Emeritus Professor
Personal statement
Nick Sorensen is Emeritus Professor of Improvisation at 黑料正能量: his previous roles have included Head of Writing, Publishing and Humanities, Head of Music and Performing Arts and Assistant Dean of the Institute for Education.
He's a musician, writer and educator; his transdisciplinary research explores the significance of improvisation in the fields of music performance, teacher expertise, leadership and flourishing.
A creative and eclectic musician who is equally at home playing jazz, free improvisation, contemporary compositions, blues and folk music, Nick plays tenor, alto and soprano saxophones and has performed alongside leading contemporary jazz musicians including Pee Wee Ellis, Dave Newton, Tony Roberts, Iain Ballamy and Yuri Goloubev. His partnership with virtuoso pianist John Law dates back to 2006 and they have developed a unique and enthralling rapport.
He was a founder member of the transcultural music project Kusanganisa (the Shona word for mixture) alongside the late Chartwell Dutiro (mbira), Leandro Maia (guitar) and Chris Blanden (bass). Kusanganisa performed at the鈥疢istura Mundo Sul Generis鈥疘nternational Music Festival in the Brazilian cities of Pelotas and Porto Alegre in November 2017.
His monograph ‘’, published by Routledge in 2023, offers a radical reconceptualization of improvisation as a fundamental element of teacher expertise. He has contributed chapters to Music Education as Craft (2021), The Applied Improvisation Mindset (2021), Developing Expertise for Teaching in Higher Education (2022) and The Routledge Companion to Creativities in Music Education (2023).
Nick is an experienced workshop facilitator, providing bespoke support for musicians, writers, teachers and leaders to develop their creativity. He also curates a monthly lunchtime concert series in the Church of St Philip and St James in Norton st Philip.
After graduating with a BA (Hons) in Drama and English from Exeter University Nick began his professional life acting in community theatre before qualifying as a music and drama teacher. His extensive experience in secondary schools included 6 years as a headteacher and led to the establishment of a successful educational consultancy The Improvising School prior to joining 黑料正能量 in 2008.
Nick continues his involvement with the university as co-leader of the Improvisation Research Network, an informal group supporting academics across the university with their research into improvisation.
Academic qualifications
- BA (Hons) English and Drama University of Exeter
- PGCE Goldsmiths College, London
- MA in Education University of Sussex
- PhD 黑料正能量.
Professional memberships
- Senior Fellow HEA
- AHRC Peer Review College (2016-2023)
Other external roles
- Member of the Governance Group for Emblaze Oversight, the Paper Nations creative writing incubator.
Research outputs
book
Sorensen, N (2023) The improvising teacher: reconceptualising pedagogy, expertise and professionalism. Routledge, Abingdon. ISBN 9781032121260
book
Sorensen, N, ed. (2019) Diversity in teacher education: perspectives on a school-led system. UCL IOE Press, London. ISBN 9781782772521
book_section
Burnard, P and Sorensen, N (2022) 'Making silence matter: rethinking performance creativity as a catalysing space for sounding oneself in music education.' In: Randles, C and Burnard, P, eds. The Routledge companion to creativities in music education. Routledge, Abingdon, pp. 429-440. ISBN 9781032163628
book_section
Sorensen, N (2022) 'Developing the improvising teacher: implications for professionalism and the development of expertise.' In: King, H, ed. Developing expertise for teaching in higher education: practical ideas for professional learning & development. Routledge, Abingdon, pp. 218-230. ISBN 9781032057002
book_section
Sorensen, N (2021) '"Of course we improvise!" What the best teachers do (and why they do it).' In: Robbins Dudeck, T and McClure, C, eds. The applied improvisation mindset: tools for transforming organizations and communities. Methuen Drama, London, pp. 179-203. ISBN 9781350143609
book_section
Sorensen, N (2021) 'The craft of teaching musical improvisation improvisationally: towards a theoretical framework.' In: Holdhus, K, Murphy, R and Espeland, M.I, eds. Music education as craft: reframing theories and practices. Springer, Cham, pp. 165-180. ISBN 9783030677039
book_section
