The Art of Becoming by MacDonald & Wilson presents a wide ranging discussion and analysis of the myriad ways in which improvisation is currently viewed and approached by practitioners. Academic and street wise by turns, this book makes a very brave attempt to document the all and everything of an activity that by its nature eludes systematic analysis.
Raymond MacDonald is Professor of Music Psychology and Improvisation at Edinburgh University. His ongoing research focuses on issues relating to improvisation, musical communication, music health and wellbeing, music education and musical identities. He studies the processes and outcomes of music participation and music listening and has a particular interest in collaborative creativity. His work is informed by a view of improvisation as a social,
collaborative and uniquely creative process that provides opportunities to develop new ways of working musically.
Graeme Wilson is a Visiting Fellow at the University of Edinburgh. He has research interests in the theory and practice of group improvisation, and in musical participation to improve wellbeing. He has published and lectured widely as a psychologist on improvisation as well as on health, identities and discourse. He leads the Concurrent network for the study of interdisciplinary improvisation, initiated through a Network Grant from the Royal Society of Edinburgh. A founding
member of Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and Glasgow Improvisers Orchestra, he has toured internationally and his saxophone playing features on over 30 CDs including his own quartet releases.