NOW Society Improv Workshops
Since 1978, the New Orchestra Workshop Society (NOW) has presented music improvisation workshops, offering space for exploration and participation. NOW currently presents workshop series at 8EAST and online. We also present workshops to children and youth in schools and private workshops, such as at the Roundhouse Community Center, the St. James Music Academy in Vancouver's DTES, and Tahayghen Elementary School, Skaadgaa Naay Elementary, Skidegate and Gidgalang Kuuyas Naay Secondary in Haida Gwaii. Our Onomatopoiea workshops feature the 48-page graphic comic book score of Gary Wildeman, and ecourage particiapante to make their own graphic scores.
Our workshops are for improvisers of all levels of ability and ranges of experience, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, age, race or religion. We protect privacy in our workshops and adopt the We Have Voice Collective Code of Conduct.
NOW workshops accommodate participants and observers. Content may be prepared and/or impromptu exercises, games and etudes that represent the philosophies and practices of the facilitator and respond to the challenges and strengths of the participants. Workshops focus upon participation, they are not in the style of performative clinics or academic lectures. Focus is upon trust, openness and responsiveness, upon egalitarian participation and instantaneous creation that is experienced rather than commodified or owned. Ample opportunities are provided to participants to play their instruments and speak about their experiences.
We protect privacy in our workshops and adopt the We Have Voice Collective Code of Conduct. Read more about NOW workshop policies here.
Spring 2025 Improvisation Workshops
Saturdays March 15 - May 10 2pm-3:30pm at 8EAST
March 15 - Matthew Ariaratnam
March 22 - Jen Yakamovich
March 29 - Mustafa Rafiq
April 5 - Deanna Gestrin and Russell Wallace
April 12 - Feven Kidane
April 19 - Clyde Reed
April 26 - Jarrett Martineau
May 3 - Fan-Qi Wu, Hsiao-Feng Lin, Shih-Yang Lee
May 10 - Viviane Houle
Fall 2024 Improvisation Workshops
Saturdays September 28 - October 26 at 2-3:30 pm (12pm - 1:30pm on Saturday October 12, 3:30pm - 5pm on Saturday October 19 and October 26)
September 28 - Markus Lake and Ari Swan
October 5 - Benjamin Vergara
October 12 - James Falzone
October 19 - Anne La Berge
October 26 - Olivia Shortt
Spring Workshops 2024
At 8EAST 2pm - 3:30 pm Saturday January 20
Sundays March 10 and March 24
Saturdays March 16 - April 20
January 20 - Chris Corsano
March 10 - Jonah Parzen-Johnson
March 16 - Brittany Anjou
March 23 - Éric Normand and Philippe Lauzier
March 24 - Bonnie Whiting
March 30 - Andromeda Monk
April 6 - Johanna Hauser
April 13 - Lisa Cay Miller
April 20 - Théo Girard
April 27 - Hand Drum and Singing Workshop with Deanna Gestrin and Russell Wallace
May 4 - Narcan Training with Gary Davidson
Fall Workshops 2023
At 8EAST 2 - 3:30 pm on Sunday Oct 1 and Saturdays October 28 - November 18 October 1 - Arrington de Dionyso
October 28 - Erika Angell
November 4 - Mike WT Allen
November 11 - Marilou Craft and Raphäel Foisy Coulture
November 18 - Andrea Wong
November 25 - Leanna Keith
Spring Workshops 2023
At 8EAST and Roberts Creek Community Hall February 23 - March 5
February 23 - Stefan Smulovitz and Lisa Cay Miller
February 25 - Karen Ng
February 26 - Luke Stewart
March 3 - Tcheser Holmes
March 4 - Aqulies Navarro
March 5 - Jasper Stadhouders
Fall Workshops 2022
Nov. 19 - Dec 17 in person at 8EAST and Online
November 19 - Peggy Lee
November 26 - Aqulies Navarro
December 3 - Matthew Ariaratnam
December 10 - Joane Hétu
December 17 - Robyn Holcomb
Spring workshops 2022
February 19 - Lisa Cay Miller
February 26 - Ute Wasserman
March 5 - Mankwe Ndosi
March 12 - River (Cassandra) Blondin-Burt
March 19 - Douglas R. Ewart
March 26 -Clyde Reed
April 2 - Adrian Avendaño
April 9 - online workshop performance
Fall workshops 2021
September 15 - JP Carter
September 22 - Fred Jackson Jr.
September 29 - Jeff Younger
October 6 - Lisa Cay Miller
October 13 - Matthew Ariaratnam
October 20 - Jamie Branch
October 27 - Ron Samworth
November 3 - JoVia Armstrong
November 10 - Douglas R. Ewart
November 17 - Meredith Bates
November 24 - Ida Toninato
in-house improv workshops 2020/21
November 28 - James Meger
December 5 - Douglas Ewart
December 12 - Ava Mendoza
December 19 - Vicky Chow
January 2 - Cole Schmidt
January 9 - Viviane Houle
January 16 - Luke Stewart
January 23 - Dalannah Gail Bowen
January 30 - Lisa Harris
February 6 - Marina Hasselberg
February 13 - Janine Island
February 20 - Jesse Zubot
February 27 - Fay Victor
March 6 - Lisa Cay Miller
2020 Spring online improv workshops
April 29 - Lisa Cay Miller
May 6 - Douglas Ewart
May 13 - Carol Sawyer
May 20 - Aram Bajakian
May 27 - Lan Tung
June 3 - Que Xia He
June 10 - Parmela Attariwalla
June 17 - Elisa Thorn