Oslo: The Norwegian Academy of Music
The Norwegian Academy of Music (NMH) is a leading artistic and academic university college with over 700 students. We offer music education founded on research and artistic development work. Our teachers are leading performers, music pedagogues, conductors, church musicians, music therapists and composers.
The school has a long tradition for teaching improvisation, allmost all students, classical and jazz and folk etc, has classes in improvisation. This was implemented already in 1993 and has had a huge impact on the learning environment at the school. The bachelor program in jazz performance was started in 2004 and is actually called “jazz and improvised music”, to signal that we have a broader definition of jazz than only the African-American tradition. Our jazz/improvisation students are constantly challenging the definition of jazz and are collaborating with students and teachers from classical, pop, rock, modern contemporary and traditional Norwegian folk music. Our master program in improvised music/jazz is project-based, each student creates her own plan for the two years at the Academy.
We have a long list of elective programs dealing with improvisation: Traditional jazz for classical musicians, Indian music, Improvisation based on contemporary classical pieces and improvisation in the studio to name a few.
Articles & Resources
An article about Guro Gravem Johansens Ph D about how to practice improvisation
Ongoing artistic research about improvisation with machines
Completed artistic research project about improvisation
Videos (external links)
Interview with Sidsel Endresen and Torgrim Sollid, the pioneers who started the impro classes at NMH in the 90 ties:
From an impro class – students working with a choreographer:
The result of the workshop, the movie “The big Freeze”:
Key Persons
Professor Sidsel Endresen
Vocalist, has been teaching improvisation for all kinds of musicians at NMH since 1995. Mostly in the free idiom.
mail@sidselendresen.com
https://nb-no.facebook.com/Sidselsinger/
Associate professor Ivar Grydeland
Guitarist and free-impro musician. Has completed the 3-year Norwegian Artistic research program focusing on improvised music in small ensembles. Has been teaching improvisation (for all musicians) at NMH for many years.
ivar.grydeland@nmh.no www.ivargrydeland.com
www.huntsville.no
www.danslesarbres.net
Associate Professor Lisa Dillan
Vocalist and improviser. Improvisation teacher (for all musicians) at NMH.
lisa.dillan@nmh.no
www.lisadillan.com
Associate Professor Mona Julsrud
Singer. Mona is using improvisation in her vocal teaching, she has also created an elective course in voice improvisation.
Professor Geir Lysne
Composer and conductor. Geir is the artistic director for NDR Big Band, he also works with the Norwegian Wind Ensemble and uses improvisation heavily in his projects with them. He has created large improvisation projects with all the classical wind players at NMH.