Improvise rhythmic and melodic phrases freely or within given structures, individually or as part of a group

Show learners how to improvise over a simple diatonic chord sequence:

• choose a small group of notes they know well and that are playable in a single position, e.g. doh to soh in C or G, both in first position
• choose a chord sequence and help learners decide which notes fit which chords, e.g. in C, the note C fits chords I, IV and VI, while D fits chords II, III7 and V
• ask learners to play one of the appropriate notes as each new chord is sounded, trying a different option when that chord comes round again
• continue by asking learners to add passing notes that lead through the bar from one chord change to the next
• ask learners to explore the effect of moving in step and by larger intervals

Show learners how to play a 12-bar blues:

• choose one of the scale degrees that will fit all three chords, e.g. the fifth or flattened third (with chord V augmented), in a key to suit both learner and teacher
• provide a chord accompaniment and ask learners to play their note on the first beat of bars 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 11, ensuring that they count through the empty bars and listen carefully to the chord changes
• with learners, develop a concise, rhythmic pattern or riff using the same note, incorporating appropriate syncopation as desired. This can be clapped at first and then played every two bars as before
• next, work with two notes, e.g. first and flattened third, and then three, e.g. fifth, flattened seventh, first, and so on, each time developing/extending the riff to accommodate the extra notes but always repeating it whole throughout the cycle every second bar
• when learners are comfortable playing extended riffs and confident of the 12-bar form, they can begin to vary them as the cycle progresses, adding extra notes and changing the rhythms as they go so that the riffs eventually become independent phrases