Weekly Improv Series Causing a Stir. Watch for Posters to Announce Times and Locations. Story and photos by Michael Chipman
			There was an energy of anticipation - an edge of suspense - hanging in the air at the Improv Series weekly session two weeks ago in Kulas Hall. As the musicians prepared to play, the audience became quiet and focused. The musicians, a pianist and saxophonist, began to play, softly at first, then with louder and more complex rhythmic and harmonic patterns. Strange and new harmonies grew out of their concentration. "People who attend these sessions should come with an open mind and no expectations," says Rob Reich, a senior from Syosset, New York and one of the founders of the Improv Series. Reich and Improv Series co-founder Wally Scharold plan to hold an Improv session every week, at least through fall semester, and perhaps throughout the academic year. In the spirit of improvisation, the series will be showcased in any available location; watch for posters distributed throughout the Conservatory to announce times and locations. Here are some words they use to define the improv experience: Improvise: To invent, compose, or recite without preparation, offhand. To make or provide from available materials. "We gave four concerts with a 10-piece ensemble last year," says Scharold. "But it wasn't organized at all -- it was spontaneous. We were asked to play at a party and that's how the 10-piece group started. Many of the people from the original group are doing stuff on this series. It was in that group that a lot of free improv ideas started floating around. "Then at the beginning of this year Rob and Alan Baker did some solo piano improvisations. A few days later we were playing around on some pianos and we decided we wanted to have a concert every week, student-run and student-organized with different participants at each session." Spontaneous: Arising from a natural inclination or impulse and not from external incitement or constraint. "In improv you pair up different kinds of instruments and people and see what happens," says Reich. "It's about communication between musical personalities and spontaneity. When you're playing you have to listen and try to contribute, by either playing or not. "The music happens in the moment, so you need to go in with an open mind -- you can't communicate unless you are open to what the other person is doing. You have to listen to other people as much as you listen to yourself." Physical: Of or relating to the body as distinguished from the mind or spirit. Involving or marked by vigorous bodily activity "Improv is also about physicality," says Reich. "You have to physically approach the instrument. It's not a mental process; it's more from the gut. It takes confidence. Stage presence is important for both audience and performers because people relate what they see on-stage and to what they hear. The physical movement and interaction with the instrument is an important part of the communication between performers. The audience and performers are working in the same time -- there is no future; no past -- it's all immediate and unpredictable." Momentary: Occurring or present at every moment; Short-lived or ephemeral. "Improv is moment to moment for me," says Scharold. "You can feel sometimes that what you are doing is not working at all, so I listen a lot harder and I try to play less or play something more appropriate to what the other performers are doing. There is a whole etiquette involved -- not stepping over people. You bring out an idea or your partner brings out an idea and through physical communication you recognize what is happening and go with it. "It is a very personal experience. You have to get to know your partner's musical personality. I've been improving with Rob for two years and our style has definitely developed. Rob is unpredictable as an improviser because he goes so many places and it's hard to keep up, but that's what makes it exciting." Excite: To stir to activity. To arouse strong feeling. To set in motion. "A lot of what we do is interesting because of who we are and our generation," says Scharold. "We have so many diverse styles to draw from and groups we like to quote. Rob quotes a lot -- or at least makes obvious references to sounds and songs from different sources. "Having so many styles to choose from, we take many different approaches to making music. In improv, I often surprise myself and discover new things I can use in my composition. When you're dealing with spontaneous decisions and reaching for the general area of sound, you have to just go with what happens. Really good ideas come from things you didn't expect." Surprise: To cause to feel wonder, astonishment, or amazement at something unanticipated. . . All improv sessions are free and open to the open-minded public.
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