Impro
by Keith Johnstone · Keith Johnstone
Johnstone's 1979 account of teaching improvisation at the Royal Court, covering status transactions, spontaneity, masks and narrative skills. Explains why people block offers and gives exercises for accepting them, the theoretical base most improv training still rests on.
This link may earn us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure
More resources on Improvisation
Jazz Improvisation
Five-module Coursera course from Berklee College of Music, taught by vibraphonist Gary Burton, treating improvisation as a language: chord scales for major, minor and dominant harmony, real-time scale choice, guide tones, and theme and variation. Players learn to build coherent solos over chord changes.
r/improv Resources Wiki
Community-maintained wiki on the r/improv subreddit collecting book recommendations, exercise lists, class advice and video links. Useful for finding what experienced improvisers actually recommend before committing money to a training program.
UCB Online Improv 101
Learn the fundamentals of improv with UCB Online Improv 101! Develop quick thinking, collaboration, and comedic timing in this fun course.
Improvisation for the Theater
Spolin's foundational handbook of theater games, built around her workshop method of learning through play. Includes over two hundred exercises with side-coaching notes, so a teacher or group can run structured improvisation sessions from the page.
acting-studio.com
Acting-studio.com bundles tutorials and courses focused on core acting techniques—Method, Meisner, and Stanislavski. It features technique explanations, practical exercises, scene work guides, and audition tips to help actors apply these approaches.
ucbcomedy.com
UCB Comedy is the online home of the Upright Citizens Brigade, offering improv and sketch videos and clips. It also provides information on their improv classes, workshops, and live performances.