Improvise with freedom in a wide range of musical structures genres, styles and traditions, drawing on internalised sounds
For drum kit, encourage learners to develop a given rhythmic phrase into an extended composition, applying techniques already acquired.
Rhythms may be incorporated in grooves, and then developed and extended within a musical style.
For pitched percussion, ask learners to improvise melodies above pre-determined harmonic patterns, using conventions and techniques within a chosen style, e.g. use sequences and ornaments when creating a quasi-baroque-style piece.
The best improvisations have a coherent, well-phrased, vocal quality. Singing the ideas before trying to play them provides learners with an internal template. This allows their improvisations to be head-led not stick-led and will help prevent them from getting musically ‘stuck’.
Ask learners to improvise short melodies using a variety of scales, e.g. major, minor, pentatonic, whole-tone, blues, chromatic, modes.
A melody using the Dorian mode in D could be improvised above an accompanying chord sequence, e.g. Dm7/Am7/Gm7/Am7.
Ask learners to improvise with others by embellishing a melody, e.g. the pentatonic Raga Bhupali.
Raga Bhupali
Research less-familiar musics from around the world and make links with curriculum music where appropriate.
Help learners to develop confidence by improvising frequently, doing a little at a time.
Make recordings of improvisations and discuss the outcomes with learners.
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