I’m leading two freestyle improv workshops June 22 & 29, 2010. Here’s some of the exercises we’ll practice:<\/p>\n
Warmup<\/strong> Direct your attention as we do this: Improvise with one sound<\/strong> \n Textures and grooves<\/strong> \n Form<\/strong> Build an ostinato or a groove<\/strong> Vary the ostinato<\/strong> Memory training<\/strong> Play a phrase – play something else – play your phrase again Be the leader<\/strong> FREE IMPROV – try out ideas we\u2019ve practiced.<\/p>\n Sources for these exercises include Jeffrey Agrell\u2019s \u201cImprovisation Games for Classical Musicians\u201d and Tom Hall\u2019s \u201cFree Improvisation: A Practical Guide\u201d.<\/p>\n
\n One sound (from Tom Hall): Going around the group, each player plays a single sound
\n We can do this with a beat or without.<\/p>\n
\n 1. Pay attention equally to your sound and the others\u2019 sounds.
\n 2. Don\u2019t think about your sound, don\u2019t make any plans, pay attention to the rest of the ensemble.
\n 3. Think of the sequence of sounds as a melody or phrase.<\/p>\n
\n Choose a sound. Make that your sound. That\u2019s all you can play for the improvisation, but you can play it whenever and however you want.<\/p>\n
\n Establish a texture as a group. Vary the texture in subtle ways.
\n Texture invention – create a texture, pause and create a different texture, and so on…<\/p>\n
\n Phrases, playing together – designate a leader\/don\u2019t designate a leader, statements and answers.
\n Use silence.
\n Practice recognizing an ending. Decide whether you want to finish or go on. Is that silence an ending?<\/p>\n
\n One by one, play a repeating pattern.
\n Allow yourself to explore and practice it a bit until you settle on the pattern you want to play. The next player doesn’t come in until you’ve settled. Don\u2019t make it too complicated!
\n The next player enters and explores and finds a pattern that combines with the first. And so on\u2026
\n Was the pattern solid? Did it have the momentum to keep going? Was it too busy?<\/p>\n
\n Make the pattern thinner and thinner by playing less and less of it, until there\u2019s barely anything there, then let it grow again by adding notes back to your pattern.
\n Make the pattern thinner by changing your pattern to be with someone else\u2019s pattern.<\/p>\n
\n Echo the leader – repeat whatever the leader plays
\n 1. Single notes
\n 2. Phrases, matched note-accurate or with the same shape or feel<\/p>\n
\n Can we do this on a group level?<\/p>\n
\n 1. Conduct the group with gestures
\n 2. Lead the group through a story – recite, sentence by sentence. Decide how you want to bring in the next part of the story by gesturing or talking to the ensemble. Indicate to players to enter, exit, or change what they\u2019re playing.
\n 3. Lead the group from your instrument. Use cut offs, upbeats, other gestures to invite the ensemble to follow your lead.<\/p>\n