Definitions: (1) composed, performed, or uttered offhand; impromptu; without previous study or preparation; unpremeditated; (2) adept at speaking with clarity without forethought; (3) made expressly for the occasion; improvised
Derivation: Latin, “at the moment,” “outside of time”
Quotes:
• I love improvisation. You can’t blame it on the writers. You can’t blame it on direction. You can’t blame it on the camera guy… It’s you. You’re on. You’ve got to do it, and you either sink or swim with what you’ve got. — Jonathan Winters (1925-2013) American comedian
• Jazz is like a language. You learn the alphabet, which are the scales. You learn sentences, which are the chords. And then you talk extemporaneously with the horn. It’s a wonderful thing to speak extemporaneously, which is something I’ve never gotten the hang of. But musically I love to talk just off the top of my head. And that’s what jazz music is all about. — Stan Getz [born Stanley Gayetski] (1927–1991) American saxophonist
Advice: When speaking extemporaneously, speak from your heart and project the intention of your values.