The ability to improvise can be regarded as the core in innovative and creative behaviour regardless of field and domain. Improvisation involves a readiness to deal with the unexpected and to create novelty as well as an ability to initiate similar events. Yet, our immediate understanding of improvisation as mainly a part of a performance might cause us to disregard how improvisation could be a crucial part in the process of enhancing the artistic potential.
As the professional singing voice has many different meanings and uses for the singers (Sandgren, 2010), and one of the central meanings is the voice as means to maintain a high singing ability, therefore it would be valuable to investigate the activity of improvisation as means or consistent approach to create new perspectives and ideas.
The focus of this theoretical paper is on improvisation as a certain mindset that can be developed through training. The line of thought draws on research on creativity and improvisation in cognition and neuroscience (Dietrich, 2004; Kaufman & Sternberg, 2010). Findings on improvisation in domains such as music (Berliner, 1994; MacDonald et al., 2006; Sandgren, 2005), psychotherapy (Stern et al, 1998) and organisations (Weick, 1995; 1998) will be compared.