Expressive Arts

    The jam session that took place at the back end of class was a very unique and cool thing to be apart of. As I reflect on it, I notice how it fulfilled many of the goals that were outlined in the improvisation portion of the reading.

    "Typical goals of improvisation experiences include providing nonverbal communication; promoting    self-expression; exploring relationships; enhancing intimacy; acquiring group skills; encouraging creativity, spontaneity, and playfulness" (Malchoidi, 2006, p.48)

    The nonverbal communication one is quite obvious as the medium used for communication was the music. We didn't speak or make a plan on what to do, we just tuned in and picked up on the energy that was being put out. The difficult thing was breaking through that intial barrier in order to contribute. It requires an element of vulnerability that many aren't used to and comfortable with. But once you're in, you realize that its not so bad and everyone is more or less feeling the same way. There's some comfort in that. That leads to self-expression as whatever you chose to contribute is a form of expressing yourself. Whichever direction you chose to take says a little something about you and if nothing else, so does making the choice to contribute in the first place. 

    For exploring relationships and enhancing intimacy, I think this was best demonstrated in the way that memebers of the class chose what to put out there and how to bounce off of it. You'd notice a couple people take note of what the other was contributing and they would work together to keep the rhythmn going. This would lead to aquiring group skills as it takes a certian level of skill to pick up on that nonverbally and to run with it.

    Throughout the whole jam session, there was a continuous encouragement of creativity, spontaneity, and playfulness. Although few words were said, we were still able to laugh and have humor during the session. We were encouraging one another to adapt and change with the rhythmn and coax out a certain level of playfulness through it. All in all, it was a very nice experience and clued me into the magic that takes place within jam sessions.