The Gordian knot of teaching organ improvisation: reflections on past and present with a view to a ‘future’ teaching programme

Abstract

In this article, I discuss the topic of teaching organ improvisation. Can improvisation be taught? If so, which aspects can be taught? How can these techniques be learnt? The plethora of ancient and modern treatises aimed at teaching some aspects of improvisation, as well as the teaching methods I have examined, suggest that it is possible to teach various improvisation-related elements. This allows us to reconcile the apparent contradiction of combining the terms ‘teaching’ and ‘improvisation’, especially when improvisation is considered not only as creation ex nihilo, but also as the ability to develop variations based on a solid understanding of models within a shared musical context. The final guide suggests some concrete ‘good practices’ that could be useful when designing these kinds of courses for teachers and learners alike.