Free Beginner Improv Lessons
By David Koff | Founder, Change Through Play | Updated May 2026
Here are six free video lessons for anyone curious about improv — no experience, no performance background, and no pressure to be funny.
Change Through Play's Founder, David Koff, breaks down the core principles every new improviser needs to understand. Each lesson is short and focuses on one idea, so you can watch in sequence or go straight to what's most useful right now.
What You'll Learn in This Free Series
These six lessons cover the foundational ideas that come up in every improv class, every scene, and every workshop. David teaches:
How to use eye contact naturally and effectively on stage
Why planning ahead undermines your scenes — and what to do instead
How to build real trust in yourself as an improviser
What "being specific" means in improv (it's not the same as being accurate)
The crucial difference between labeling a character and building a real relationship
How specificity transforms a flat scene into a memorable one
The Lessons
Lesson 1: How & When to Use Eye Contact in Improv
Most new improvisers are told to hold constant eye contact with their scene partners. David explains why that's not quite right — and how being more selective with your gaze makes your performance feel more natural, organic, and believable.
Lesson 2: Planning vs. Discovering in Improvisation
One of the most common mistakes new improvisers make is entering a scene with a plan. David breaks down why "discovering" — staying open and letting the scene unfold — consistently produces better improv than anything you could plan in advance.
Lesson 3: Trust Yourself Fully
Doubt is the enemy of good improv. In this lesson, David explains what it means to fully trust yourself as an improviser — why hesitation costs you more than mistakes ever will, and how to build the kind of self-confidence that makes scenes work.
Lesson 4: Being Specific Doesn't Mean Being Accurate
New improvisers often confuse specificity with accuracy. David clarifies the difference — and shows why a specific, committed choice is always more interesting than a vague one, even when it's not technically correct.
Lesson 5: Relationships vs. Labels
Calling your scene partner "my sister" is a label. Showing how siblings behave together is a relationship. David unpacks why this distinction matters so much in improv — and how building real relationships on stage makes every scene more compelling.
Lesson 6: Always. Be. Specific!
A short, direct tip on one of the most powerful tools in any improviser's toolkit. David shows what specificity looks like in practice and why it makes an immediate difference — even in your very first scenes.
Ready to Practice What You've Learned?
These videos are a starting point. The real learning happens in the room, with scene partners, in real time.
Change Through Play offers in-person improv classes in Portland, Oregon for all levels — from absolute beginners to performers preparing for the stage. Our classes are small, welcoming, and built around the same principles that David teaches in these videos.
Learn more about classes or, if you’re ready, view our full class calendar, and choose our Foundations or Daytime/Playtime class series.
Already comfortable with the basics? Continue with our free intermediate improv video series.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need any experience to watch these lessons? No. This series is designed for people who have never improvised before. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to play.
Are these lessons connected to your paid classes? They cover the same foundational ideas we teach in our beginner classes — think of them as a preview of what you'd explore in more depth with scene partners in the studio.
How long are the videos? Each lesson is short and focused — most run just a few minutes. They're designed to be immediately useful, not exhaustive.
Can I watch these in any order? You can, though we recommend starting with Lesson 1 and working through in sequence. Each concept builds slightly on the one before it.
Is there an intermediate series? Yes. Once you've worked through these, head to our free intermediate improv lessons →.
David Koff is the founder of Change Through Play Improv & Training Center in Portland, Oregon. He has led improv training for Nike, Intel, PwC, and Nestlé, and has been performing and teaching improvisation professionally since 1993. He trained at The Groundlings in Los Angeles and holds membership in SAG/AFTRA.