The Role of Improvisation in Contemporary Music Performance
From Jazz to the Academic Scene
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19490482 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Olha Vasylenko (0000-0003-4431-8515, Kyiv Institute of Music. R. Glier), Ihor Zakus (Kyiv Institute of Music. R. Glier), Nataliia Lebedieva (Kyiv Institute of Music. R. Glier), Valerii Yeremenko (Kyiv Institute of Music. R. Glier), Oksana Kvas (Academy of Municipal Management) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Volume | 7 |
| Issue | 6s |
| Publication date | 2026-04-24 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | ShodhKosh: Journal of Visual and Performing Arts (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 2582-7472 • E-ISSN: 2582-7472 |
| Publisher | Granthaalayah Publications and Printers (PUBLISHER • IN) |
| DOI | 10.29121/shodhkosh.v7.i6s.2026.7512 |
| OpenAlex | W7155615389 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 21 |
The purpose of the study is to determine the role of improvisation and classify its main types in jazz and academic music performance. The study was conducted in 2025 as a qualitative comparative analysis based on a sample of 24 musical samples, including 12 jazz performances and 12 academic interpretations with improvisational elements. Each sample was evaluated according to three criteria on a scale from 0 to 2, reflecting the degree of freedom of the performer, the nature of work with the musical text, and the function of improvisation in the structure of the work. The results show a clear differentiation between the two performance traditions. In the jazz group, the maximum configuration of values (2-2-2) was recorded in 9 out of 12 cases, which indicates the structuring role of improvisation and its decisive influence on the musical form. In contrast, the academic group is dominated by the configurations (0-0-0) in 6 cases and (1-1-1) in 5 cases, indicating the limited nature of variability and the auxiliary function of improvisation. Only in one case was the mixed configuration (2-1-2) recorded, which reflects the local expansion of performance freedom. Based on the repeatability of the parameters, three models of improvisation are distinguished: structural, controlled and hybrid. The obtained results confirm that improvisation is a universal mechanism of musical interpretation, but its influence on form formation significantly depends on the performance context, which is important for the development of modern performance practice and music education
Improvisation · Jazz · Musical · Diverse Music Education Insights · Emergency Medicine Education and Research · Qualitative Comparative Analysis Research
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Shared flow and emotional synchrony through group instrumental improvisation
Expert Western Classical Music Improvisers’ Strategies
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |