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.

Ask learners to improvise using modal/blues scales or call-and-response ideas. Focus on musical coherence and an increasing awareness of expressive possibilities, including dynamics.

Teachers might like to use this as an opportunity to reinforce attention to phrasing and melodic shaping.

Demonstrate the idea of a ‘sandwich rondo’ and how episodes can be created in between the main tune. Ask learners to improvise the main tune whilst the teacher plays the episode. Swap roles: teacher plays rondo and learner improvises episodes. In group lessons, learners can share the roles.