Free Improvisation As a Connection Tool: Searching For Technical Proficiency, Reconnection and Creativity in Flute Practice

Elisa Bartolome Gomez

The pursuit of perfection and the pressure to continually progress often overshadow the intrinsic joy and freedom that initially drew musicians to their profession. After a negative experience within my studies, I wanted to rediscover the essence of music-making through the lens of a specific tool: free improvisation. The research is driven by an autoethnographic approach where I focus on a specific angle within the broader topic of free improvisation: exploring how incorporating this tool affects the different parts of flute playing by putting the focus on how it can make us connect with our instrument, be more aware of our playing, of our body and to expand our creativity and imagination. Adopting a qualitative methodology, this research includes an exhaustive literature review, a journal on my reflections in collaborative sessions with a professional on the field and a data analysis of the survey answers by both professionals and students connected with this tool. Through immersive sessions conducted by Anne La Berge, I was guided across the possibilities of this tool. These are captured in a field journal where I reflect on topics as body awareness, skill development, creativity and motivational shifts triggered by the improvisational process in my own experience. Additionally, the insights collected from the questionnaires bring different points of view in the matter, offering diverse experiences and valuable perspectives. In summary, this study highlights the potential of free improvisation as a tool for reconnection, self-discovery and artistic growth as a flute player.

IN CONCLUSION

At the start of this research, three objectives were established to present the final conclusions.

The main objective was to investigate the impact of free improvisation on my playing and mindset through autoethnographic research. This was achieved by analyzing the classes with Anne and the responses to the survey.

The implementation of free improvisation in instrumental practice can help performers develop holistically. It provides benefits not only in instrumental technique but also in body awareness, which allows for the perception of muscle tensions. Free improvisation can also lead to a general sense of well-being, which can contribute to the self-mastery of the interpreter through self-knowledge.

The first specific objective was to gain experience and experiment with free improvisation as a new tool. This was accomplished through four sessions guided by Anne La Berge, a specialist in free improvisation. Additionally, the advice provided by the subjects in the survey is also crucial to gain experience with this tool.

Finally, the second specific objective aims to evaluate the potential of free improvisation in enhancing creativity, musicality, and technicality in flute playing. Based on personal experience and the responses of the participants, it can be concluded that free improvisation can improve the interpretative skills, resulting in greater musicality, creativity, and technicality of the performer.

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IN CONCLUSION