Improvise extended musical ideas with a sense of direction and shape as they develop their own personal style
Ask learners to improvise a song involving a simple modulation, possibly within a given structure, e.g. A (tonic) B (dominant) A (tonic). Explore techniques involved in modulating and apply them in other improvisations.
Ensure that technical points are fully understood and absorbed, e.g. modulations to relative keys.
Continue to link improvisations to repertoire being studied, e.g. learners improvise a short song in the style of a well-known composer.
Improvisation provides an obvious and enjoyable way of exploring musical devices and conventions. It often provides the groundwork for more extended compositions. These advanced improvisations can be as challenging for the teacher as the learner!
Ask learners, or possibly teacher and learner, to extend a melody by improvising in turn, each singer basing the improvisation on the previous section. Aim for coherence and expression within an agreed style.
Ask learners to improvise a cadenza for an aria or ornaments for a baroque or classical solo piece.
Demonstrate simple jazz patterns. Ask learners to improvise a jazz solo using a standard as a stimulus (e.g. ‘I Got Rhythm’). Use scat-singing techniques where appropriate.
Scat singing is perhaps the most natural way into vocal improvisation.
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