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improvisation

[im-prov-uh-zey-shuhn, im-pruh-vuh-] / ɪmˌprɒv əˈzeɪ ʃən, ˌɪm prə və- /


Example Sentences

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Ms. Loughridge, a professor of music at Northeastern University, has written extensively about the interaction of music and technology; Mr. Matteson, a lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania, specializes in improvisation and sound technology.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 7, 2026

Messi's genius has always been rooted in improvisation.

From BBC Jul. 11, 2026

He well understood the city’s brightness, harshness, improvisation and fractured essence.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 18, 2026

The Hammond B3 swells on the verse’s first pass, sticking close to the song’s melody, but on the second, it jumps an octave in an improvisation that nearly scorches the ear.

From Salon May 15, 2026

Nonetheless, visitors to Andean history note certain ways of doing things that recur in ways striking to the outsider, sometimes in one variant, sometimes in another, like the themes in a jazz improvisation.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Listen closely through the web of startling improvisations on Mr. Sorey’s version of “Effi,” and you can hear Mr. Allen playing traces of Merritt’s alluring bass grooves from the original.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 22, 2026

One of the most unusual examples was his fascination with solo saxophone improvisations, notably on the appropriately titled “The Solo Album.”

From Los Angeles Times May 26, 2026

But on “Shards” the trio has heightened its musicality: There are references to dance styles; the track “Barbershop” would fit perfectly onto a house-music playlist; and the improvisations emerge more naturally in the mix.

From The Wall Street Journal May 13, 2026

Slattery was known and loved for his quick-witted improvisations on the popular Channel 4 show Whose Line Is It Anyway?, from 1988 onwards.

From BBC Jan. 14, 2025

For even more possibilities, try a web search for "exotic scales"; or try inventing your own scales and using them in compositions and improvisations.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones




Vocabulary lists containing improvisation


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