Instant Songwriting: Musical Improv from Dunce to Diva Paperback – August 5, 2012

I love this so much I gave the second copy I ordered as a gift. As a new improver (but long time church choir member), I found having to pick up the key/mode of the backing track, create a tune, lyrics, rhyme, and dance all at once overwhelming. I've taken a couple of workshops on musical improv with some minor success but still dreaded when people wanted to sing. This book really helps by break things down (e.g., start by planting your feet and humming, etc.). I'm now comfortable with song based games (my next step is voice training to help me go from "choir member" voice to singing solos). This book was the catalyst that really got me going. I would say it is almost a must have for a new improver.

I I love this book so very much. It is formatted as a series of exercises which build up your skills until you can sing and improv song. The exercises are all very helpful and within a couple weeks I was singing improv songs. Not very good ones, but they actually kind of sounded like real songs. Super cool. The exercises start easy, but eventually get to some very fancy stuff. It also comes with musical accompaniment tracks which are quite good. Buy it if you want to get better at songwriting or improv. If you don't want to get better at songwriting or improv you should still buy it.

This book was so helpful and fun to read. I've always been comfortable singing, but to do it on the spot?! I never thought I'd be capable of that. I love how this book deconstructs the process, making it possible for everyone to understand the improv process - and make it work. It's so much fun to do - and great fun to read this book. The author's humor really comes through. I recommend this book for anyone in comedy or improv or anyone who loves to sing.

This is a must read for anyone interested in doing improvised musicals.I found it very well structured, helping me through the different difficulty levels of singing improvised songs.The added tracks are also very helpful.I gave it to my vocal coach and together with my company, we're currently experimenting in doing an improvised musical, based on the tips from this book.Thank you Nancy

I love this book. it is a must to have if you do any acting or improv. It takes you from dunce to diva in no time flat. It is so easy to read and understand. Nancy Howland Walker covers the material with style and easy understanding. I felt like she was teaching me right in the room. This book is a must for everyone in the acting fields.

Nancy does a great job of starting at the most basic level of musical improv and providing you with the tools and exercises to quickly get you to an advanced level (Sondheim!).I coach a musical improv team, and this is my reference for teaching my team new techniques and refining skills, like rhyming, building verses , choruses, and, ultimately, "above the line" melodies and songs.

This is a fabulous book. Bought it for my daughter who is a music therapist and a jazz singer. She uses it for both. A perfect tool for people who like to improvise and who use music to communicate with hard to reach populations.

Well done

I adore this book. It really is dunce to diva, starting with the very basics and slowly and simply building, so that you're doing full-length musicals in the style of Sondheim (as long as you take your time and practice all of the exercises until you are competent). It is possibly the best written improv book I've read, and improved my ability to write music as well. I highly recommend it!

Da ich in meiner "Freizeit" ein absolut begeisterter Impromusiker bin (das sind die, die ImprotheaterspielerInnen bei ihren improvisierten Auftritten musikalisch begleiten) und immer auf der Suche nach neuen Ideen bin, ist dieses Buch für mich eine Quelle der Inspiration. So viele neue Ideen, Variationen bereits bekannter Ideen und Anregungen zum Finden und Entwickeln eigener Übungen habe ich noch nie in bzw. durch ein Buch bekommen. Und da ich auch regelmäßig mit "meinen" Imrpotheatergruppen Musiktrainings abhalte, bin ich einfach über jede brauchbare Übung glücklich. Sicherlich findet sich sehr viel auf den einschlägigen Seiten im Netz, nur habe ich noch nie so eine brauchbare Anleitung speziell in Bezug auf Improtheater und Musik gefunden. Dazu kommt, dass das Buch auch noch lustig zu lesen ist und ich bin mit meinen Englisch-Kenntnissen locker mitgekommen.Natürlich gibt es auch Übungen und Beispiele, die mir nicht so zusagen, aber das gehört meiner Meinung nach dazu. Und überhaupt muss ich so ein Buch mehrmals durchackern, denn jedesmal erschließt sich was Neues. Und das ist es ja, was mir an improvisierten Auftritten so Spaß macht.Aber wie bereits einleitend gesagt: es ist ein Buch, das eine ganz spezielle Nische bedient und mein Glück ist es, dass ich genau in dieser Nische künstlerisch zu Hause bin.