Keyboard improvisation is often considered the domain of the musical genius, a perception created no doubt by masters from Bach and Mozart to Liszt. The capacity to express one's musical thoughts spontaneously and coherently, however, presumes neither a virtuosic command of the instrument nor a sublime command of compositional theory. Assuming only an elementary background in harmony, each of Overduin's 32 lessons focuses on a specific harmonic, melodic, or structural topic designed to provoke experimentation and to develop improvisatory skills, starting with simple melodies and improvising on one or two chords. Subsequent exercises expand the harmonic vocabulary and incorporate a range of techniques including variation, ostinato, sequence, ornamentation, and figuration. Written in an engaging style and featuring numerous accessible musical exercises, Making Music is the ideal introduction to this essential skill.

Jan Overduin's profile page

Jan Overduin teaches in the Faculty of Music at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, and serves as Director of Music at Saint Matthew's Lutheran Church in Kitchener, Ontario. He studied organ with Gordon Jeffrey, Marie-Claire Alain, Peter Hurford, and Jean Langlais, is a Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists, and frequently performs in Europe and the United States.