For Bb instruments: D major scale: D E F# G A B C# D
For Eb instruments: A major scale: A B C# D E F# G# A
For F instruments: G major scale: G A B C D E F# G
Prompt for improvisation (to be considered or ignored):
Play a simple 3 or 4 note melody, then pause.
repeat with new notes or the same notes
Sometimes, abandon that approach and do something different
Heavy Weights Jam:
We're jammin on the G Blues:
for C instruments: G Blues Scale: G Bb C C# D F G
for Bb instruments: A Blues Scale: A C D D# E G A
for Eb instruments: E Blues Scale: E G A Bb B D E
Improvisation Games
2 minute timer for each
Make only wind & breathing sounds
Play funny noises
Play 3 notes and then listen to others play for 5 seconds
Play the fastest and most frantic sounds you can
Play serene melodies. Imagine a green field
Say a word or sentence relating to a household object. Then play your instrument to mimic what you said
Play scary sounds
Play your instrument as a percussion instrument
Play the quietest sounds you've ever played on your instrument
Hold your instrument in an unusual way and play it
Play your instrument as a percussion instrument
Play the fastest and most frantic sounds you can
Try to make the sounds of a bird playing in a tree
Popcorn improv
1. Decide on a musician order
2. Each person improvises a 5-10 second solo after one another
4 minute free jam
Free jam:
any notes go.
Vibe on this piece is freeway traffic
Two different scales=two different sections
Section 1:
G minor pentatonic
C instruments: G Bb C D F G
Bb instruments: A minor pentatonic: A C D E G A
Eb instruments: E minor pentatonic: E G A B D E
Section 2:
G major:
C instruments: G A B C D E F# G
Bb instruments: A major: A B C# D E F# G# A
Eb instruments: E major: E F# G# A B C# D# E
Musical telephone
Musician #1 plays a phrase.
Musician #2 imitates musician #1's phrase
Musician #3 imitates musician #2's phrase
etc
March around your room and make up march sounding music
Face a real or imaginary window and play for what is outside
Move around the room very very slowly and play music that sounds like that
Try to make each note more boring
Only short notes while wiggling your toes
Lay on the ground and play your instrument
Make funny faces while you play
Try to play very seriously
Imagine a close friend, somebody you love very much, and play for them
Face the corner of the room, and play to it
Play running music
Play crawling music
Play rolling music
Play quiet music
Play falling music
Make funny faces while you play
Face the window and play to whatever is outside
Make barking sounds
Play what a caterpillar talks like
Make horse sounds
Screech like a cat!
Play falling music
Make funny faces while you play
Face the window and play to whatever is outside
Play running music
Play rolling music
Play rising music
Make only wind & breathing sounds
Play the fastest and most frantic sounds you can
Play your instrument as a percussion instrument
Play a gentle lullaby.
We'll play in G major scale:
Concert pitch: G A B C D E F# G
Bb transposition: A major scale: A B C# D E F# G# A
Eb transposition: E major scale: E F# G# A B C# D# E
F transposition: C major scale: C D E F G A B C
We're going to be in the key of E minor pentatonic:
Concert: E G A B D E
Bb: A minor pentatonic F# A B C# E F#
Eb: E minor pentatonic C# E F# G# B C#
Soaring like an eagle. Incorporate long notes
Play the most squeeqy sounds you can!
Only play very quiet, low notes
"A Saturday Walk" improvisation recording with prompts
Improvise based on the prompt on the screen
We're going to be in the key of G minor pentatonic:
Concert: G Bb C D F G
Bb: A minor pentatonic A C D E G A
Eb: E minor pentatonic E G A B D E
play the sounds of a morning walk
Play the song of the bird in the tree
Play the footsteps. Your's, your dog's, you friend's
Stick with only two notes while you play the lines in the sidewalk
Stick with only one note as you play the sun shining down
Play the sound of the big trees
Play a peaceful breeze
Play the colors of the flowers
Play the shapes of the houses
Play arriving back home and taking off your shoes
The end
Sheet music pieces:
Youtube video of erhu player Joe playing this. Check out the numbers of the scale used for the sheet music! And the rhythms are drawn under. A number by itself gets one beat (a quarter note). The sign - holds a note over the next beat. So 5 - would be two beats (a half note). Since this song is in the key of G, the numbers are 1(G) 2(A) 3(B) 4(C) 5(D) 6(E) 7(F#) 8(G)