International Teacher Education Conference 2014 1

International Teacher Education Conference 2014
In music, a phrase is a single idea, often in the form of a question or answer. By identifying phrases within a
piece of music and looking for repetition, it is possible to understand the overall form. As you play the following
improvisation exercises, try creating “questions and answers” in the phrases you build.
IMPROVISATIONS TO A DRONE BASS
Without looking at the keys, place left hand fingers 5 and 1 on the black keys E b -B b (or the highest black
keys of the 2 and 3 black key groups). Play quarter notes at MM 80, which serves as a “drum beat” for your first
improvisation exercise.
IMPROVISE AN INDIAN LEGEND
!
!
!
“drum beat” pattern
Play the “drum beat” pattern shown above in the left hand at a pp (pianissimo) level, i.e. very soft, with an
accented downbeat. Meanwhile, improvise one phrase with the right hand on five black keys. Before you play
hands together, alternate two measures of the “drum beat” in the left hand followed by two measures of a
melody in the right hand. Now, continue your exciting, living legend hands together.
IMPROVISE A CONVERSATION BETWEEN TWO COWBOYS
or
Bass pattern 1 Bass pattern 2
This exercise takes on the character of a conversation between two cowboys on horseback. With the left
hand, play a horse’s “clip-ty clop-ty.” Try both of these rhythmic versions in the left hand. Which one feels more
natural to you?
In the right hand, improvise a melody on any of the five black keys or chord clusters that compliment the
cowboy theme.
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