Improvised Choreography
Using the piece, "Gabriel's Oboe" from the soundtrack by Ennio Morricone for the movie, The Mission, get in groups of four. All face the same direction. The person who cannot see anyone behind them is designated the "leader." Mirror the gestures and movements that this leader creates. When the "leader" feels ready to relinquish the leadership role, they should rotate their body clockwise, so that the next person to the leader's right will become the leader. This person will know when they can no longer see anyone behind them. Mimic the movement and gestures of this new leader and continue passing along the role of leader until the piece finishes. Sit down after the performance and discuss what it felt like to be a leader or a follower.
Creative Bodies
Compose two 32-beat sections using stomps, pats, claps, and snaps. Teach these contrasting sections (A and B sections) to the class. As a class, improvise over 32 beats (C section). In small groups, compose 32 beats (D, E, F, and ... sections). Perform a body percussion rondo: A B A C A D A ...
Do You Hear The Drum?
"Do you hear the .... drum? ..... Do you hear the .... drum? ... The drum ... the drum ... goes diggy diggy dat boom boom!"
Chant it together; chant it in canon in groups of two; chant it in canon in groups of four; perform it on your bodies; perform it on your bodies in canon; perform it on instruments in trios (one person with drum sticks, two people with drum heads).
Chant it together; chant it in canon in groups of two; chant it in canon in groups of four; perform it on your bodies; perform it on your bodies in canon; perform it on instruments in trios (one person with drum sticks, two people with drum heads).
Seeds Secret
"Seeds Secret" by Constance Levy from A Tree Place and Other Poems
Seeds,
small as grains of sand
conspired with the earth
in deep, dark places
secretly sipping
sipping,
stretching,
anchoring
and hankering for
up;
how they break to the light
like roots of green
periscopes
sneaking their first
look!
Using the poem, "Seeds Secret," get together in groups to compose a soundscape interpretation of this poem. Begin with one person reading the poem in dramatic fashion. Add elements: scarves, hand drums, rain sticks, etc. Create a performance using different levels, movement, etc. Be creative. Perform for each other.
Seeds,
small as grains of sand
conspired with the earth
in deep, dark places
secretly sipping
sipping,
stretching,
anchoring
and hankering for
up;
how they break to the light
like roots of green
periscopes
sneaking their first
look!
Using the poem, "Seeds Secret," get together in groups to compose a soundscape interpretation of this poem. Begin with one person reading the poem in dramatic fashion. Add elements: scarves, hand drums, rain sticks, etc. Create a performance using different levels, movement, etc. Be creative. Perform for each other.
Alter and add and add and add and add...
Take a familiar song like, Kookaburra, and teach it to the class. Consider multiple ways to alter the tune (augmentation, diminution, change the mode, change the meter, perform it in canon, etc.). Add a bass line ostinato. Add a descant. Add movement. Add instruments. Create a structure for an overall performance. Perform for each other.
Shhh...don't speak.
Teach the class a musical concept without speaking.
Yes, and . . .
"When an improv troupe is working together and one member takes the sketch in a certain direction—say the starting point is a hospital emergency room, and the first comedian to steer the scene introduces the notion that it's an emergency room for extraterrestrials—the other members have to take it up without challenge or contradiction. And if the second comedian takes the premise of extraterrestrials—the other members have to take it up without challenge or contradiction. And if the second comedian takes the premise of extraterrestrials further—he might suggest that the people in the emergency room are acting out of a medical drama for the benefit of the extraterrestrials, who are holding them captive—the third comedian has to absorb this into the narrative, too. They must accept those shifting parameters and new ingredients and develop new starting points accordingly." p. 79 Creative Quest
Get together with a group of people. Select a song with which each member of the group is familiar. One person will randomly select a context in which to "set" the performance. Another person will randomly select a musical style in which to perform the song. Once the song begins, each person must add another element that brings the performance in a direction. Respond with "yes, and ..." and continue the performance.
Get together with a group of people. Select a song with which each member of the group is familiar. One person will randomly select a context in which to "set" the performance. Another person will randomly select a musical style in which to perform the song. Once the song begins, each person must add another element that brings the performance in a direction. Respond with "yes, and ..." and continue the performance.
Group Re-arrangements
Part 1: Rearrange a Familiar Tune
With a group of friends, select a familiar tune like "This Land is Your Land" or "When the Saints." Figure a bass line that will work with the melody. Create a chord progression that will work with the melody. Choose new (harmonic, melodic, rhythmic, metric, instrumental) ways to arrange this piece. Perform it for the group.
Part 2: Rearrange a Pop Tune for Classroom Instruments
With a group of friends, select a popular song to rearrange for an NPR Tiny Desk performance or Tonight Show Classroom Instruments performance. Refine this, film it, post it.
With a group of friends, select a familiar tune like "This Land is Your Land" or "When the Saints." Figure a bass line that will work with the melody. Create a chord progression that will work with the melody. Choose new (harmonic, melodic, rhythmic, metric, instrumental) ways to arrange this piece. Perform it for the group.
Part 2: Rearrange a Pop Tune for Classroom Instruments
With a group of friends, select a popular song to rearrange for an NPR Tiny Desk performance or Tonight Show Classroom Instruments performance. Refine this, film it, post it.