvised music.

Who It's For

This book is primarily for improvising musicians, composers and advanced students who want concrete testimony about how peers approach improvisation in practice. The conversational format makes it particularly useful for educators seeking real-world perspectives to bring into workshops or seminars.

Those looking for step-by-step exercises, notation-based tutorials or a technical manual on technique should look elsewhere; this is a reflective, interview-driven resource rather than a how-to workbook. Listeners curious about the philosophy and social aspects of improvisation will still find much to appreciate.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Collects firsthand accounts from a wide spectrum of contemporary improvisers, offering rich comparative material.
• Emphasizes real practices and decision making, which readers can adapt to their own contexts.
• Includes veteran voices alongside newer practitioners, helping trace continuities and change.

Cons

• The format is interview-based and reflective, so it may lack concrete exercises for readers seeking direct technical drills.

Specifications

Our Verdict

Practice of Musical Improvisation is a valuable, cost-effective reference for serious improvisers and educators who want authentic accounts of creative decision making. Its strength is breadth of testimony and focus on practice rather than prescription, making it good value for readers who learn from others' methods and reflections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this book contain practical exercises?
No, the book is interview-driven and focuses on discussions of practice rather than step-by-step exercises.

Are well-known improvisers included?
Yes; the collection features many established names alongside newer voices to offer a broad view.

Is it suitable for classroom use?
Yes, the interviews are useful for seminars and discussion-based teaching about improvisation and group dynamics.