Improvisation

• Listen to improvised music like an improviser - interact musically and notice the spontaneous interaction of improvisers

• Learn harmony by ear

• Learn harmonic, rhythmic, and expressive vocabulary by ear

• Take risks - try out some new ideas

• Surround yourself wrth others who are working on the same principles

Consider a rating scale as a means of feedback for improving your improvisation skills (see example right)

Improving your musicianship through improvisation will promote more spontaneous and meaningful music making . There is a powerful relationship among listening, improvising, reading, writing, and analyzing

Improvisation Rating Scale

Improvisation (additive dimension, 0 - 5)

The improviser:

1 performs a variety of related ideas and reuses material in the context of the overall form (thus the performance contains elements of unity and variety)

2 demonstrates motive development through tonal and rhythm sequences

3 demonstrates effective use of silence

4 demonstrates an understanding of tension and release through resolution of notes in the context of the harmonic progression

5 embellishes notes and per forms variations of themes

Christopher D. Azzara Eastman School of Music

music Each has the potential to influence the other in significant ways when presented in the context of improvisation

Remember; we are all improvisers Create opportunities to make improvisation integral to developing your musicianship

References

Azzara, Christopher D ., Grunow, Richard F. Developing Musicianship through Improvisation

Chicago: GIA Publications, Inc , 2006, 2010

Christopher A zzara, PH.D is Associate Professor of Music Education at Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester and affiliated with the jazz Studies and Contemporary Media Department

Reprinted from Massachusetts Music News, Spring 2010

• Nationally acclaimed ensembles

• International tours

• Renowned guest artists

• Music scholarships

• Areas of study include performance, music education, composition, jazz studies, music ministry and piano pedagogy