Words, songs and improvisation. These three aspects are closely linked in many cultures. It is natural for humans to attempt to make our words spark, to want to turn conversation and dialectics into games of improvisation, into graceful songs. There are hundreds of improvised song traditions throughout the world. The conference upon which this book is based was held with the aim of strengthening our relationship with those traditions. We are unique, but we are not alone. And there’s value in learning from each other: to respond to existing challenges and open new pathways in each of the cultures and contexts that are home to improvised verse singing.