Gomez Bermeo, L and Sorensen, N (2019) 'Encouraging equitable access to higher education in Bogot谩, Colombia: a case study of an innovative dual-enrollment project.' In: Huber, T and O鈥橫eara, J.G, eds. Teacher education at the edge: expanding access and exploring frontiers. Information Age Publishing, Charlotte, NC, pp. 141-178. ISBN 9781641138284
book_section
Black, P and Sorensen, N (2019) 'Reclaiming teacher education: a conversational journey of realization, innovation and determination through imposed national policies.' In: Sorensen, N, ed. Diversity in Teacher Education: perspectives on a school-led system. UCL IOE Press, London. ISBN 9781782772521
book_section
Sorensen, N (2019) 'Partnerships: the changing relationships between schools and HEIs.' In: Sorensen, N, ed. Diversity in Teacher Education: perspectives on a school-led system. UCL IOE Press, London. ISBN 9781782772521
book_section
Sorensen, N (2019) 'Introduction: Diversity in Teacher Education: a study of a school-led system.' In: Sorensen, N, ed. Diversity in Teacher Education: perspectives on a school-led system. UCL IOE Press, London. ISBN 9781782772521
book_section
Sorensen, N (2017) 'The nature of work based learning on placement.' In: Hordern, J and Simon, C, eds. Placements and work-based learning in education studies: an introduction for students. Routledge, Abingdon, pp. 22-31. ISBN 9781138839069
book_section
Sorensen, N (2016) 'The music: extracts from The Eleonora Diary.' In: Oddey, A and White, C, eds. A gift for Eleonora. Eleonora Press, pp. 35-39. ISBN 97809935552007
book_section
Sorensen, N and la Velle, L (2014) 'Catching the sparks: an evaluation of the early development of a novel master鈥檚 degree in teaching and learning.' In: la Velle, L, ed. Masterliness in the teaching profession. Routledge, Abingdon, pp. 73-91. ISBN 9781138813632
book_section
Sorensen, N and Fisher, L (2009) 'Listening to vegetables.' In: Friedland, S.R, ed. Vegetables: proceedings of the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery 2008. Prospect, Totnes. ISBN 9781903018668
book_section
Sorensen, N and Miller, D (1990) 'Managing change: managing time for talk. A whole school approach to oracy.' In: Talk and the secondary school: reports from the West Sussex Oracy Project. West Sussex language papers, 2 . West Sussex County Council, Chichester, pp. 6-11.
article
Burnard, P, Sorensen, N, Gill, S and Rabinowitch, T-C (2021) 'Identifying new parameters informing the relationship between silence and sound in diverse musical performance practices and perception.' International Journal of Music Science, Technology and Art, 3 (1). pp. 7-17. ISSN 2612-2146
article
Whiting, C, Whitty, G, Menter, I, Black, P, Hordern, J, Parfitt, A, Reynolds, K and Sorensen, N (2018) 'Diversity and complexity: becoming a teacher in England in 2015-16.' Review of Education, 6 (1). pp. 69-96. ISSN 2049-6613
article
Sorensen, N (2017) 'Improvisation and teacher expertise: implications for the professional development of outstanding teachers.' Professional Development in Education, 43 (1). pp. 6-22. ISSN 1941-5265
article
Sorensen, N (2016) 'The challenges of student-centred learning: from policy to practice.' The 10th International Silk Road Conference on EU Association Agreement: Perspectives and Challenges - Proceedings, 10. xi-xvi. ISSN 1512-2549
article
Sorensen, N and la Velle, L (2013) 'Catching the sparks: an evaluation of the early development of a novel master鈥檚 degree in teaching and learning.' Journal of Education for Teaching, 39 (1). pp. 74-92. ISSN 0260-7476
article
Sorensen, N (2013) 'The metaphor of 'the jazz band': ethical issues for leadership.' Critical Studies in Improvisation, 9 (1). ISSN 1712-0624
article
Sorensen, N and La Velle, L (2013) 'Catching the sparks: an evaluation of the early development of a novel Master鈥檚 degree in teaching and learning.' Journal of Education for Teaching, 39 (1). pp. 74-92. ISSN 0260-7476
article
Coombs, S and Sorensen, N (2010) 'Authorised to teach?' CPD Update, 126. pp. 8-9.
article
Coombs, S and Sorensen, N (2010) 'Whither Postgraduate Professional Development? Towards a theoretical framework to guide long-term teacher development in England.' Professional Development in Education, 36 (4). pp. 683-689. ISSN 1941-5257
conference_item
la Velle, L and Sorensen, N (2018) The DiTE project. In: ICET 62nd World Assembly, 9 - 11 July 2018, Laredo, TX, USA.
conference_item
Sorensen, N (2018) Collaboration & partnership within a school-led system of teacher education. In: Marjon Academy Lecture Series, 12 March 2018, Plymouth Marjon University, UK.
