Today we did some improvisation as a big group. We all picked up instruments we may not have played before, such as drums and tambourines. We based it on the idea of a storm, so we used the sound of the rain gently starting, then building up to become thunderous. Then we stopped all the instruments suddenly, to show how the rain can simply stop.
I found it interesting to interpret things this way, and use instruments to create real life sounds.
I think improvisation is hard, because you need to have confidence in yourself, and the ability to rectify mistakes and make them sound like you meant them.
I found it interesting to interpret things this way, and use instruments to create real life sounds.
I think improvisation is hard, because you need to have confidence in yourself, and the ability to rectify mistakes and make them sound like you meant them.
Because we all played percussion instruments, we didn't necessarily have to learn to play them. We simply had a chance to try them out and make sounds that we thought were interesting. Anyone who had a sense of rhythm could have participated. Seashore (1938) describes how 'a person who has only an average sense of pitch can never become a good violinist or a great singer; but, with the other three skills well developed, he may become a pianist or a composer of great distinction'. The other three skills being dynamic, temporal and qualitative. With just one of these skills, any person can make music somehow. I think this is really interesting to say that a person with only one of those skills can become a musician somehow.
I did find this exercise useful, however, I am aware of my skills and flaws when it comes to song writing, and I would like to spend some time working on them.
I watch a show called Whose Line Is It Anyway? where they improvise skits and scenes on the spot. They regularly improvise a song within the show, and I love to watch how they are given different genres and can sing something that fits the music. This is an example of a song the actors have improvised on the show. They must improvise lyrics and melody within a given song style. I find it very interesting to watch the actors come up with these songs and I think they are very clever and thoughtful. I don't think I am particularly good at improvisation to this level but it is something I would love to be able to do.
I watch a show called Whose Line Is It Anyway? where they improvise skits and scenes on the spot. They regularly improvise a song within the show, and I love to watch how they are given different genres and can sing something that fits the music. This is an example of a song the actors have improvised on the show. They must improvise lyrics and melody within a given song style. I find it very interesting to watch the actors come up with these songs and I think they are very clever and thoughtful. I don't think I am particularly good at improvisation to this level but it is something I would love to be able to do.
When I'm at home I like to play the ukulele, but as I can't play a lot of chords I am limited for songs to play. I like to do 'The Four Chord Song' which contains popular songs all written using the same chord progression. This is easy to play and covers lots of different ranges and styles of singing.I decided that I haven't practiced improvisation enough to do it well, so I decided to use the Four Chord song as a way of using quick thought and not planning. I had a good look through the list of applicable songs and then put the list away and spent a while just playing the chords and singing some of the songs. After a while I had worked out a good order to sing them in so it became practiced. This song was also helpful for me to practice playing the ukulele, which is a skill I am new to and would like to improve. Because I am not good at or used to improvising, this is a good way of improvising to my ability.
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