Description
Book SynopsisOffers practical and creative techniques for classical improvisation for musicians of all levels and instruments, solo or in ensembles. This title features exercises that are designed for players working in pairs or small groups to encourage performers to communicate with one another and build an atmosphere of trust.
Trade ReviewBrockmann. . . has added an important work to the literature on improvisation. . . . For musicians who want to improve by trying the activities Brockmann suggests, I highly recommend this work. August 2011
* American String Teacher *
Table of ContentsPreface
Acknowledgments
1. Improvise? What For?
2. Building Listening Skills
Pitch Switch
Intervals
Pitch Chains
Sing and Play
More Sing and Play
Advanced Sing and Play
One Third Plus One Third Equals One Fifth
Getting to the Root of the Problem
Sound Effects
Rhythmic Scales
3. Simple Melodic Improvisations
Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice (That's What Melodies Are Made of)
Fast-Forward
He Says, She Says
Rhythm in an Alternate Universe
Music Plus One
Mosaic
Keep Away
Fill in the Blank
Non-Tonal Improvisations
Strings Alone
Drone
Snake
4. Melody and Harmony: Improvisations for Ensembles
Round-Robin Ostinati
The Whole Is Greater Than the Sum of Its Parts
Means, Motive, and Opportunity
Monkey Hear, Monkey Do
Chorale
Musical Volleyball
Switch and Signal
Dialogue (Melody/Countermelody Echo)
Pas de Deux
Pedal to the Metal
Son of Sing and Play
Freeze Frame
Dummy Up
Bartók Had a Little Lamb
5. From Sight to Sound: Getting off the Page
Wait Your Ternary
Home Away from Home
You Can't Get There from Here
Circular Reasoning
Name That Tune
Being Diana Ross
Dinner at a Chinese Restaurant
It's So Nice, You Can Do It Twice
Swing Your Partner Round and Round
Appendix A: Music Theory Review
Appendix B: Additional Harmonic Progressions
