SUMMARY
Examine the process of teaching improvisation in this series of articles by Jeremy Howard. Part 8 puts the pieces of the improvisation puzzle together.
by Jeremy Howard
We have played Question and Answer Games – Part 6: Question and Answer Improvisation, then, in Part 7: Rhythm and Melody Improvisation Games we applied these skills and learned to improvise in rhythm games and melodic games. Finally, it is time to fit all of the pieces together and improvise using rhythm and melody simultaneously.
Get in the groove using a pre-determined rhythmic ostinato and a tone set! Students create their improvisations using these parameters. Using a pre-set rhythmic ostinato allows students to put the rhythm on auto-pilot while focusing their mental energy on creating a melody.
Click the audio file and sing an improvised melody using the tone set below to the rhythm accompaniment. Next, try improvising without the accompanying audio.
The next level removes the ostinato and requires students to read the rhythm while layering an improvised melody over the rhythm.
As teachers, we know that our students learn differently. Some students are more confident with rhythm than pitches and vice versa. This game is the partners well with “Roll With the Rhythm.”
Display a sequence of pitches for students. The order may not change, but the rhythm is freely improvised. Students may repeat a note as much as they desire before moving to the next pitch, but they must keep the pitches in the order written.
Each phrase can begin or end on any pitch. The melodies students sing in this gamer are reminiscent of a chant or recitative. To improve the feeling of phrases, students can take turns asking and answering questions. Students explore melodic and rhythmic imitation, phrasing, and implied chordal structure in this exercise.
Finally, we have made it to harmonic improvisation. These games and exercises are more suited for upper elementary or middle school students. Students improvise within the framework (chord progression). Choosing which pitch(es), they wish to sing within each chord lasting four beats.
It can be beneficial to have a backing track that plays the progression, keeping students on track with the pitch and the timing. I’ve embedded an audio file so you can try it while still hearing the other parts. You’ll hear each pitch (choose the one you’d like to start on) doubled at the octave followed by four clicks before the progression begins.
Now we raise the challenge by hiding a column of choices. Students must recall the pitches associated with the hidden chord. Continue covering columns until students are singing without the visual cues.
You may also want to put a guideline in place requiring students to change their pattern after a certain number of repetitions. Once students have learned other chords, try improvising with different progressions.
Create interesting variations by incorporating previous activities with this one. For example, “Roll With the Rhythm” (the use of a rhythmic ostinato) creates a homophonic texture, and “Move with the Melody” (free choice of rhythm) creates a polyphonic texture. Consider merging both and letting your choir improvise within the chord progression to a rhythmic ostinato. Then, have a soloist improvise rhythmically.
Whoo, that was a lot! Hopefully, this series has taken some of the mystery out of building students’ improvisational skills. Simultaneously, giving you some new ideas to practice improvising using other concepts besides rhythm and melody.
Remember that improvisation begins with modeling, echoing, giving choices, and developing vocal freedom. Allow students to play with the repertoire to create and express their own variations and original content. Let’s return improvisation to its rightful place as a fundamental skill in students’ musical development.
Part 1: Learning the Language of Music
Part 2: The Process of Improvisation
Part 3: Warming Up with Pre-Literacy Improvisation
Part 4: Pre-Literacy Improvisation in Songs and Stories
Part 5: Pre-Rhythm and Pre-Melodic Improvisation
Part 6: Question and Answer Improvisation
Part 7: Rhythm and Melody Improvisation Games
Part 8: Putting the Puzzle Together