Article March 7, 1970 Issue

An Interview: on improvisation

with contributions from Gertrude Price Wollner

Gertrude Price Wollner is a teacher of improvisation, pedagogy, and piano. Her pupils range from little children to mature musicians, performers, and teachers. She is author of a unique book on musical improvisation, is a member of the Music Educators National Conference, as well as other national professional organizations, and conducts workshops and programs in improvisation. Formerly of New York City and Washington, District of Columbia, she now has her home and studio in Belmont, Massachusetts.

When did you first become interested in improvisation?

My father was Hungarian, and Hungarians, they say, are born with a fiddle under their chin. My earliest impressions of music were of my father's improvising. Amateur, and full of feeling! He'd come home from Wall Street, go into his room and play on his violin. My mother would say, "Oh! Your father lost again on the market today." Or, another time, my young brother would say, "Boy! Papa must have done well today. This sounds good."

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