Present-Time Composition, or PTC©, is a unique method for creating music, dance, theater or any other performing art using individual and group improvisation informed by compositional thinking. It was first invented in 2005 by Alan Bern; since then he has been developing it further in workshops at conservatories, music institutes, festivals and with performance groups in Europe and North America.
PTC© is both a specific concept of performance and a step-by-step method to develop the abilities to perform this way. The method starts with exercises that train our awareness of the flow of impulses that is constantly active in each of us. This is similar in some ways to meditation, but in PTC© the goal is to pay attention to the content of involuntary impulses so that we can act on them, not to try to “quiet the mind.” For many people, these first steps in PTC© are already a revelation that changes the way they experience themselves and the world around them.
Once we have the ability to perceive and act on impulses, we begin to “load” them with higher levels of information that come from compositional, choreographic or theatrical thinking. Through this process, impulses take on artistic complexity and become a non-stop resource for artistic creation.
In this PTC© for music workshop we will work with several different kinds of exercises, including: i) impulses (briefly described above), ii) constellations (the interpersonal dimensions of impulses and actions, iii) continuous duos (adding compositional thinking to improvisation), and iv) coached performance (including impulses that come from an outside coach to the improvisation).
Instrumentalists and vocalists are welcome in this workshop. It is independent of music style (such as jazz or classical) and no prior knowledge of music improvisation is necessary. It is not for beginning instrumentalists or vocalists: to participate, you should have good technical control of your instrument. Most important is an open mind and ear, and curiosity about how our internal awareness and external musical sound can be deeply connected.
