This article describes a research study in which a collegiate choral ensemble learned vocal improvisation techniques as part of their regular rehearsals. While learning to improvise, singers had the opportunity to provide real-time feedback of their perceptions and experiences learning a new skill in a traditional choral setting. In this article, we share what we learned, including the rewards and challenges of teaching improvisation, our reflections as instructors, and perspectives from some of the singers. We also describe the activities we tried and offer strategies for other choir teachers who want to bring improvisation into their own classrooms.
Kambs et al. (2026) studied this question.