Advanced Music Improv with Rick & Laura Hall
Date and time
Location
ImprovBoston
40 Prospect St Cambridge, MA 02139Refund Policy
Description
Advanced Music Improv Workshop with Rick and Laura Hall
Have you always wondered, “How do they improvise the songs on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” If so then join with “Whose Line's” musical director Laura Hall, and veteran Second City improvisor Rick Hall for a Intro to Music Improv Workshop.
Laura & Rick have taught Music Improv all over the U.S. and Canada. They create a supportive, fun environment, starting with warmups, and moving into song improv as a natural extension of your existing improv skills. We'll focus on creating a strong “who” and “where” for your songs, we'll look at musical form and structure, advanced harmonies and more. All in a positive setting where you can explore, stretch out of your comfort zone, and have fun.
Here's some of the material we'll cover
1. Ensemble singing: Coming to a chorus, counter melodies, call & response, duets, trios and big cast numbers, advanced harmony
2. Integrating music into long forms, short form music games
3. Song structure and some musical theory (and why it’s important)
4. Working with different musical styles and genres
5. Movement: improvising group choreography
6. Digging deep into location and character work to bring your songs to life.
Here's what people who've taken our workshops have to say:
“Thanks for a terrific, informative and fun day. You two really know what you're doing and are extremely good teachers. It's a rare combination and I thoroughly enjoyed being a part of it.” - Karen K, Pebble Beach, CA
“What a great teaching team! Within the first two hours we learned how to advance scenes with song; built confidence and had fun…lots of it.” – Gerry Orton, Monterey, CA
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$65 per person. Maximum: 16 students
Day/Time: Saturday, 2pm-5pm
Class Dates: November 4, 2017
Prerequisites: Graduate of 701 or by permission
Student Showcase: None
Class Location: ImprovBoston (40 Prospect St, Cambridge)
Instructor: Laura & Rick Hall
Bio
Rick & Laura Hall
Rick and Laura met in Chicago, driving in a crowded van with the touring company of “The Second City”. Laura broke all her dating rules by going out with an actor (worse yet, an improviser), but since then they've gotten married, had two kids, and moved to L.A., where they continue to perform, write and teach, both separately and together.
Rick & Laura lead music improv workshops at colleges, festivals and theaters around the country. They especially like helping people discover that song improv is really fun and accessible.
They also play together in the band, “The Sweet Potatoes”, performing their own unique blend of
country, folk and homespun Americana, loaded with acoustic instruments and vocal harmonies.
Laura is best known as the improvisational pianist on the hit TV show, “Whose Line is it Anyway”, which is back after a 10 year hiatus, in its fifth season on the CW Network, with Aisha Tyler as the new host.
Laura was in the “Drew Carey Show” live episodes, and has toured the country with “Drew Carey and the Improv All Stars”. She has played with tons of improv groups in Chicago and L.A., including The Groundlings, iO and iO West (Improv Olympic), The Annoyance Theater, Theatresports, Improv Institute, and Opening Night: The Improvised Musical!
While at “The Second City” Laura wrote music for the Jeff Award winning E.T.C. revue, “Channel This!” She composed original musicals with the “Annoyance Theater” and “Theater-A-Go-Go”, including “Patty, Patty, Bang! Bang!” which won an L.A. Weekly award for Best New Musical.
Laura has written music for indie films, including “Slice of Pie”, written by and starring her husband. She scored two award winning documentaries about the holocaust, “After Auschwitz” and “Swimming in Auschwitz”, and romantic comedies, “Anatomy of a Breakup” and “Look at Me”.
After touring with “The Second City”, he opened two main stage shows, “John Paul Sartre & Ringo” and “Catch 27”. Rick Hall was a founding member of Chicago’s “Improv Institute”. Rick uses his improv skills as a host/presenter at meetings and corporate events, to help him handle whatever gets thrown at him.
Rick has been on improv-based TV shows “Curb Your Enthusiasm” and as a series regular on “The Factory”. He’s been a host of films and television shows, including 28 episodes of “KC Undercover”, and guest spots on “NCIS”, “24”, “The Middle”, “According to Jim”, and “Seinfeld”. He has been seen in numerous commercials for AT&T, Centrum, Sabra Hummus, Volkswagen and many more.
Rick loves writing and telling stories. His one man show, “Pigboy”, focused on stories about growing up on a farm in Central Illinois. It was chosen for the “HBO Comedy Arts Festival” in Aspen, and enjoyed successful runs in L.A., Chicago, and across the midwest. Rick has recorded a cd of several of his stories and turned one of them, “Slice of Pie”, into a short film, which has enjoyed a successful run of the film festival circuit, winning numerous awards.
To find out more about Laura, visit www.laurahall.com To find out more about The Sweet Potatoes, visit www.thesweetpotatoes.com
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ImprovBoston is a national leader in "The Art of Comedy." Our experienced instructors teach classes in improv comedy, sketch comedy writing and stand up comedy. Our small classes ensure that everyone learns while having a great time, and are perfect for the beginner or advanced performer.