Virtual London Improvisation Workshop

Basic instructions

The Virtual Workshop takes place on Mondays from 8:45 PM to 10 PM UK time (or a bit later), and will continue until further notice. It's hosted by the London Improvisation Workshop.

It's best to use Google Chrome browser Other browsers may work, but you may encounter technical problems.

Please connect to this link (same as below) by 8:45 so you can soundcheck.

Make sure you have read everything on this page, including the checklist.

How to participate

• Go to The Virtual Workshop
• Once you've logged in to the session, find the menu, which is usually at the bottom of the screen.
• Select the fourth icon from the left to open the chat window. We use chat to exchange friendly messages during the Workshop.
• You can choose your microphone or sound input by selecting the small arrow on the microphone icon on the far left of the menu.
• Make sure your camera is working, as we rely on visual cues to organise the Workshop.

Getting the best results

Familiarise yourself with jitsi, by clicking here well before the workshop, or on another day.

Wear headphones. If you cannot hear yourself in them, remove them from one ear. This is the simplest way to hear your own instrument.

Get as close to your microphone as possible. An external microphone (even a cheap one) will usually be much better than the computer's built in mic. If you have a separate camera that you've plugged into your computer, its microphone will probably work quite well. As an alternative, many digital recorders can be used as a usb mic, and the quality will be extremely high.

If your room has a strong echo (eg, no carpet), this may make it difficult for others to respond to your playing, especially if you are far from the microphone.

If you are using an electronic instrument that can be directly plugged into your computer, select this using step four above, and switch back to microphone for talking.

Playing instructions

• Switch to the mosaic view of participants, so you can easily see those you are playing with. This is done by clicking the "four squares" icon on the menu at the bottom of the screen.
• While playing, make sure you can see the chat, so that if you're too quiet or too loud, we can let you know.
• Check you know how to mute your microphone and camera by clicking on the microphone and camera icons in the menu.
• We usually play together and then in various combinations. When you decide to stop playing, please mute your microphone and camera. Then reactivate them when you're ready to start playing again.

CHECK LIST

• Wear headphones, remove them from one ear when you are playing
• Ideally, use Google Chrome web browser, even if another browser appears to work

Thanks to Mirei Ya, Emmanuelle Waeckerle and Tony Hardie-Bick for establishing the Virtual Workshop!