Master Class In Improvisation, And The Creative Process

In 1981, William Goldstein was selected to be a visiting artist by the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. He was sent to the Far East. He lectured on music in film and contemporary aesthetics. He also performed some of his unique keyboard improvisations. This experience whet his appetite for sharing his experiences with others as his composing schedule allowed.

In August 2011, he was invited by the Transatlantyk International Film and Music Festival in Poznan, Poland, to give Master Classes on the "Art of Instant Composition". He also presided over the jury in what was most likely, the first competition in "instant composition" in over 100 years. A musical expression practiced by most of the great composers throughout history.

He uses improvisation as a conduit to explore the creative process with all who experience his ability to sit at a keyboard and create instant composition. Unlike Jazz improvisation, which is built around an existent structure, he starts with nothing, and creates a complete piece, with form and structure....from scratch.

In both Master Classes and concerts, he invites students and audience members to come up and pick three random pitches. He will take those pitches, and the order in which they were selected, and create a piece. He improvises ballets with dancers and creates musical conversations with singers. He has scored short films in concert, the audience told that both they and Mr. Goldstein are watching the film for the first time. He then starts playing with the first frame of the picture, and continues until the film completes, at which time an entirely original score has been created. For a class in the Far East he improvised on Piano with a Chinese Violin , mixing eastern and western influences.

For over 20 years composer William Goldstein has given an annual Master Class in Improvisation and The Creative Process on the campus of Cal Arts. His uniquely gifted improvisations, his arts philosophy (Los Angeles Times), his innovations in technology, his unique approach to solving difficult issues (New York Times), and most of all, his music, continue to inspire music, dance, theater, film and creative writing students. The opportunity to witness the spontaneous burst of creativity apparent in these improvisations gives students an insight into their own creativity.

Improvised Ballet at Transatlantyk Festival. Goldstein and dancers from The Polish Dance Theater featuring Paulina Wycichowska.

(Photo by Pawel Grzelaczyk)

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