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Kenan Auditorium Presents: Education & Workshops

Past Events

Sept. 12, 2023 | 4:30 - 6:00 p.m.
Kenan Auditorium 

This workshop will focus on the basics of musical improvisation, including the fundamentals of melody and the organic creation of song structure. Students will be given tools and techniques for how to improvise a memorable melody in the moment. Exercises will be done in both full groups, as well as in solos, duets and trios. Students will walk away knowing how to create a melody in the moment that listeners will have stuck in their ears for days to come.

Focus will be on the basic elements of musical improvisation, including:

  1. Creation of melodic ‘hooks’
  2. Letting melody dictate structure
  3. Physical connection to inspire the voice
Sept. 12, 2023 | 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Kenan Auditorium 

An improvisation workshop that teaches the basic rules of improvisation using interactive group exercises and games. Students will focus on introducing and learning the three basic rules of improvisation:

  1. Say Yes And
  2. Make Your Partner Look Good
  3. Mistakes are Gifts - Have Fun
Nov. 11, 2023 | 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Kenan Auditorium 
Join a Q&A session with iconic radio personality, host and producer of This American Life, Ira Glass. Participants should be familiar with his work and come prepared with questions.
Nov. 30, 2023 | 4 - 5:30 p.m.
Kenan Auditorium 
This masterclass led by Second City, introduces students to the skills needed for character work, an element essential to dynamic improvised scenes. Students will explore creating characters through internal motivations like point of view, status, wants & intentions - as well as external ones like physicality and relationships to other characters. They will learn how to make choices in scenes that help define their character and clearly establish the "who."