Improvisation als Beziehungsgeschehen

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Subject according curriculum

Improvisation as a Process of Relationship-Building

Teachers

Scope

Thursday, 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m., starting on October 8, 2026 The seminar takes a break once a month when the music therapy master’s program has block classes. The dates will be announced at the start of the seminar.

Room

Seminarraum Musiktherapie

Duration

2.5 Semesterwochenstunden

Description

Students explore musical improvisation—both in theory and practice—as a central music therapy method and its relevance to educational settings. Course content focuses in particular on: goals, effects, applications, various forms of improvisation, settings, target groups, limitations, challenges, and multimodal approaches. Students are introduced to different approaches to playing, with a focus on interpersonal dynamics, interaction, and the successes and failures of encounters. The ability to improvise—including in a figurative sense—can serve as a core competency that helps students navigate the day-to-day challenges of teaching and remain capable of acting in unpredictable situations, thereby fostering the resilience of future teachers.
However, the course also simply aims to alleviate fears so that students can express themselves freely on a musical instrument without self-evaluation.

Literature

Friedemann, L. (1974). Joint Improvisation on Instruments. Kassel: Bärenreiter.

Gagel, R. (2010). Improvisation as a Social Art. Mainz: Schott.

Hegi, F. (1986). Improvisation and Music Therapy: Possibilities and Effects of Free Music. Paderborn: Jungfermann.

Loos, G. (1986). Spaces for Play. Stuttgart: Fischer, especially pp. 141–190.

Schwabe, M. (1992). Inventing Music Through Play. Group Improvisation for Beginners and Advanced Students. Kassel: Bärenreiter.

Sonntag, J. & Holzwarth, K. (2020). The Next Step Is Always Due. Improvisation in Music Therapy. Wiesbaden: Reichert.

Wigram, T. (2004). Improvisation: Methods and Techniques for Music Therapy Clinicians, Educators, and Students. London, New York: Jessica Kingsleys.

Weymann, E. (2004). Nuances: A Psychological Study of Musical Improvisation. Giessen: Psychosozial.

Credits

3 Creditpoints

Comments

The seminar runs for two semesters and takes place in the music therapy seminar room in the library building.
The seminar is also suitable for musicians who have not yet had any experience with free improvisation.

Modules

Wahlpflichtmodul Musiktherapie 1, Wahlpflichtmodul Musiktherapie 2, Vermittlungsmodul 2 EMP, Vermittlungsmodul 4 IP, pädagogisches Wahlmodul Instrumentalpädagogik, Wahlmodul freie Wahl (alle Studiengänge), Wahlmodul Lehramt