Description

Music Discovery: Improvisation for the Large Ensemble and Music Classroom is a practical guide for teachers who want to develop their students’ improvisational skills. It features both an overview of current research and 36 new learning activities in a wide variety of musical styles.

CONTENTS

About the Companion Website
Section I – Improvisation in the Large Ensemble and Classroom
Introduction
How to use this book?
How can students improvise?
What is the purpose of this book?
Why improvisation?
Benefits
Advantages for Students
Advantages for Teachers
Popular Myths Concerning Improvisation Pedagogy
Section II – Understanding Improvisational Teaching and Responsive Planning
Introduction
Understanding Your Students
Improvisational Teaching within Lessons
Improvisational Teaching Across Lessons
The Center of Improvisational Teaching: Assessing Growth
Flexibility in Assessing Growth
Embracing Students’ Musical Journey
Responding to Students’ Experiences
Encouraging Flexibility, Responsivity, and Open-Mindedness
Getting Students Past the Giggles
Organization of Lessons
Lessons for a Variety of Large Ensemble and Class Settings
Ensemble/Class Levels
Structure of Lessons
Section III – Lessons
Melody
Beginning Instrumental/Choral Ensemble – Limited Pitch Set
Intermediate Instrumental/Choral Ensemble – Brahmsian Improvisation
Beginning Jazz Ensemble – Melodic Ornamentation
Intermediate Jazz Ensemble – Theory of Relativity
Beginning Improvisation Ensemble – Light Motif
Intermediate Improvisation Ensemble – Middle Eastern Taqsim
Harmony
Beginning Instrumental/Choral Ensemble – Mood Music
Intermediate Instrumental/Choral Ensemble – Celestial Navigation
Beginning Jazz Ensemble – Blues
Intermediate Jazz Ensemble – Flamenco Mittens with String
Beginning Improvisation Ensemble – Pedal to the Medal
Intermediate Improvisation Ensemble – Sonority
Rhythm
Beginning Instrumental/Choral Ensemble – Nontraditional Sounds
Intermediate Instrumental/Choral Ensemble – Cheap Trick
Beginning Jazz Ensemble – Swingology
Intermediate Jazz Ensemble – Synchronicity
Beginning Improvisation Ensemble – Rhythmic Mashup
Intermediate Improvisation Ensemble – I Have No Time
Texture and Timbre
Beginning Instrumental/Choral Ensemble – Indie In D
Intermediate Instrumental/Choral Ensemble – Braxtonian March
Beginning Jazz Ensemble – Instigation Sounds
Intermediate Jazz Ensemble – Prayer Meeting from Outer Space (Mingus and Sun Ra)
Beginning Improvisation Ensemble – Imitation of Found Sounds
Intermediate Improvisation Ensemble – Gesticulation
Articulation
Beginning Instrumental/Choral Ensemble – An Articulated Line
Intermediate Instrumental/Choral Ensemble – Pointillism
Beginning Jazz Ensemble – Cartoon Sounds
Intermediate Jazz Ensemble – Articulate the Positive
Beginning Improvisation Ensemble – Articulated Movement
Intermediate Improvisation Ensemble – Techno Music
Dynamics
Beginning/Intermediate Ensemble- ReArranging
Intermediate Instrumental/Choral Ensemble – Deep Listening Dynamics
Beginning Jazz Ensemble – Conceptual Scores
Intermediate Jazz Ensemble – Swells
Beginning Improvisation Ensemble – Oceans
Intermediate Improvisation Ensemble – Studio Magic
Section IV – Portals of Discovery: Vignettes in Improvisation Teaching and Learning
Beginning Instrumental/Choral Ensemble – Indie in D for Middle School Concert Band
Beginning Instrumental/Choral Ensemble – Nontraditional Sounds for Middle School Chorus
Beginning Improvisation Ensemble – Oceans for Elementary General Music
Intermediate Improvisation Ensemble – Techno Music for Secondary General Music
Intermediate Jazz Ensemble – Flamenco Mittens with String for High School Jazz Ensemble
Intermediate Improvisation Ensemble – Middle Eastern Taqsim for High School Orchestra
Epilogue
References
Index