Newsletter No. 1 - The Multicultural Music Group

OCTOBER 2022

The Treble CLEF

The Multicultural Music Group Newsletter

WHY IMPROVISATION MATTERS

... PAGE 2

IMPROVISATION REWARDS HONEST VULNERABILITY IN A SOCIAL CONTEXT CHARACTERIZED

BY CRITICISM.

ing m o c p U events!

Dia de los Muertos Concert Celebration on October 28th at Cabrini Shrine!

Plus, What is Peruvian SANTURANTICUY? ... PAGE 4

WHY IMPROVISATION MATTERS The hit musical, Hadestown, is unlike any other show on Broadway because it not only features musicians onstage in costume as an integral part of the show, but Hadestown also appreciates the value of instrumental music improvisation. The lead trombone player riffs and dances with the actors in a harmonious multi arts performance that is unique to every show.

Improvisation is the closest an instrument comes to spontaneous speech; in a world plastered with polished falsehoods, preserving and promoting the skill of musical improvisation is more important than ever.

In the 2020 Disney Pixar film, Soul, instrumental improvisation is depicted as a spiritually transcendent experience. The opening scene of the film shows music teacher Joe Gardner, voiced by real-life improviser Jaime Foxx, teaching a mostly apathetic public school band class. Among the students struggling to get through a song, one girl improvises on the trombone, like in Hadestown, losing herself in the music. The other students begin to laugh at the girl. The girl sits down, embarrassed, and Joe Gardner defends her with a story describing how improvisation is the reason he fell in love with music in the first place.

ALLOWING THE UNFILTERED FLOW OF CREATIVITY IS THE KEY TO A MORE HONEST AND FULFILLED SOCIETY

DISNEY PIXAR'S "SOUL"

WHY IMPROVISATION MATTERS

IMPROVISATION IS A CONVERSATION

silence and stillness are just as important as the notes being played People who are not musicians might be asking themselves, “Why should I care about preserving and passing on the skill of instrumental music improvisation?”

The answer is that improvisation requires something deeper than musical skill or talent. There are expert musicians who can play written music easily, but are unable to improvise without faltering.

Improvisation matters because allowing unfiltered creativity to flow is the key to a more honest and fulfilled society.

Instrumental music improvisation differs from comedic or dramatic improvisation in the sense that improv actors begin with an external prompt. Instrumental music improvisation, especially solos, draw inspiration from within. Internal harmony is crucial for musical improvisation; silence and stillness are just as important as the notes being played.

Improvisation must be taught because schools kill creativity, and there is a dearth of outlets for young people to express unfiltered creativity without getting in trouble now or later. Improvisation rewards sincerity, not holding back, and being vulnerable in a social context that is rife with constant criticism both online and in-person. Improvisation teaches young people that control and selfconsciousness are not the same thing. Improvisation requires control over your instrument, but you can’t effectively improvise if you’re worried about what you look like to others. Promoting improvisation in student musicians is crucial for the development of an optimal learning space free from ridicule and inclusive of different abilities.

Upcoming Events

FRIDAY,OCTOBER 28th,2022 7:30PM ST.FRANCIS CABRINI SHRINE

What is santuranticuy?

SANTURANTICUY IS A PERUVIAN CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION THAT ORIGINATED WHEN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES CRAFTED HANDMADE DOLLS DEPICTING SAINTS AND BABY JESUS. THESE FIGURINES WERE SOLD TO CHRISTIAN COLONIZERS AND CONVERTS AT HUGE MARKETS IN CUSCO, PERU AND OTHER MAJOR CITIES. THE CELEBRATION OF SANTURANTICUY TODAY CENTERS THE ARTISTRY AND RESILIENCE OF PERUVIAN INDIGENOUS PEOPLES.

DIVINO NIÑO FIGURINES FROM CUSCO, PERU