P2 - C1
Improvise rhythmic and melodic phrases freely or within given structures, individually or as part of a group
Ask learners to improvise musical sounds and phrases freely in response to a picture or story.
Show learners how to improvise a tune with a limited choice of notes over a simple chord sequence or bass:
- choosing a small group of notes that learners know well, e.g. F/G/A (concert pitch)
- choosing a chord sequence, e.g. F/Dm/C, and helping them decide which notes fit best with each chord
- asking learners to play appropriate notes as each new chord is sounded, trying a different option when that chord comes around again
- continuing by adding passing notes that lead through the bar from one chord change to the next
- asking learners to explore the effect of moving in step and by larger intervals
There are many backing tracks freely available online, as well as apps that will generate a backing track if you enter a sequence of chords, such as iReal Pro.
As the ear develops, learners will realise that a ‘wrong’ note is never more than one scale degree away from the ‘right’ one; moving quickly to a higher note therefore turns a ‘mistake’ into an accented passing note!
Explore the progression of this Learning Objective
Continue exploring the current Programme of Study
A Common Approach