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Sorensen, N (2016) Transitioning 'Eleanora': an auto-ethnographic account of site-specific transdisciplinary collaboration. In: Performance Studies Network: Fourth International Conference, 14 -17 July 2016, 黑料正能量, Bath, UK.
conference_item
Sorensen, N, Ellis, P.W and Wesley, F (2016) Pee Wee Ellis and Fred Wesley workshop: funk masterclass. In: Bristol International Jazz & Blues Festival, 19 March 2016, Bristol Folk House, Bristol, UK.
conference_item
Sorensen, N (2015) Improvisation and teacher expertise: reconceptualising teacher professionalism. In: BERA Annual Conference, 15 - 17 September 2015, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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Sorensen, N (2015) Developing the art of improvisation in expert teachers. In: The Arts and Science of Improvisation in Education, 8 - 12 June 2015, Stord/Haugesund University College, Norway.
conference_item
Sorensen, N (2015) Challenges of student centred learning in the framework of the Bologna Process. In: 10th International Silk Road Conference: EU Association Agreement - Perspectives and Challenges, 22-23 May 2015, Silk Road Research Institute, International Black Sea University, Tbilisi, Georgia.
conference_item
Sorensen, N and Ellis, P.W (2015) Pee Wee Ellis masterclass: funk and all that jazz. In: Bristol International Jazz & Blues Festival, 7 March 2015, Bristol Folk House, Bristol, UK.
conference_item
Sorensen, N, Ellis, P.W and Wesley, F (2014) In session with Pee Wee Ellis and Fred Wesley: a funk masterclass. In: Bristol International Jazz & Blues Festival, 9 March 2014, Bristol Folk House, Bristol, UK.
conference_item
Sorensen, N (2012) Understanding expert teaching: in search of 鈥榯he improvising pedagogue鈥�. In: BERA Annual Conference 2012, 4 - 6 Sep, University of Manchester.
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Coombs, S, Barrington, R, Sorensen, N, Caston, A, Maine, F and Wisdom, P (2010) Fixed vs negotiated CPD: abridging the best of the TDA鈥檚 PPD with the new MTL. In: International Professional Development Association, 26-27 November 2010, Aston University, Birmingham.
conference_item
Sorensen, N (2010) Creating 鈥渁uthorised鈥� teachers: the leadership of CPD in a self-improving school system. In: International Professional Development Association International Conference, 26-27 November 2010, Aston University, Birmingham.
conference_item
Sorensen, N (2010) Researching teachers lives: finding out how brilliant teachers improvise and why this is a good thing. In: 黑料正能量 Second Annual Summer Symposium, 4 June 2010, Corsham Court Centre, 黑料正能量.
conference_item
Sorensen, N (2009) Creating a culture of professional learning: the role of metaphor, teacher narrative and improvisation in school-based CPD. In: BERA Annual Conference, 2-5 September 2009, University of Manchester.
conference_item
Coombs, S and Sorensen, N (2009) 'Effective', 'Excellent', 'Outstanding: Unravelling the lexicon of 'good practice'. In: International Professional Development Association. International Conference 2009, 26-28 November, Paragon Hotel, Birmingham, UK.
conference_item
Sorensen, N (2008) Principles of professional learning: how PPD can have an impact upon students learning experience. In: International Professional Development Association 40th Annual Conference, 5-6 December 2008, Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool.
conference_item
Sorensen, N (2007) The value of a four phase framework for teacher development to identify individual staff training needs. In: International Professional Development Association Conference, 30 November - 1 December 2007, Ramada Hotel, Belfast.
thesis
Sorensen, N (2014) Improvisation and teacher expertise: a comparative case study. PhD thesis, 黑料正能量.
commissioned_report
Whiting, C, Black, P, Hordern, J, Parfitt, A, Reynolds, K, Sorensen, N and Whitty, G (2016) Towards a new topography of ITT: a profile of Initial Teacher Training in England 2015-16. An Occasional Paper from the IFE No.1. 黑料正能量, Institute for Education, Bath. ISBN 9780992633899
performance
Sorensen, N and Oddey, A (2015) A gift for Eleonora. Pazzi Chapel, Basilica di Santa Croce, Florence, 14-15 May 2015.
audio
Sorensen, N, Blanden, C, Dutiro, C and Maia, L (2018) Kusanganisa Live.
audio
Sorensen, N and Law, J (2010) The journey home.
other
Sorensen, N (2024) Raymond Williams and education: history, culture, democracy [book review]. Journal of Education for Teaching, 50 (3). pp. 538-539. ISSN 0260-7476
other
Sorensen, N (2021) The lived experience of improvisation: in music, learning and life, Simon Rose [book review]. Critical Studies in Improvisation = 脡tudes critiques en improvisation, 14 (2-3). ISSN 1712-0624
other
Sorensen, N (2021) Exploring teacher recruitment and retention: contextual challenges from international perspectives [book review]. Journal of Education for Teaching, 47 (2). pp. 300-301. ISSN 1360-0540