Center for Improvisational Music (CIM) is a non-profit corporation and its mission is to promote the teaching and advancement of Improvised and Creative Music. The Center for Improvisational Music provides a unique point of connection to the community of students, teachers, artists, and supporters of creative music from around the globe.
As the music industry has become corporatized and music education institutionalized, the dissemination of music to the mainstream has become profit driven, formulaic, and quantifiable, with a de-emphasis on creativity and originality. The Center for Improvisational Music continues to support and cultivate great original music found deep below the mainstream radar. In essence, we believe in providing awareness of this music and its creators, as well as helping individuals grow as creative beings through a better understanding of improvisation and creative music.
The School for Improvisational Music (SIM) is the instructional facet of CIM for aspiring students of creative music. Since 2001, SIM has held over 20 intensive workshop sessions for 800 students from all over the globe. The sessions include 2 masterclasses per day, ensemble coaching, a performance and 2 private lessons per week. The SIM faculty consists of a cross-section of the most creative improvisers from the jazz and contemporary music fields.
Content: The SIM experience encompasses ample playing opportunities and discussion of improvisational concepts. SIM is less about teaching through the lens of style and more about the overarching concepts of improvisation, touching on multiple disciplines. That said, students are offered two private lessons per week with our faculty, allowing personal instruction on any musical topic.
Ralph Alessi – Director