The fourth edition of the METRIC Intensive Programme (IP) took place in Tallinn on 22-26 January 2020.
This Intensive Programme is a part of METRIC (Modernizing European Higher Music Education Through Improvisation): a cooperative project between several AEC member conservatoires that focuses on curriculum development and intensive cooperation in the field of improvisation in higher music education.
The METRIC IP 2020 has been hosted by the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre in Tallinn and consisted in five full days of workshops and masterclasses on improvisation. The IP gathered more than 30 teachers and 50 students who worked and performed together.
The main theme of this edition of the IP was cross-art: the participants included musicians as well as drama and dance students and teachers. This interdisciplinary approach gave the opportunity to the music students to broaden their horizons and to learn about improvisation from different perspectives.
The students were divided into four groups – each of those groups would gather every morning to study and work with an assigned teacher, in order to discuss and examine in depth, concepts and strategies related to improvisation. In the afternoons, students were able to attend a variety of masterclasses of their choice, focused on more specific topics.
The techniques investigated during the intensive classes were applied in the evening concerts, where students and teachers would combine in different ensembles to perform improvised pieces – ranging from free form to tonal performances, which included musicians, actors and dancers alike.
The participants shared their feedback during the evaluation session on the last day: the IP was for them a gratifying experience and a great opportunity to explore new methods of playing and composing through improvisation.
