Ready, Set, Improvise!: The Nuts and Bolts of Music Improvisation

by Suzanne Burton, Alden Snell

Overview

Improvisation - the creation of a unique combination of musical content within a musical context - is core to musicianship. As authors Suzanne L. Burton and Alden H. Snell II demonstrate, students already build skills that drive improvisation when they listen to music or imitate rhythmic patterns. Building from this observation, Ready, Set, Improvise! addresses improvisation in a cogent, clear, practical, and sequential manner. As an essential resource for music educators, this book synthesizes what we know about exemplary music teaching and learning, provides an easy-to-follow sequence for guiding improvisation instruction, and gives techniques for assessment of students' skill and conceptual development. Burton and Snell explore lessons in singing, rhythmic chanting, moving, and playing instrument exercises that prepare students to improvise. This all-in-one guide gives music teachers the necessary tools with which to plan the next steps for students to become independent musicians.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780190675929
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/09/2018
Pages:	108
Product dimensions:	6.80(w) x 9.80(h) x 0.30(d)

About the Author

Suzanne L. Burton is Professor of Music Education at The University of Delaware.

Alden Snell is Assistant Professor of Music Education at the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester.

Together they are co-editors of Engaging Musical Practices: A Sourcebook for Instrumental Music.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
About the Companion Website

Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Listening
Chapter 3. Musical Dialogue-Imitation
Chapter 4. Discrimination
Chapter 5. Musical Dialogue-Improvisation
Chapter 6. Application to Instruments
Chapter 7. Assessment

Appendix
Bibliography

Editorial Reviews

"Burton and Snell have provided an impressive toolkit for developing student creativity and musicianship. Their sequential guide to teaching improvisation will be a welcome addition to any music educator's library." — Christian Bernhard, Professor of Music Education, The State University of New York at Fredonia

"Ready, Set, Improvise! provides easy to follow instructions for engaging students of all ages in creative music-making activities. Teachers who are experienced improvisers as well as those new to the notion of musical improvisation will find something they can implement in their classrooms." — Colleen Conway, University of Michigan

"This is a superb resource for teaching your students the skills and concepts they need to improvise fluently in a variety of tonalities and meters. The meticulously sequenced instruction carries students step by step from the earliest stages of musical understanding all the way to creative self-expression. Burton and Snell have given us a remarkably practical guide that all music teachers can immediately put to good use." — Daniel Deutsch, Founding Chairperson of the National Association for Music Education's Council for Music Composition

"Burton and Snell share common sense approaches for pre-service and in-service music educators who realize the value of improvisation and are searching for practical techniques that maintain musical integrity." — Richard F. Grunow, Professor Emeritus of Music Education, Eastman School of Music

From the Publisher