Bart van Rosmalen

Associate Professor, Royal Conservatoire, The Haugue, The Netherlands

Helena Gaunt

Head of Research, Assistant Principal (Research and Academic Development), Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London, UK

Qualities of Conversation

This paper addresses questions about the qualities of conversation within the context of research which focuses on the connections between improvisation and artistry in musicians. It builds on areas of research in musical improvisation and processes of learning for performing musicians in Higher Education, and considers how qualities of conversation (musical and verbal) are fundamental to collaborative research in this field.

The underlying question of this research is how does improvisation (musical, physical, conversational) underpin the development of artistry in musicians as performers and teachers? Artistry here is taken to mean what makes performance come alive- what enables performers to leave behind rehearsed skills and enter the realm of the unintended. Artistry undoubtedly demands technical facility, communicative skill and musical understanding; it however also requires improvisation that leads to unforeseen outcomes.

Research method

This research begins from our own practice as musicians, teachers and innovators in conservatoires. An essential objective is to evolve appropriate methodologies for research in practice as well as about practice. We engage in musical improvisation, and in conversation, and the two constantly interweave. We aim to allow the musical improvisation to speak for itself as well as analysing it in words, and we seek ways for the two to interact, transform and perhaps create new kinds of artistic outputs.