NOW is time for revival of improv ensemble
Brittany Conway
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: News
Improvisation is a skill that many musicians value, and also one that they may not have the chance to exhibit in traditional group settings.
With the reforming of Ensemble NOW, students will have the opportunity they may have been seeking to improve their improv.
"I think improv is a great way to express yourself," Shane Lanning, first-year, said. "I sometimes feel limited when playing written music, so I thought that this would be a great way to express my own music."
Dr. Rocky Reuter originally formed Ensemble NOW about ten years ago for the new music festival. The group ran for four to five years, and has been on hiatus until recently, as Dr. Tony Zilincik is presently reviving the program.
"With improvisation, you have to completely rely on what you are thinking and feeling at that moment," Zilincik said.
"Improvising...is instant composition," Joshua Bryant, junior, said. "Depending on how you feel any given moment, you can change how you play to suit that."
Ensemble NOW seeks to provide a group for students to come together under the guidance of Zilincik to showcase their talents and expand their limits.
Zilincik said that all the great musicians improvised. From classical to contemporary, improvisation is open to all forms.
For this ensemble, members will improvise "within the given permits, whether it be a scale or a thought," Zilincik said. He plans to lead the group through "conducted improvisation," a technique to help guide the group.
"It will be interesting to see what happens the first time out," Zilincik said.
"This ensemble sounded like a great way for me to learn new ideas/concepts about improvising, but also help strengthen the skills that I've acquired over the years," Cameron Baker, first-year, said.
Ensemble NOW is open to all, requiring no audition or alignment with the conservatory. Some pieces will require written music, so some ability in reading music is important, but can be worked around in appropriate circumstances.
If Ensemble NOW sounds like something you are interested in, the course number set for the group is MUS 067, offered for half a credit.
If you are interested or have further questions, contact Dr. Tony Zilincik at tzilinci@capital.edu.
Be sure to catch Ensemble NOW performing at the upcoming New Music Festival, February 10-13, with guest artists Marilyn Shurde, composer, and John Sampen on Saxophone.
bconway2@capital.edu
With the reforming of Ensemble NOW, students will have the opportunity they may have been seeking to improve their improv.
"I think improv is a great way to express yourself," Shane Lanning, first-year, said. "I sometimes feel limited when playing written music, so I thought that this would be a great way to express my own music."
Dr. Rocky Reuter originally formed Ensemble NOW about ten years ago for the new music festival. The group ran for four to five years, and has been on hiatus until recently, as Dr. Tony Zilincik is presently reviving the program.
"With improvisation, you have to completely rely on what you are thinking and feeling at that moment," Zilincik said.
"Improvising...is instant composition," Joshua Bryant, junior, said. "Depending on how you feel any given moment, you can change how you play to suit that."
Ensemble NOW seeks to provide a group for students to come together under the guidance of Zilincik to showcase their talents and expand their limits.
Zilincik said that all the great musicians improvised. From classical to contemporary, improvisation is open to all forms.
For this ensemble, members will improvise "within the given permits, whether it be a scale or a thought," Zilincik said. He plans to lead the group through "conducted improvisation," a technique to help guide the group.
"It will be interesting to see what happens the first time out," Zilincik said.
"This ensemble sounded like a great way for me to learn new ideas/concepts about improvising, but also help strengthen the skills that I've acquired over the years," Cameron Baker, first-year, said.
Ensemble NOW is open to all, requiring no audition or alignment with the conservatory. Some pieces will require written music, so some ability in reading music is important, but can be worked around in appropriate circumstances.
If Ensemble NOW sounds like something you are interested in, the course number set for the group is MUS 067, offered for half a credit.
If you are interested or have further questions, contact Dr. Tony Zilincik at tzilinci@capital.edu.
Be sure to catch Ensemble NOW performing at the upcoming New Music Festival, February 10-13, with guest artists Marilyn Shurde, composer, and John Sampen on Saxophone.
bconway2@capital.edu
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