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In this improvisation lesson, you're going to learn different techniques for creating variety in a melody.
One technique that we're going to use is simply moving your hand to a different position.
Another technique we're going to use is just free improv. So, what we've done so far is, you've improvised a melody using a specific rhythm.
But in this activity, you're going to get to improvise a melody using whatever rhythm you want.
That should be really fun for you and will really test your creativity.
This improvisation is called Two Time Samba
and the point of this improvisation is to learn how to create a variation when you play the repeat of the piece.
You'll notice that at the end of the song, there is a repeat sign which means
go back to the beginning and play the whole thing again.
So, the first time, I'm going to practice it using the given rhythms, but I think what I really want to do, and what I want to remind you guys to do
is to listen to the audio file before you even play anything because the audio file gives you the sense of the style of the piece.
So, what I'm going to do is, I'm going to play the audio file as I tap the rhythms. And that will give me a little practice on the rhythm while I'm
listening to the audio file. Notice in bar 3 and 7 and 11 and the one before the end, you have a half rest.
Remember that a half rest, like a half note, gets two counts.
Alright, so let's try this out. I'm going to tap it out with my right hand because that's the hand I'm going to be playing my melody with.
Although, you don't have to play this with your right hand, you could play it with your left hand. Alright, so here goes:
music playing
Alright, that was fun. I liked getting to know the audio file. It helps me... it's going to help me be a little more creative.
I'm also noticing that all four phrases of this tune
use exactly the same rhythm. So you should notice that and kind of get the feel for that rhythm which goes like this:
tapping and counting
OK, so I'm going to try this.
And the instructions tell me
the first time through, choose either the A minor or the C major position and create a melody using the indicated rhythms.
On the 2nd time, when I repeat
I'm going to choose the other 5-finger position. So my choices are A minor and C major. So first time through, I'm going to do A minor.
Second time through, I'm going to do C major and I'm going to play the indicated rhythms.
So let me review where that is. A minor is here: music playing
and C major is here: music playing
If I want, I can do down to C from A, so let me show you how that would look and sound: music playing.
Now I'm going to go down to C: music playing
I can also do something like this: music playing and then play my left hand on C: music playing
That's going to give me even more variety. But for now, I think I'm going to take my right hand and play this A position
and then play this C position. Alright, here goes nothing.
music playing
OK, I like that. Um, now I'm going to show you a different way to vary the repeat.
This time when I do it, on the repeat, I'm not going to play the given rhythms. I'm just going to play anything I want.
We're going to refer to that in this class as a rhythmically free improvisation.
I am, however, going to stay
on either one of the two positions that I'm in. So I think maybe this time, I'm just going to stay on A position the entire time.
And on the repeat, I'm going to not follow the given rhythms, I'm going to do my own thing.
I think I'm going to play here: music playing to try to get a different color and to just give my left hand some practice.
music playing
OK, I'm going to give it one more try. I'm going to use two hands on this improv and I'm actually going to have two different positions.
So I might do, let's say, on the first. . . on the first improv, music playing
I'm going to do, on the 1st line, I'm going to be in A position. On the 2nd line, I'm going to be in C position. music playing
And let's just see how that sounds. And remember, on the 2nd time, I'm going to play a free rhythm.
music playing
OK. That was fun. And if you really enjoy doing that
then maybe, on another try, you might just improvise the whole thing. Or, you can move around.
You have a lot of options here and it's really quite fun. And I would practice it
alot before you make your video just so you feel comfortable with what you are doing.
That was Two Time Samba because you play it two times.